I keep a note of every order and carrier. From that, some patterns about New Zealand and Canada Post that may be useful. Tracked and signed-for is a different product to tracked, and the price difference is smaller than the anxiety difference.
What do you do about the fee? Do you just pay it? Tolerance was my main issue with Canada Post too.
File early.
File early. The window is shorter than people think and it starts at the transaction.
Domain age is one of the few signals that is expensive to fake and free to check.
Everyone is an expert until the first seizure letter.
Same here.
The declaration contradicting the return address is what gets it opened.
Do you contact the customs office or the carrier first?
Split the order.
Written confirmation email after every phone call. Cheapest insurance there is. Same for me with Canada Post, unfortunately.
Filing early beats arguing later. And ask for the reference number, always.
Same here.
Three month limits are cumulative across parcels in more places than people realise.
Be careful reading one parcel as a rule. Two successes build a false model.