The problem isn't so much cost/risk/narrow minds..it's one of time/aggravation.
Frankly, the clerks in the Post Office don't know their own postal regulations.
To mail the box to Australia, previously mentioned, I packed the item, carefully in an official U.S.P.S. box, addressed it properly, stood in line to pick up the customs declaration form, filled it out appropriately, signed it in the required places, stood in line and presented it to the clerk who promptly informed me that I had used the 'wrong' customs declaration form' even though it was the only form they had placed out for use.
She handed me another form and back to the end of the considerably long line. Filled out the new form. Made it to the head of the line, a different clerk, postage calculated, everything stamped and affixed, and 'the clerk calculated the shipping charges incorrectly'. She did not know how to correct the error.
So, again, back to the end of the long line to wait for yet another clerk. Make it to the front of the line, the new clerk states that she can't correct the first clerks mistake, but she'll refund the payment, and I can start all over...as in...get a new box from the USPS and repack and readdress and again fill out the customs declaration and, again, stand in the lovely long line. Which I did.
At which point, FINALLY, a clerk who actually knew what he was doing, calculated, affixed, collected the payment...and the package was on it's way. This took several HOURS to accomplish. THAT IS THE REAL REASON NO ONE WANTS TO SHIP OVERSEAS.
I was only able to succeed because I had taken the time to research the actual USPS regulations so I knew I was right...but get that across to the official clerks. Plus, each countries import regulations are different, and constantly changing. And this was just a small box containing a simple shirt...took almost an entire afternoon to mail. The actual process, done correctly, including the long line wait, should have taken about half an hour. :roll: