How do I check to see if an item's shipping charges are over-inflated?

[art_deco_diva_2012]

I have noticed that some sellers charge a lot more for shipping than others for virtually identical items. I understand that there are different rates for different classes of service, butoften they are the same.

I tried to use the Shipping Calculator, but unless I misunderstood it, it is laid out for sellers.

I am located in Canada and I am trying to find out how to check the separate rate information for each level of service in the US and the UK.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

[dmil8030 · Accepted solution]

There are a lot of reasons for differences as I'm sure you know, but most important is to see how the thing is being sent.  Is it coming globalexpress? Small Packet? Priority? First Class? Express Mail International? etc. 

You need dimensions and weight, metric for UK and Imperial for US.  For UK rates go here:

http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder

For US rates go here:

http://ircalc.usps.com/?country=10054

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

You add the selling price of the item (or your maximum bid) to the stated shipping fee for the item.

If the total is acceptable you bid, pay, recieve and enjoy.

In addition to the levels of service etc, some sellers put part of the shipping cost into the asking price. Some (still) put part of the asking price into the shipping price.

Which is most expensive?

A $10 item with $10 shipping?

A $5 item with $15 shipping?

A $20 item with Free Shipping?

A $1 item with $19 shipping?

For a buyer neither insurance nor confirmation of delivery is useful and there is no reason to demand them.

Postal shipping and Air Mail are useful and worth paying for.

[nonstopchatter]

I don't even bother looking at the price of postage on the package.  I've already decided that the TOTAL price that I'm paying is reasonable (usually more than reasonable) so its irrelevent to me how the cost is broken down.  Its really streamlined things for my as far as buying is concerned.

[ok_so_im_50]

Each seller is different and run their auctions their way. They do not have to conform to what other sellers are charging for shipping.