It's the rip-off Royal Mail in the UK mostly, Dwight. I can send a letter by First Class mail in the UK, for about 35 Pence which, theoretically, is supposed to get there the following day. However, if I send the same letter by what used to be known as Registered Mail, it would have cost me about 75 pence, and definitely be delivered the following day, and have to be signed for by the recipient. Now, the Royal Mail have changed all that, and the registered system has been 'replaced' by something which is exactly the same service, but is now called 'Guaranteed Delivery' - but it costs Four Pounds and 95 Pence, for the same bl**dy letter!!
The parcels and packages system has been changed too, into a ludicrous system judged by size. Basically, this means that I could send a package weighing, say, 1 pound, and measuring say 4 x 6 inches for maybe 98 Pence within the UK, as it's classed as a small package. But, if I sent a package weighing 1 ounce, and it measured 8 x 10 inches, it could cost 4 Pounds or more. But it gets better - if the larger package weighed ,say, 2 pounds, but was classed as 'printed matter', it would be sent for the same price as the first mentioned small package!!
As for sending parcels etc overseas, well, that just gets plain ridiculous!
I have to admit though, some companies do overcharge for shipping in some cases, even within the UK. No names, no pack drill, but a couple of companies send packages at a rate of around £3.50, rising in cost on either size/weight, or order value, whilst another company despatches free of charge within the UK, and at basic cost overseas, whilst yet another company has a flat rate no matter what the size etc, of around £4 .....makes you wonder!