tallyman advice is right on target, ship USPS. Problems isn't customs but UPS. They are a joke in every facet, having dealt with them both business and personal related, at all costs I refrain as often as possible. They charge brokerage fees on every item, even when they have no declared value(legit declared values BTW).
FWIWI have bought a lot of "telescopes", etc from the US and never a hitch. Most have been shipped by USPS but have received a few items via fedex as well. Again tallyman comments ring true with every seller that i have dealt with they know what to do
. I know many guys here whohave ordered gunstock from boyds, richards, etc - all cases the item discription was vague (for example"custom wood product") and they all were del. without a hitch.
As far as the country bashing...
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They give the Custom Officaljobs to some real winners on both sides of the 49th! I have had some real SOB's in my travels to the good ole US of A!