The below shows their real shipping costs. $230 to the UK, $400 to Australia
http://stores.ebay.com/Precision-World/Microscope-Library#Chart
Not exactly. There are two ways to do the shipping:
- directly from Precision-World to buyer. In this version shipping prices are crazy like 1500$ US->PL shipping for 450$ microscope.
- ship using Ebay Global Shipping (
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/shipping-globally.html). Ebay Global Shipping means seller (Precision-World) sends goods to US Ebay Delivery center and the Ebay companies do the rest (Ebay Center -> destination country). It takes longer but it's cheaper. Tracking packages is possible but some fun is involved. In my case microscope mentioned was sent in two physical packages and I'm getting each one using different courier at my country (so far received one, waiting for the second). I've paid 25$ for shipping that microscope to me (US->PL). Also all custom/duties are paid directly, so you simply get your package without any additional paperwork.
Anyway the price you see on ebay is the correct one. You should see "This item will be posted through the Global Shipping Program and includes international tracking. Learn more" for packages that fit Global Shipping rules (ebay system decides which items are eligible AFAIK).