As above. That's what's nice about the EU--they have a customs union so when sending things from the UK to Germany or Spain for example, one doesn't have to pay anything extra.
- One of the rules about the EU customs union is that the retailer/supplier applies its country's VAT onto an item when shipping within the union. You don't pay anything extra.
- Conversely retailers/suppliers are not supposed to add its country's VAT onto an item when shipping to countries OUTSIDE of the union--that's when you're supposed to pay your country's VAT on top.
It can work in your favour (or maybe just slightly); with regard to this last point, you'll notice this when buying things from Amazon.co.uk for example--you won't have to pay 20% UK VAT. Instead you'll be liable to pay 8% Swiss VAT (MwST) when it arrives here. What is nice is that most countries have thresholds and for Switzerland, if an item is less than around CHF 30 (I cannot remember exactly--see
http://www.zoll.ch for details on types of products and allowances) you are not charged import duties--so in effect you save a quid or two (wow!) even including the postage fees compared to when buying the item in the UK.
If you're getting relatives to send you items. Make sure they don't put a high value in the green customs label they affix at the package. Tell them to write "gift" and value £10 or £15 or something like that.