I just got an igniter for one of my gas heaters. The igniter costs $6.95. The shipping charge by UPS was $16.00!! So the total cost came to $22.95 and the item came in a padded envelope about 5" X 7". It could have easily been shipped by first class mail for less than $3.00. The supplier told me that they have a contract with UPS and cannot ship any other way. What a ripoff!!!!

that is ridiculous.. and kinda unrealistic that it should cost that much. i had to ship a videocard back to EVGA for a replacement once through UPS, it weighed about 3-4lbs, and i got $600 insurance on it (it was a GTX 580) and it only cost me about $15. did the seller overnight it to you or something? lol.

on a somewhat related note, i had a surround sound system shipped from amazon by 1-day shipping once. I have amazon prime, so it only cost me $3.99. the package was around 85lbs according to amazon, and shipped from arizona to west virginia. it got to me the next day and i've often wondered how much that would have cost for a 'normal person' to ship something like that with 1-day shipping.

The part took about a week to get and then it was in my mail box when it came. When I ordered it and was told the shipping cost, I asked them if they could ship it first class and was then told they only ship UPS.

I also have Amazon's prime shipping. The 2 day shipping is really nice. I haven't been in a hurry to get something in 1 day. At least, not yet.

usually i'll use the 2-day shipping. the only time i really use the 1-day shipping is if its something really expensive, and the extra $3.99 isn't going to make much of a difference in the final cost lol. That one, i mostly did just to see if they could get it to me in a day lol.

Daylight robbery if you ask me.

There are no ounces for UPS I think so if someone is locked into a contract with them it sucks. I had something that weighed less then an ounce sent to me once and the people had to ship fed ex, cost 11 dollars for them to ship it to me. Less then an ounce and could have been shipped for 41 cents. The item was a 50 cent item that I had to have to fix a washing machine.

I have 3 shipments of lasedisc's to pay for during this year, and know exactly what to expect from the UK customs.

Apart from the shipping cost's from Japan, I will be looking at a further approx: £40 from the depot in Coventry or from Acton West London depot.

The way that I have ''Begrudgingly accepted is'' if you want something then you have to pay for it.
And yes I have complained about these charges to customs. . . . .Hey ho . . . . . .I have been vexed in the past about this.

Regards to you guys