if you buy clothes from the usa...

[rubylovescheese]

and the parcel has arrived...when do you pay the customs fees and charges?

I think that you pay before the parcel roles up. Ie you can't collect it unless you pay. If you haven't paid you're off scot free!

I THINK. this is certainly my memory of it anyway.

I have only ever bought from Shopbop and I paid the $25 to cover all customs. It was a while ago, so I don't know whether they still do it.

As far as I know, if the parcel has arrived and you weren't asked to pay extra, then you don't have to. It's a bit of a lottery. Some parcels are spotted and you have to pay at the PO before they will deliver, some get through the net and just arrive without you being asked. It can depend on what the label says is in the package (a gift, cost/value, type of product) or maybe you were just lucky....
That's what I think, but am very happy to be corrected!

I agree with everyone else if you have received it you won't be asked to pay custom fees, duties etc.

thank you all. really hoping that's the case.