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Priscilla wrote:

Hello,

As an expat, there are inevitably certain items you might want or need from back home, and around the holiday period, many people like to send gift packages.

How easy is it to send and receive packages in Austria?

Very easy

Is the public postal system efficient?

Very

Do people tend to prefer using private shipping services? Which ones?

Online shopping has not really taken off in Austria, but it is slowly happening. Amazon and Ebay are the most used ones.

How do the costs of the private shipping services compare?

Not noticed a difference in costs

How long does it take generally to receive packages from abroad in Austria?

2 weeks is average

Do you have to pay taxes on items received by mail from abroad?

Only times you have to pay extra is when the price of the mail is undercharged from the sender, which is very rare.

Are packages delivered right to your doorstep, or do you usually have to go collect them somewhere?

They are delevered to the door step, but if you are out a note will be left and you will have collect either from the post office, or the private compay depot.
It can also be left with a neighbour.

Thank you for sharing your experience,

Priscilla