Mailing something to the UK

So call me silly or naive, but I don't know how to mail things to the UK!  The two times that I've sent to something the UK via UPS there has been a COD (cash on delivery) and when I asked about it the second time (I sent a guitar) the UPS lady said that there wouldn't be a COD and there was.

My mom was able to send me a couple things while I was over in the UK during the summer and there wasn't a COD.

So I decided to go to the Post Office to mail two dvds and a letter to the UK because when I went to UPS first they said that the Post Office does that type of thing without a COD. When I asked at the Post Office (after I'd already paid for it  ), the lady said she didn't know if there would be one.

What the heck am I doing wrong? And what's the point of sending gifts to people if they're going to have to pay for it once it shows up?

Rant over! But HELP!? 

BLAH
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P22_2021

I wish it was simple but it isn't

The COD is likely arising from customs/duty charges.  This is generally based on the value you declare on the package - around £35 or so is where it kicks in.  You should be exempt if you are sending your own used goods though (owned for >6 months).

I said the dvds were worth $20 so hopefully there won't be a COD.

Ah-ha, so that's how my mom got away with it. She sent me cookies and birth control.

Its the value you put on the outside of the box - if the DVD's were used then heck they could be worth $5 bucks each ;-)

http://www.usps.com/international/intlresourcecenter.htm

You also need to select what the intent of the item in the box is (ie. gift, personal etc.).

My family always ship via USPS and occasionally send boxes clearly marked as over $100 on the customs labels, but mark the contents as "gift" and I've never had to pay COD.  The only time I ever had to pay COD was when I ordered some bits directly from Victoria's Secret and they were delivered by UPS.  I'm not saying marking an item as "gift" is a get out for paying COD, but make sure family mark anything they send you as such in the furture.     It may also help that my family use USPS instead of UPS.

Work sent me a framed picture as a gift value $80 I paid $35 American dollars in vat and customs so I think its random

http://www.usps.com/international/intlresourcecenter.htm

You also need to select what the intent of the item in the box is (ie. gift, personal etc.).

My family always ship via USPS and occasionally send boxes clearly marked as over $100 on the customs labels, but mark the contents as "gift" and I've never had to pay COD.  The only time I ever had to pay COD was when I ordered some bits directly from Victoria's Secret and they were delivered by UPS.  I'm not saying marking an item as "gift" is a get out for paying COD, but make sure family mark anything they send you as such in the furture.     It may also help that my family use USPS instead of UPS.

I shipped USPS and marked it as a gift.

It arrived today and there wasn't a COD! Yay!

The USPS is generally cheaper than UPS.

I have never had to pay any COD charges. On the customs form I always write "No commercial value" I forget where I read to do that.