tea tax - Boston Tea Party rematch

I order this tea from Amazon.  Can’t find any other shop/supplier.  This is supposed to be the bee knees as far as throat remedies for singers is concerned.  I reckon it’s got to be worth a try.

I get a postcard through the door telling me that I have to hand over £14.43 in custom duties before the postman can deliver it. Turns out the vendor is in the USA.

There is absolutely nothing on the Amazon site to indicate that (i) the vendor is in the USA or (ii) that custom’s duty will be payable.  I shall be having words with them.

I’ve bought lots of things from outside the EU and have no objection to paying the excess duty.  But I usually know to expect it.  What really gets by goat is that Royal Mail charge £8.00 to collect the £6.43 duty.

The sorting office was open this morning and I collected the package.  The guy behind the counter was embarrased on my behalf.  He thought the £8.00 charge was excessive.  It’s just a packet of tea.  This is not the first time that the British have imposed a tax on tea ……