I've got a few items for auction on eBay.

Here's the list .

You ought to list them here, too, and possibly avoid the Ebay fees.

$32 SHIPPING..... Right...

Is that what the calculator is quoting for shipping to Canada? That's insane! Can you tell me which listing gave you that cost so I can fix it? I know international shipping is expensive, but I thought it was around $9 to ship a First Class package of the weight I specified to Canada.

Bob--I did list these items here for a few months, but only got takers for a couple (which I sold). I figured it was time to put them up on eBay.

I find that the shipping calculator is not reliable. In cases such as yours it is pretty obvious that there is a problem in the way ebay calculates shipping, as I doubt that you would be purposely charging those rates.

The calculator is using Priority mail with tracking. That's why it is so expensive.

Regular first class international mail does not come with a tracking number, so the package is not covered by Ebay's seller protection policies if a non-delivery case is opened on it.

You could send it 1st class Registered, but you're probably still looking at around $20.00 (postage + $13.65 registered mail fee).

Bob--those prices are crazy. No wonder the Post Office is insolvent. There's no way anyone will buy a $4 item and pay nearly ten times the cost of the item for shipping. I think I'll give up selling to foreign buyers through eBay for small stuff like what I have on sale now. Better that than to have people thinking I'm gouging them on shipping.

I totally agree with you. You can always just send it out by 1st class mail and hope for the best. Most of the items you're selling would ship for $9, or less, to Canada.

The problem with that is, while most people are great to deal with, there are those few who want to scam you by claiming the item didn't arrive, and those impatient ones that don't fully understand international mail and file disputes without giving sufficient time for delivery. Either one can end up costing you the item, the payment, and the shipping cost. Personally, I won't ship anything out of the country unless it goes registered (and even that won't stop an "item not as described" claim). Consequently, my international sales have just about stopped.