SHIPPING FROM THE USA is still very very expensive to Australia pro-rata compared to our shipping.
I have noticed, if the items are posted from either the east or west coast of the USA, its cheaper by 50% compared to if its posted from a state central to the USA.

Weight is how USA postage is calculated firstly, and that is the killer, hence why some pinball manual or book postal prices can be expensive.

I have been stung before purchasing books from the USA.