Quote Originally Posted by Dylan H
I bought a great cheap lens from HK, at least it was cheap until the Inland Revenue hit me with the VAT bill for it via the post office. Once I paid the tax on it it wasn't the bargain I'd hoped for. I've had to pay VAT on unmarked envelopes from America too so don't expect to avoid it.

Add in the risk factor and I'm not sure its worth it.

As others have said, ebay and paypal are less than secure and they won't help. Credit card companies though will be more helpful if things go wrong so think about using them.
I bought some Euro Kodachrome, with developing, last year.
I took a chance and paid cash, I mean actual Euro bills, by putting them in a card-board envelope, with reinforcing cards inside, marked "photographs." ($300 dollars worth of film)

The seller beat the VAT system and obviously the money arrived safely.

There are other methods of paying, if one does a net search, but YES, c-cards are best if possible.

I recently sent a few hundred dollars of old magazines to a gent in Canada, and helped him avoid taxes by listing it them as gifts with zero value.