Customs Duty.

[Sean Regan]

A fellow keyboard enthusiast in the USA sold me his unwanted second hand music stand extension for $20. The postage was as much again. On arrival in the UK, I was charged as much again in import duty. £15.18. It's not that I can't afford it and it was something I wanted, but it's a complete rip off.
Some friends who have kids in Canada have stopped sending them birthday and Christmas presents and the kids have stopped too. It's just not worth it.

 

[Ian]

Yep, I regularly get stung by this. I think anything over £15 worth is charged import fees, royal mail charge £8 quid processing too. I don't mind the import % so much, but the processing fees can be huge! I often pay £9 in customs charges, £8 of which is royal mail adding on their fee. I'd happily pay the £1, but galled at the disproportionality.