@gsuberland I had a similar case in EU, the seller chose to use DHL instead of normal post ( even though I explicitly selected and noted that on the order ), and as planned DHL wanted to charge me with twice the product value as "customs processing fees" on top of correct tax calculation.

After getting in touch legal support, I contacted DHL and told them I would be the one doing the process in the customs, which they denied due to them "handling the package", I went and did it anyway, paid the equivalent of 12 euro in local currency.

That was a long time ago - more than 20 years ago, and those times personal touch and discussion worked. Since then neither DHL has a contact point that you can figure things out with anymore ( especially these kinds of things ) nor processing things in customs alone after the fact is an option.

I hope all goes well