I recently mentioned that I want to give away 10 #Fedilab mugs for its 10th anniversary in a few months, numbered from 1 to 10.
I have no idea how much it will cost to ship them around the world with good packaging. Of course, I will add a personal note on a card with each mug.
I think I should open a fundraiser of around 200/300 euros for it, but I'm not sure about the amount.
Do you think it's OK?
@apps
That’s really very kind of you, but to be honest, I’d think twice about it.
I’ve experienced similar situations in amateur radio. Some stations would kindly include a small gift with a QSL card—for example, a pen or a little pennant, and so on. And then our overzealous customs authorities would suddenly demand fees from the unsuspecting recipient!
Since then, the situation has hardly gotten any easier.
Imagine someone receiving a coffee mug and having to drive 20 km to the customs office, pay for parking, fill out paperwork, and possibly even pay customs duties or processing fees on top of that. And all that for a mug that was actually meant to be a nice anniversary gift!
And declaring the mug as a gift with no value isn’t necessarily a solution either, since customs authorities may still require a realistic value.
It’s a wonderful idea, but international shipping and customs formalities could easily turn a pleasant surprise into a frustrating experience—involving hassle and costs for both you and the recipients.