International Shipping. What do I need to know?

The following is a statement directly from the US Postal Service:

Postal administrations in several international countries have contacted the United States Postal Service about the declaration of value placed on customs forms. They have noted that, in many cases, the declared value is understated when compared to the actual invoice or known value of the item, especially for sales conducted over the internet.

The correct value of each item is required on customs forms as it helps determine the proper duties and taxes, and whether they should be applied. Some countries soon will begin taking steps to address this issue, such as levying fines on the addressee when the declared value is determined to be lower than the invoice.

Please help us comply with international postal regulations by understanding that we must declare full value on shipments. This also protects our mutual interest should something become lost, damaged or stolen.