I've been seeing a lot of Aussie ebay sellers that say under the heading Postage:
May not post to United States.

I'm aware that US customs wants around an extra $10 or so to inspect international arriving packages, (something about terrorism) but that's something the USA buyer would add to the shipping cost, beyond the bid price of the item. Or is it because of that NSA spying thing (I don't like it either)?.

I'm not sure it is a customs or spying thing.

Australia has umpteen spy/intelligence agencies located here (ASIS, ASIO, Defence Signals Directorate, Office of National Assessments, Australian Federal Police and a few others we probably don't get told about) and they are all looking at us plus other countries, as has been reported in the news recently with the so-called Indonesian phone tapping affair. It is also believed that the Royal Australian Navy has in the past 'upped periscope' on its submarines to spy on the former USSR and North Korea.

Personally, I am not worried about secret services spying on me and I don't think most Australians would care either. We all know it's a fact of life and if we aren't doing anything wrong then there's really no statistics for them to collect from us.

As you say, the customs fees, if any, and local taxes, if any, would be payable by the buyer and thus not much of a concern for the seller.

It may have more to do with Paypal scams than anything else and, with that, some sellers would be reluctant to post outside Australia at all. It's easy for those paying by Paypal to get their money back once they have received their items because Paypal has a policy of favouring buyers (including those who claim they did not receive their items) and tracking down these people is just too hard and too expensive across international borders and even if one did find out where the scammer lived the argument starts over where the transaction officially took place so it could be decided as to which courts had jurisdiction over it.

"Personally, I am not worried about secret services spying on me and I don't think most Australians would care either. We all know it's a fact of life and if we aren't doing anything wrong then there's really no statistics for them to collect from us."

Very well said. Unlike most of my American friends on Facebook, who are overly-distressed over the NSA situation, I couldn't care less if some government agency spies on me and my activity online. They won't find much aside from a whole lot of vintage televisions and Youtube...

Chris

It's often said, like the phrase that Claudia Schiffer doesn't get out of bed for less than $10,000, that ASIO (and like agencies) know when you had your last dump. I find that sort of thing a source of amusement regardless of whether it is true or not. Espionage and counter espionage will always be one of life's little mysteries but to the credit of intelligence agencies, they have, through whatever means they felt necessary, saved the lives of a lot of people, particularly those who would have succumbed to terror attacks in recent years.

On the other side of the coin, there are plenty of US sellers who won't ship outside the 48 states.

Twice I have had to organise, at significant expense, to have DHL collect items in the USA and fly them to me. Both times the sellers told me that they don't ship outside USA because "it's too hard". Others will accept US bank cheques only.

So, wa2ise if you are willing to pay then you could also try the DHL route. I use DHL because they allow such shipments without the need of an account with them. Service is great, to. It includes their going to the seller's address and collecting the goods.

Australia Post also charges very high rates - I believe it is the only post office in the world that makes substantial profits. that raises the stakes for sellers in case of a refund demand, because the postage can more than double the cost of the sale.

You see the same problem with domestic online sales of vintage electronics - notice how many are "Local pickup only", even though this may reduce the potential market to very little unless the seller is in Sydney or Melbourne. Very few sellers can genuinely cover their costs, if you consider the time and materials for packing and despatch. The net value of the item is often less than the sunk costs of the repair work that the seller has done. (Unless you have a blue Peter Pan Snail that you haven't even bothered to clean up)

Maven

Australia Post also charges very high rates - I believe it is the only post office in the world that makes substantial profits.

Yep, compare this:

http://auspost.com.au/about-us/annual-report-results-2013.html.

... with this:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-12/canada-to-phase-out-home-mail-delivery-to-cut-big-losses/5151336.

I've always thought the price we pay for a post office box is a rort. Apart from big installations like at the GPO in each state capital they take up very little room yet we pay Australia Post for the privilege of collecting our mail from them.

I use a box at the GPO in Sydney more for security and convenience than anything else. As it is close to where I work I can shoot over and collect mail and items I buy from Ebay in working hours and not have to do it on Saturday Morning if the postie leaves a collection card in my domestic letter box. There is also added security, knowing that any cards and PIN numbers I receive from the bank will not be pilfered.

It will be interesting to see how senior citizens and disabled people manage with Canada Post's plans. Although I would not be surprised if Australia Post follows their lead within ten years. Delivering letters was their most profitable business ten years ago though this has been displaced by parcels, as was shown in the ABC report. The banks, governments and big business are shoving electronic billing down our throats at the moment for obvious reasons and most will have accepted this as the norm within about ten years as most of those who are unable to use computers due to a lack of training or self/training will have passed on.

I distinctly remember about fifteen years ago, Australia Post wanted to claim a royalty on all electronic mail moved within Australia. Every time an external e-mail was sent we'd cough up 5c or 10c or something like that. I am glad that idea failed.

I think the difference is that Australia Post bit the survival bullet some years ago whereas some other postal organisations have not and seem to be willing to lie down and quietly die.

http://auspost.com.au/about-us/future-ready-business-renewal.html.

That said, it does irk me when counter sales of retail items like stationery or toys hold me up from transacting postal business. AP could organise its stores better.

That said, it does irk me when counter sales of retail items like stationery or toys hold me up from transacting postal business. AP could organise its stores better.

Yeah, and just get rid of that stuff. It seems funny that we can buy gifts and nicnacks at the post office, postage stamps at the newsagent, newspapers at milk bars, bread and milk at service stations and reading glasses at Big W.

Maybe we'd see fewer businesses going out of business if they went back to specialising instead of trying to wipe each other off the map.

People take advantage of paypal and the seller always suffers.
Every radio I sell goes out registered with Insurance to the value of the sale in case it is mishandled and breaks or lost while in the hands of the post.I make sure I write on the add if something goes wrong you claim to the post office not me or paypal I send the buyer proof of the packaging and a copy of the postal receipt but there are scammers out there that try and claim from the post for a refund and from paypal so they double dip.I ring paypal straight away if there is a dispute and tell them not to pay the money back as they have taken out Insurance on their goods and they will get paid out from the post.It will be a good idea if more people ring and tell this to paypal if they have a dispute with a seller.
This is for items posted in Australia only.