Reading everyone's complaints regarding taxes is kinda scary.
here's my experience.
I have been ordering books at Barnes and Noble and my pourchases generlaly average around $150 and they always ship via FedERx and I have never been charged.
With Amazon, books shipped via DHL, amounting to the same as my Barens and Noble are always taxed.
When I buy 10-15 vcds at YesAsia, they always ship via DHL and I have never been taxed. However , when I bought 20 vcds, I was taxed about 1,000 pesos (DHL din).
Interestingly, the invoice placed outside the package usually lists the value in HK dollars and it is usually about 50% lower than the actual price. I've never asked YesAsia about this (baka mag-declare pa ng real value, patay sa customs).
I just got 4 vcds from amazon, valued about $100 and shipped via UPS and placed in separated packages of 2 vcds.
I was taxed 1,206 for one pacakge and no tax on the other.