Comsumers have been spoiled by free shipping from the major on-line retailers.
When I compaired the amount I was charged to what I would have been charged if I shipped the
same package*, it was within a few percents, plus or minus.
And don't ship
UPS ground if you buy something big; they charge as if you shippedminimum 30, 70, or 90 lbs after certain sizes. (DHL & FedEx ground also have a size cost, but are more graded.) And don't ship air at all with big packages.
The only 'legit' complaints I've heard here were with shipping bezels or other large stuff & not listing a shipping price when you order, and bad service. PonyBoy and DiveMaster are great, cheaper, and they are more up front about costs, true, and I'd buy from them. But 95% of the happs shipping complaints are due to what UPS charges, not happs.
*Same in size and weight, which means doing into the "detailed time and cost" on the web page, not just the "quick time & cost". And put in the correct size, as
one inch can be the difference between normal and
way too high shiping costs.
edit: added link to UPS's "oversize page"