S/H is a lucrative side income for companies. I've given up on several companies just for this reason. A chronometer I looked at was $400 + $21.50 S/H from Sovietski.com A dedicated watch shop has the same item for $380 and $8.75- insured! Customers need to be aggressive. Write the company and tell them "I want to patronise your business, but I can't justify your S/H. This is my zipcode. Can you do better?"