> get past the EU customs problem-free.

Stop being a free-loader. All this social welfare has to be paid by someone. You have money to spend on toys - pay your taxes.

Well, this is frustrating.

I didn't mean that I want to be a freeloader. "Problem-free" doesn't mean "free". I just had too many problems making them believe that the my stuff aren't newly purchased from the country I'm returning from[0]. Also when I do purchase something, it's very hard to convince them that I actually did purchase it for the price I declared. I believe I'm also entitled to purchase stuff below X euros without import tax (IANAL, though), but so many people around me had so much problems with the customs that I don't even try.

Customs processes aren't as simple as "pay the duties and be happy". From what I see and go through, they can be extremely annoying and complicated.

So, you see, it is actually only you, talking about not paying taxes. I see that some also suggested illegal workarounds to my problem. Honestly, no, thanks and I'm also not responsible for what they say.

I hope you don't accuse people with theft so easily when you're talking straight to their faces.

[0]: In one case, they didn't allow me to go through with the camera I purchased from Germany when I was returning from the US. I had to open Canon's web site to prove them that Canon uses a different model name in the US therefore it wouldn't be possible to purchase it from the US. They were still complaining while letting me go. Now I keep the receipt in my bag if I'm carrying a shiny new gear.

at least in Germany everything below a value of 150€ is except from custom fees, VAT still applies.

All the money goes to the banks anyway, fuck the system

Get them to mark it as a gift and a value of €1. I've had tonnes of stuff get through doing that without any import duty added :)

You can generally get away with that if a friend mails it to you, or if it's a small-time seller on eBay, but most larger companies won't agree to mislabel purchases as gifts on the custom form, since that's illegal. A company doing it at any kind of volume also has a higher risk of being caught.

Large companies outside the EU and US have done this for years. It's an old cat and mouse game.

Not many people work within such strict legal frameworks like that.

Mmm, felony charges. Knowingly misrepresenting goods and parcels is illegal.

Doesn't seem worth it just to save $25.

Heck I can't think of an amount of money worth felony charges personally.

That's the sender's problem and they're not in EU jurisdiction so are more than willing to do this.

There are too many barriers in this world.

They won't do it, people have asked on their forums. They're completely above the board and they want to keep it that way.