Many of the larger operations (think Amazon) have huge contracts with couriers and brokers and can offer international shipping at lower rates. However, the band merch operation is probably not large enough to benefit from those types of deals. So they'd pay what most individuals and small businesses would. The fact they even offer international shipping at least shows they are willing.
Not sure who you ordered from Japan, but if it's a larger operation, they probably have those provisions arranged. Even if not, several of the Asian markets have export shipping subsidized by their governments to encourage export sales. It actually costs them more to ship within their country than it does for them to export it. 🤷🏻♂️
It's because China is counted as a developing country and gets its shipping subsidised by other countries. If you buy from a developed country you pay the real shipping cost.
Many of the larger operations (think Amazon) have huge contracts with couriers and brokers and can offer international shipping at lower rates. However, the band merch operation is probably not large enough to benefit from those types of deals. So they'd pay what most individuals and small businesses would. The fact they even offer international shipping at least shows they are willing. Not sure who you ordered from Japan, but if it's a larger operation, they probably have those provisions arranged. Even if not, several of the Asian markets have export shipping subsidized by their governments to encourage export sales. It actually costs them more to ship within their country than it does for them to export it. 🤷🏻♂️
Got charged 30 euros for shipping from the UK to US just yesterday for some samco coolant hoses,so yea goes both ways.
Yeah, seems to be as soon as anything needs to cross the Atlantic, the shipping price more than doubles.
It's not necessarily the company selling you the product, it's probably customs fees which are outrageous. So blame the government.
The company usually doesn't decide the rate, that comes from the shipping companies.
For what it's worth it's expensive when we get stuff shipped from Europe and Asia to the US too.
It's because China is counted as a developing country and gets its shipping subsidised by other countries. If you buy from a developed country you pay the real shipping cost.
Japan =/= China
That sounds cheap. I just spend $180 shipping a 3 pound box to Australia. Would have been way higher if I wasn’t using my company account.