Sending package to Egypt?

Travel Info
I am wonder if there is anyone could help me out regarding sending a package to Egypt. I sent a package from the USA to Egypt, I had sent it priority mail and when the individual I sent it to went to pick up this package he was told that there would be a fee that he would have to pay before the post office could give him the package . The post office in Egypt had said he had to pay 60 EGP before they give him this package. I am wondering if anyone has had this same thing happened and if so why the extra charge when I had already paid for it to be shipped?

Travel Tips

That fee is a customs fee. When you ship international you must fill out a customs form declaring what is in the box as well as the value. I once sent some used jewelry and things from around my house as a gift to someone and it cost them 180 LE just to take delivery of the package. I also sent some books valued at $50 to Egypt and the person had to pay almost 90 LE to get them.

I have yet to find an easier way and cheaper way, but I am still looking.

STARDAWN: If you ship with Fed Ex you can ask to make arrangements to pay the fee so the receipient does not have to pay customs fee. It really stinks when you want to send someone a gift and they have to pay for it.
Others

Nope. I used to ship things from USA to Egypt to friends and relatives. No one asked them for any kind of fee whatsoever.
Hi, yes it happens to me all the time. It is not an extra postage fee, it is a customs charge that applies to almost all products entering egypt. So if the package sent contains any goods such as CDs, DVDs, books etc such items when imported are subject to customs fee. There is no way around this fee and all shipped items are scanned by the postal service at all times.

No the fee can not be paid by the sender simply cause the sender pays the money for the company and not the Egyptian customs. Once the package arrives and is inspected by the customs, they are the ones that determine how the customs fees are, so the receiver is the one responsible for making the customs payments.
great question! I cant answer it but if someone could add on to thier answer when they post.....is there any way to pay the attatched fee before it gets there so they dont have to?
Fozio is right on target.
The fee they are paying is customs. That fee goes directly to the Egyptian government. All countries have the same procedure. If the item is worth a certain amount they will collect a customs fee.
If you pay for everything here in USA then they shouldn't have to pay anything in Egypt, be careful because a lot of the working people in Egypt will do anything to pocket some extra cash (it is because they don't make enough money to live good)