Thanks "Accessories"....I didn't realize that little "factoid"...based upon that alone is enough justification for me to stick with USPS....LOL

Stephanie

I actively AVOID other carriers for international packages. The major ones will insure that any packages valued at over the minimum for import fees to a country will have those fees charged (while many FCI packages slip through without the charges) and will charge their own admin fee that is a bit higher than any admin fee the receiving postal system would charge. Our Canadian neighbors get hit particularly hard with those admin fees so you do them a major dis-service using a 3rd party carrier for normal, low cost eBay sales. If the item cost is $thousands the fee won't be enough to worry with but otherwise, it will.

Click the fish to visit my store and see the A-lure-ing dangle earrings I make from lure parts

As I said I've only shipped to Germany this one time...

Seems it got there quickly by his estimate, but he had to go and get his package because German Customs wanted to see the invoice ...

He then went on to tell me that German Customs include the shipping costs in determining what he has to pay for VAT taxes....

As I include in all my listings a "disclaimer" that any addiitonal costs due to duties or taxes is the responsibility of the buyer. I also state that each country's Customs varies and we ca not detrime the time it takes to process items through each country' Customs....

Also he's e-mailed me about possibly making up invoices that are less so that additonal costs to the buyer won't take place....and (this is a "winner") putting the invoice on the outside of the package...something USPS doesn't do plus with the Custom shipping labels generated by USPS all this information is there anyway....

It appears this individual simply has way to much free time on his hands....and needs to get a life....But that's just my "humble opinion"....

I guess he feels compelled to sit back and re-do my entire shipping process to accomidate his "needs"...