op,
It’s a shame they won’t handle it.
Twice I had $1,100. TT's shipped by sellers from Canada, no excessive charges.
I had a $1,000. tonearm shipped by seller from Russia, no excessive fees.
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my direct deal with UPS was lesser size/weight/value, no fees or duty.
I visited my mother’s childhood home. She is 98.
Her child size croquet set was still in the basement, 88 years after she moved out. Croquet is ’big’ in our family, and I wanted the next and following generations to play with her set.
Current owner gave it to me, simply dropped it off local UPS. UPS called me with price, I agreed, we got a few games in before it got too cold.
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Here she is, just honored by the Navy on Tuesday, Pearl Harbor Day. She worked breaking the Japanese Codes during WWII.