Freight rates from US buyers are now ridiculously high. Why are they so high?

[umack_1]

I can understand that heavy items purchased from US sellers would cost a lot of freight. But what is going on when a $16 gasket that fits in an envelope costs $54 freight? Is eBay trying to discourage Australian customers from buying from the US? 

Why I don't approve of Amazon's employee policies, I'm having to use Amazon because they still have reasonable (affordable) freight/postage rates.

[papermoon.lady]

Probably a seller using the GSP (Pitney Bowes) without weighing or measuring the item.

[kopenhagen5]

eBay in UK and USA have opted sellers into the GSP.

It is an expensive service for small items and they also charge a fee for collecting the import duty.

You can ask a seller if they will send USPS but many won't as they prefer the protection they have with the GSP.