We get this question a lot - if a USPS media mail label costs $4.47 (which is only for up to 1 pound, and that's including the box, etc), why does shipping cost more than that?
There are really two answers to this question:
1) Transparency -- not including the shipping costs in our item prices and then claiming "free shipping" gives you, the customer, an ability to see how much the item actually is being sold for. We don't artificially mark up the item and then claim to offer you a shipping discount. When a store offers "free shipping", you're still paying for it, it's a part of the store's operating costs and must be accounted for in their pricing if they want to make a profit.
2) Customer experience - there are many "handling" aspects (as in "shipping & handling") of the vinyl customer experience where we try and give our customers the best possible experience and the highest quality available. Shipping supplies (boxes, bubble wrap, cardboard inserts, printer paper and ink, tape, "Fragile" stickers, etc.) all cost money. We ship items in protective plastic outer sleeves and audiophile anti-static inner sleeves, which also cost money. Further, cleaning (ultrasonically and by hand) requires supplies as does play testing. All these steps require expenses are borne to give you the customer an excellent experience where you can be confident that you're getting what you think you're buying. As a low volume seller, the margins just aren't high enough to throw all this in for free.
So all of that is what your shipping expense is paying for at the end of the day. But if you still have questions about our process, please feel free to ask anytime. Thanks!