Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
Phil Hobbs wrote:

Plus they save on duty by claiming that everything is a gift. Such
generous folks, those Chinese.

The only gift is to the customs officers receiving the packages. If it is
a gift and the price is low, then they can pass it without inspection, and
if it is inspected just look for the diamonds, guns, drugs, etc hidden
in it.

For import to the UK, declaring it as a gift increases the value that is
allowed before VAT and duty is imposed, so, when used for items of low
value, but more than £15 (at the moment) including postage, it defrauds
the government of revenue. These are not, I believe free allowances,
but rather values below which it is considered not worth recovering
duty. With the Royal Mail, it also triggers a customs processing charge.