Probably due to the hassle?  For me (in the US), when I have to ship anywhere outside the U.S., UPS is expensive, and I don't do Fedex since they're very unreliable, so customers choose USPS Global Express with Insurance.  (If I don't offer USPS, then they won't buy due to the high shipping cost).  But USPS is still a pain.  Sometimes their website lets me create the order completely...that's rare.  Sometimes it does not let me put insurance on.  Sometimes I'll fill out and print the customs forms online, but the post office says that they don't recognize that, so I need to re-fill out their in-store version of the form.  And sometimes they want to see what's in the package before it's sealed up.  In all but the first situation, I have to physically go over to the post office and wait in line.  Major hassle and burns lots of time.  I usually print out a tech doc or take a magazine so I can catch up on some reading when I have to go to the post office.

-Neil.



> -------- Original Message --------
> From: "Joe McCauley" <joe.mccauley@tcd.ie>
> 
> Well what is the big deal about shipping outside the US anyhow. I can see
> that some 'exotic' locations might be problematic with issues like loss of
> packages etc., but for Western Europe at least the postal services are
> reliable. I get stuff shipped from the US all the time. Small packets cost
> an amazing US$9.50 to Ireland  from the CONUS when sent USPS and usually
> arrive in a week. I have never had an issue with delivery yet. Yet on many
> ebay auctions you will get that annoying phrase 'will ship to the
> continental US only' or 'only ships to the lower 48 states' That's a bit
> rough on Alaska & Hawaii never mind the rest of us.

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