[JackMcMack]

The issue isn't the import duty and VAT, the issue is the 20€ or more fee that the shipping companies charge for the privilege of handling the customs administration for you.

In Belgium for example books have 0% import duty and 6% VAT. Adding 20€, long delays, and a terrible customer experience (good luck trying to correct any data submitted to customs) to that is rarely worth the hassle.

[rcme]

Why can't you have the book sent via the postal service? There are international treaties that govern postage rates.

[JackMcMack]

That actually is via the postal service (BPost). The postage rates are reasonable, it's just the fee that they add for handling the customs administration that is unreasonable.

And this is more or less the same for the other shipping companies such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx.

Because the fee is per shipment, it's not that bad if you're receiving several hundred euros worth of products. But if you just want to receive a book, it can easily double the cost.