[DiverDude]

As someone who spent 10 years importing and exporting from/to the US and around the world, I can tell you what Snarkys is telling you is straight up. Cross-border shipping is truly a nightmare thanks to our respective governments.

You need to expect to pay a brokerage fee (~$50) and applicable tax and, possibly, duty on anything you buy in the US. USPS won't charge brokerage but I've been charged a lesser 'processing' fee and their tracking is seriously a joke and there is no insurance worth talking about. You are taking a chance shipping with them and I've had both good and very bad experiences.

In the end, due to volumes and tax laws, you can sometimes find better pricing in the US but you need to consider all factors before you buy. Sometimes, even though it will cost you a few bucks more, it's a lot simpler to buy locally. If ever there's a problem with anything, it's a lot quicker/simpler and cheaper to resolve.

Sorry you got a shock but I wouldn't blame the seller -they're already going a lot farther to make your life easy that most US companies would.