Yes China has us covered. They build everything and they subsidize their postal service to get it to us. The recent developments at ebay are nearly killing US retailer exports and I am not sure people are aware of it. I can buy stuff from China and 9 times out of 10 shipping is free. I buy from a US retailer who uses the ebay Global shipping program, and the cost incurred are prohibitive. Something that would normal cost $7 to ship and incur no import duties now is subject to eBay's program which includes about a $20 charge, plus some bogus import prepayment of about $7, meaning the purchase of a $12 item has about $27 in shipping added. Well guess what, stuff I can buy form China and Europe cost me $7 in postage. Where do you think my money is going? eBay becoming the middle man in the shipping process is killing sales outside of the USA. I don't know how many times in the past month there has been an Item I have wanted from a US ebay retailer and I have simply passed and purchased elsewhere because of this program. Luckily a lot of times, I can find it at another US retailer who ships direct and not through ebay, and get it to my door for $7.00
Just wanted to make people who may be using the "eBay Global shipping program" aware of the cost being incurred by their customers when they choose to do so. In some cases this may be turning customers somewhere else.
So the eBay, "Ship through us and we will Look after everything" is probably going to do more harm to your export sales then help them. I am sure the USPS click and ship has online customs form that take 30 seconds to fill out. So if you are a US seller and you opt for the Ebay Global shipping program, chances are people outside the US who are looking at cost to their door and buying somewhere else. For my own selfish reasons I wish people would take notice of this and opt to ship stuff outside the "ebay": shipping program. Realistically they are taking a $7, 30 second customs form filling exercise and adding about $20 to it. On small items it just doesn't fly.