Posting parcel (gifts) to France post-Brexit

[Cableknitdreams]

Hi.
A friend in France has just had a sudden bereavement and we've wrapped a few gifts in a parcel with a sympathy card (teas, biscuits, soaps). Haven't

I then realised there are sometimes charges on receipt in France and I don't want the family to be bothered by that or have to pay anything. I don't want to add to their stress by contacting them to ask about charges, either.

Post Office was vague when I asked.

Any ideas/experience of parcel charges here?

Send it by courier ( DHL are the ones we used to use). They are more efficient and quicker than the Post Office ( and the French postal service is even worse than ours, especially around public holidays).

If the value of the gifts is under 45 euro they should not attract vat or duties

Otherwise you can use a courier and ask to pay all duties yourself.

Everything I get from the UK involves paying when it arrives. It's a bloody bore. And often has to be paid in cash or cheque to the delivery person.
The only thing you can do to mitigate is to state that the package has zero value, so they can't charge import fees on zero. (Or at least I think they can't)

Send via Parcelforce, keep the value below the threshold - I just sent a package to France & think the threshold is £35. Anything over and the whole thing is charged tax. Mark as a gift. They pick up from home. The customs form is a hassle as you have to weigh/itemise everything and use the correct customs code by item. Parcelforce was a lot less postage than direct via post office.

Buy on Amazon fr.

That sounds so annoying!
This parcel really isn't much, just some self-care sympathy gifts like tea.

If everything gets these charges (even just a card?), I'm tempted to leave it and send an Amazon Fr gift instead.

If you can send whatever through Amazon.fr - no charges.