Customs, Duties, and Tariffs! You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

Before you send a care package overseas - Read this!

An Expensive Bookmark

Receiving a care package from a loved one is always like Christmas morning. Those serving overseas in the military, international college students, or us humble immigrants all know the thrill of ripping into an envelope or package. For me, receiving anything in the mail is cause to pour a glass of comfort and revel in the fact that someone, somewhere out there in the world, thought about me and took the time to shop, package, drive to the post office, stand in line, pay the fee, and send a thoughtful gift. It’s a fabulous surprise … in more ways than one.

Recently, a dear sistah in the United States (Estados Unidos), knowing my passion for reading, mailed a leather magnetic bookmark to me in Portugal. As if I’d received a letter from the national lottery or a response from Santa Clause himself, I tore into the envelope from the Portugal postal service (CTT). Then, proceeded to translate their letter to English, walk to the post office, take a number, take a seat, read my Kindle, and present my lucky day letter to the agent behind the counter. Tossing a surly glance, she said, “Yooz must go to zee website.” How did I miss that detail in the letter?! Feeling slightly defeated yet empowered, I walked back home, packed another box for my pending move, navigated the (unhelpful) government portal, and learned the following information:

A Lesson In Bureaucracy!

To release the bookmark from the customs office in Lisbon, I must pay €48 euros ($50.07) in fees and tariffs! Hey!, dude in the Portugal customs office wearing a government-issued uniform and badge — it’s a leather magnetic bookmark! Not an invasive plant, not an illegal Iguana, not a terrorist bomb! It’s a leather magnetic bookmark! Shock and awe are good words to describe my gaping mouth and bulging eyes, followed by a few choice expletives.