fungus:
retrolefty:
I've been speculating about this for years. All I can conclude is that they get direct gov subsides or tax credits on the actual shipping fees. Free shipping seems to be the norm on the Chinese E-bay listings.I'm pretty sure they ship packets by containerloads to the destination countries, so that's cheap. Even so...the destination country still has to take it from the ship to your door.
I'm pretty sure I can't send a package to the next town for $2 so how do they get the post office to deliver one for a few cents? They must have some sort of a deal worked out.
I've ordered dozens and dozens of Chinese E-bay listing over the last 5 years or so, to the west coast USA normally takes 10-12 days, packs always say they shipped via air mail, a container ship would take much longer. As I said they are somehow getting government assistance on shipping costs, there is no other way I can buy a 50 cent item (I have) with free shipping and get it in 10 days.
Lefty