All,  I've read through the various responses on this subject, and
I'm puzzled by a few things:

1)  Why are customs delays a problem for the seller?  Once it's
shipped, it's the customer's responsibility.  If this isn't the case,
there's a problem with your business practices, not with overseas
customs.

2)  Why is it so difficult to establish the shipping cost?  Since the
shipping weight and destination are known, it's easy to look up the
correct rate.  And to make things even easier, everything you need to
know is available at  http://www.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub51.pdf

This guide, available at USPS postal counters as "Publication 51",
also provides an abundance of explanatory information.  For example,
since player piano rolls would likely be considered "punched paper
tapes", they do not qualify for the Printed Matter rate.

3)  The "other side of the coin", of the buyers who ask for undervalued
customs declarations, are those vendors who massively inflate the
declared value, presumably in the hope of raking in a big settlement if
the package goes astray.  The hapless customer, who gets socked with
a massive customs charge, gets stuck with trying to negotiate the
valuation to a more sensible amount.

4)  Looking up tariff codes is not required when filling out the customs
form, so I find it hard to imagine that an extra 30 seconds of a
seller's time constitutes a ruinous amount of extra paperwork.

5)  With specific reference to eBay, the vendors don't necessarily read
the fine print, either.  I asked one vender about her USA-only policy,
only to hear back from her, "Oh, I didn't mean to click on that
check-box.  Sorry..."

So I've learned that one _always_ has to clarify, unless the vendor has
a garish "No International Bids" notice in their listing.

Domestic-only vendors have been characterised on other Internet
mailing lists as being lazy, clueless and xenophobic.  I must confess
I haven't yet experienced any great urge to jump to these vendors'
defense.

These vendors almost always act surprised when their policy invites
expressions of hostility from afar.  They need to ask themselves,
when was the last time they were told by a shopkeeper, "Hey you!
Your money's no good here!  Getouta my store!  Scram!  Beat it!!"

Refusing service to someone may cost you more than a sale -- it may
also cost you some of your reputation as a business person.  Think about
it.

regards,

Colin Hinz
Toronto, Canada