That's exactly the experience I have had. A plain parcel or envelope in the regular mail has cost me a lot less than stuff delivered by UPS. I have had a charge from UPS previously that was more than the goods were worth! Bob Kelim (nice guy) sent me some sinew that came straight through the mail with no tax added. Small parcel deliverable by the postie on the regular route, and no one bothered with it.

: Daren,
: I usually ask for an order to just be put in the mail. The post office
: charges $5 to collect PST and GST. A foam seat is light, so the mail cost
: should be small.
: Quite often they are too busy,and the order will pass through with no taxes
: added, this is especially true just before Christmas. A plain box with
: handwritten address tends to be more likely to slip through also.
: Richard.