Overcharging Shipping from the US

Can I have a moan please? I have been selling and buying online for some years now and I think I can say, I know what I am doing and I know what's fair and what's not. I was going to order 48 plastic cabochons from a seller in the US. Shipping to the UK was $12.95 AND there was even a handling fee of $2.95! They have lost my custom. I sell happily to the US with a shipping of $8.70 regardless of how much is bought. Come on you US sellers, I know we are another countly but we aren't on the moon! I buy a lot from Etsy and most US sellers have just perfect international shipping rates. One however charged $13.00 for something that would fit in an envelope. Why do this? Why price shipping SO highly that you lose custom? You are internet sellers and you want to sell to the world, yes? So, look at your shipping rates and then perhaps you will then discover why sales are low.