How do the Chinese ship so cheap?

[meanpc]

I have an Xbox controller that I need a AA battery back for. I ordered one from a Chinese seller on eBay. 99 cents shipped. How can they do this? I understand they probably load up a container full of stuff and ship it here, but how does it get into the US postal system and delivered to me for that price? This was a BIN that they have sold thousands of, so I'm assuming it's a profitable transaction for them.

 

[Paleo_joe]

When I ship internationally, I assumed all the money went to the home country / USPS and not the country I'm mailing to. Maybe not. If there's a payment made it would have to be via a treaty of some kind.

Anyway, shipping is cheap because Chinese mail is subsidized by the Chinese government as critical infrastructure, as it is in many countries. I am glad I am not competing with someone who could ship at a fraction of my cost.

 

[meanpc]

I understand if their mail is subsidized, but why would our postal system deliver it for free or nearly free? Or is China paying a billion dollars to USPS every year? I don't get it.

 

[mjlalt]

I love how someone from China can ship a package to my neighbor for less than I can.

Here is a great article that explains a lot
The Postal Service is losing millions a year to help you buy cheap stuff from China - The Washington Post

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

I love how someone from China can ship a package to my neighbor for less than I can.

Here is a great article that explains a lot
The Postal Service is losing millions a year to help you buy cheap stuff from China - The Washington Post

And ppl still just don't get it!
It burns my butt like a flame, so high......

I try to buy American, I filter my ebay searches to US only, etc....... yet when researching sold listings, that China stuffs wins out every time, for cheap, too! I've long known they've had the gov't subsidized shipping, but it seems they just been pumping it out more and more, and the US just seems to keep sucking it up and farting our money out the back door. And, increasingly so, every year.
Now, throw Alibaba, into the American mix..... again, lather, rinse, repeat.......

I'm all for generosity, fair trade, caring for neighbors, helping folks out, BUT, not if I'm gonna hafta starve and be put out in the street.
Seems, we (the US) don't just shoot our selves in the proverbial foot..... we look down the barrel and pull the trigger, to see if it's loaded. (well, not us/we, they them WE, those that make them decisions, I don't think us here at t-net would make such idiotic decisions. I just constantly wonder who's running this popcorn stand!)

ok, sorry, cat rant over, was I being too extreme?

 

[diggummup]

It seems most European countries can ship a first class package w/ sig. con. to the US much, much cheaper than we can to their country. it's not just the Chinese, though they probably get the best rates.

 

[mjlalt]

Here is a nice little read- The Postal Service is losing millions a year to help you buy cheap stuff from China - The Washington Post

Hmmm, looks strangely familiar.

 

[diggummup]

Hmmm, looks strangely familiar.

Yeah, I have the flu and my head isn't all there. lol Sorry

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Thats funny, Cause I always thought the same thing. Ive purchaed items for less than 2 dollars and had free shipping, Thou it took a month to get here. It seemed like alot of effort from many different people, for a 2 dollar item