The USPS just raised prices again, now it's close to $8 to mail anything in a small flat rate box or in a padded flat rate envelope. It can cost a little less to send thigs locally in normal boxes, but for me on the East Coast, anything going west of the Mississippi can get expensive. I'm raising my shipping prices to $5.50 for packages weighing a pound or less, and $8.50 for everything else until they qualify for free shipping.