I already got several parcels through the customs, and unless it's a big-name carrier (UPS, TNT, DHL...), they don't take an arm and a leg in addition to the VAT. Our USPS partner is not as expensive as the big ones.

I think even if my parcel gets stuck at the customs I'll still have for less than 50€ fees + VAT, so it's still cheaper for me.

The fees are not a fine for not declaring it properly, they are just "documentation fees" (not sure of my translation, that's what they take for paying the guy who processes your parcel)

We'll see if I can handle the shipping time though, that's my biggest gripe about getting stuff from other countries.

PS : French laws here, probably different in other EU countries