Getting a Macbook pro posted from America + another Q.

Question

I might be buying a macbook pro from America
if the sender pays for posting will i be charged anything when it comes to my door?
I also heard of the post office holding on to the laptop until you come there, prove your identity, and pay 150euro (roughly) tax to claim it as yours.
Is there ways to avoid this? My friend has a tax free card will that help?
What happens if i dont pay?
Does this happen everytime or am i just being told lies?
I really need to know cause if i buy the laptop and then need to claim it in the post office i wont have a penny to do that after buying the laptop
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

if the sender pays for posting will i be charged anything when it comes to my door?
It won't come to your door. What will come to your door is a demand from Customs and Excise for the VAT and Import Duty, which you will need to pay before getting the laptop. I've imported some high-value objects from time to time and that's how it works.
Ways to avoid it? Just ship it in a plain brown envelope, no padding or wrapping. Have the sender mark it on the Customs Declaration as having no value (and thereby run the risk of the Sender being done for Fraud). Don't insure it and take pot luck. (You can't insure it because if you do, but then declare it to have no value, you'll void the insurance.) The chance of it arriving  at your home, while avoiding the attention of the Custom and Excise, does exist.
The chance of it arriving intact at your home having been shipped that way is somewhat slimmer.
And, of course, it's a crime.
Regards
TD