take the camera out of the packaging and post the box to yourself or a friend[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=137129\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Why do you want to kep the boxes? They take up so much room.
Thank God TFT monitor boxes are smaller than when they were CRTs. I have a cellar full of boxes inside boxes.
Anyway if you are professional you are probably VAT regged anyway, so it's not really an issue paying VAT at customs. Unless there's something else. I've never bought anything of value abroad. Though a holiday to buy some software and a new camera is tempting.
I paid VAT on a second hand ring flash that I bought at B+H when it came through customs and the charges for doing so. Even though there is actuallly no VAT on second hand goods in the UK. I was a bit narked by that waste of time and money. Having said that I ordedered flash on Sunday, the shop opened Monday and I got flash on Wednesday morning even after the customs faff.
The flash was no longer available new BTW.