As this has become a shipping conversation I actually have two cents here. I have been criticized for not including international shipping amounts in my projects, and why??? Because I've been shipping internationally for over 10 years and I know you get screwed if you don't do it right. International buyers are given an estimate chart so they know approximately what it'll cost to ship a deck (or many) to them. When it's time to ship, I weigh and calculate the actual cost and send that to the buyer with the option for Priority or Standard. They then pay me via paypal or amazon. I am not out of pocket for international shipping!
Now let's talk about fairness. Why don't I discount their shipping by $2 which is what it costs me to ship US customers and is included in the deck cost? Because of the additional headache of doing freaking customs forms and understanding what can and cannot be shipped to certain parts of our world (which includes games and playing cards).
Great practice, no doubt. But doing that on a scale of 1500 backers (which is around how many int backers I have had in total for the Fed projects) it doesn't make sense. That would equate to an unmanageable correspondence and create custom hand input orders for every int. backer.
Totally agree with you on the customs forms, and seriously who ever invented the customs form slip should be tarred and feathered.
Hasn't someone created a template for printing Customs documents yet? The Postal Service is shifting over to having their customers print forms - even postage - at home. If someone hasn't - shouldn't they?
This is on stamps.com website. Not sure how easy it is to use for customs forms
All USPS Services at your Fingertips
•All mail classes including Priority, Priority Mail Express, First-Class™ and Media Mail
•International shipping (including First-Class) with customs forms included
•Package insurance up to $10,000
•Free USPS supplies including Flat Rate Boxes