From a vendor what is the expected/max shipping cost and how is it determined fair? I assume they must have to pay for some stealth and postage/postage material(stamps and boxes). How and when is the shipping cost determined and paid given that when I see the price, it must cost more after location is known? Any details on paying/determining shipping appreciated thanks!
the price of shipping is generally tacked on to the top of the sale. when you make an order, you'll usually be given at least a couple options (generally first class and priority) to choose from. whichever you choose, the price of that, which is set by the vendor, will be added to your purchase before your make your payment. additionally, other vendors i've seen will simply price their products accordingly to factor in the cost of shipping. the price a vendor sets for shipping factors in a few things: packing materials, cost of postage stamps, time and gas (to get to the post office and back). without passing these costs along to the consumer somehow, and factoring in more than just the simple cost of the product, a vendor would be at risk of either losing money or just breaking even every time he sends a pack. your cost of postage won't change once the vendor knows where you are. if you choose, say, domestic postage and you live in the US, you'll be charged the vendor's domestic rate. doesn't matter where in the US you are. if they charge $5 for shipping, that's what you'll pay. the same would go for international postage. a package coming from germany is gonna to cost the same amount going to the ukraine as it is going to mexico, doesn't matter. the vendor pays the international postage rate set by his country's postal system.