Customs payments on items from the UK via Addresspal

[Seaweed42]

I live in Ireland, I ordered a Holland & Barrett Advent Calendar from the UK as its not available in Ireland.
I used Addresspal from An Post and paid €6.50 to have it delivered to their UK address and then home delivery. Now An Post are asking for €17.50 customs charges as the parcel came from 'outside the EU' 😭
The Advent Calendar cost €60 now its actual cost is €84. I'd heard talk of custom payments but I'm shocked.

This happened to me when I ordered clothing from a UK site.
An item of clothing priced at £17 cost me €40!!! when custom's charges were added.
I haven't ordered from a UK site since.
It's just too expensive.

Yes, this is normal now. It certainly makes you think whether you want the item or not