Isn't there a minimum limit before they charge duty on things you bring through personally? $350 is a figure that sticks in my mind, but I'm not sure where it came from.
You'll find it depends on what they person is like, as you say.
I've been nickle and dimed about this before, but this was by the grumpiest guy I've ever met ... he started hassling me because I had an American packet of smokes ... just one packet in my pocket!
