What gifts can or can't I send in the mail to my penpal in Germany?

Question

And if you live in Germany, what would you like to receive from the U.S.? Why don't some countries allow the mailing of playing cards?

Answer 1

I am not sure exactly what you can and cannot send, but I know hazardous chemicals, and perfume because of alcohol content. But something to consider, you cannot send the items in a box that previously held hazardous content, and is marked accordingly. For instance, you cannot send a gift in a box that is marked "contents: motor oil" Because this is marked with a hazardous chemical, even if it is something else, it will never make it through customs. Best advice wrap your boxes in brown paper, so that their previous contents are unknown.

Answer 2

Playing cards used to have an excise tax in the USA. That's no reason to prohibit their importation. Maybe some Islamist governments like the Taliban think they are sinful.

Buy on http://amazon.de and get quick delivery to your friend, no hassles. There is rather little you can find in the USA that you can't get in the EU. Unless, perhaps, it's something you make yourself.

Answer 3

You cannot send perfume as far as I know. Tried to order some from the States  and weren't allowed to. Anything that might explode I guess.

A good thing us Germans like (the younger ones anyway) is different kinds of candy, i.e. Peanut Butter Cups

Answer 4

Don't send meat, n**i items, hard p**n, electronics, or more than three pounds of chocolate.  CD/DVD will get held up in customs.

Germans like Butterball turkeys (can't mail them however), some of our candies since they're different from European, American peanut butter.  

Your friend would probably like a t-shirt from your school if you know the size.

Answer 5

I'm a u.s. citizen living in Germany, not sure what or what not to send, nothing dangerous anyhow, but one thing I tell my kids when they send gifts and such to me is at the post office when you fill out the forms do not put the value of what you are sending at more than $5-$10 no matter how expensive it is. The receiving party will have to pay import tax on the items no matter if they are gifts or not. Having them use the $5-$10 range seems to get it through without me having me pay any taxes. My daughter forgot last time, she put $65 on the form, I had to pay almost $25 in tax. I ordered a barbie doll on line and accidentally had it sent it to my address in Germany, $45 friggen hard rock barbie doll cost me over $20 in tax.

Answer 6

IDK exactly what restrictions Germany has, but I don't think there are very many restrictions, I'm sure far less than the U.S.  I know for a fact that any n**i/Neo-n**i paraphanelia is illegal and won't be let into the country, but I'm sure you won't be sending any of that.