Massive US International shipping rate increase

[imironmann]

Just wondering if anyone else in the U.S. has noticed the INSANE increase in the cost of international shipping?

I just got home from the post office to ship 3 boxes.

One steelbook within the U.S. just cost me $3.43 to ship to Texas.

One steelbook shipped to The Netherlands just cost me $14.90.

Each steelbook packed and ready to ship weighed about 10 ounces.

I have a collectors edition strategy guide book I was supposed to be shipping to the UK but I didn't ship it (sorry rapidly-greying) because they wanted $27.63 for shipping. The book all packed up and ready to ship weighed just over 2lbs.

I currently have a trade thread open but due to these shipping costs I don't think I'm going to be able to trade outside of the US. Unless the person trading with me can somehow make up the difference by either covering the shipping cost or trading something along the lines of 2 steelbooks for 1. I don't see that happening on equal valued items.

Anyone have any thoughts or maybe know if UPS or Fedex has any cheaper services. I know this will affect many collectors.