Potential seller's strange policy

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I see nothing wrong with the seller asking for a separate
payment/invoice for shipping if it's going to be the actual
shipping charges. I wish that I had thought of it in the
past. I've been killed on shipping several times on items
that I've sold. But, if I thought it would help the item
sell faster, I'd just go with the flat/estimated shipping
rate and eat the difference.

If this was an item that I just HAVE to have, I'd just pay
the extra fees to obtain the item. I wouldn't waste time
haggling over shipping if the estimate was anywhere near
reasonable.
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While I have sold items overseas they were small and I have never had a problem. They were all sent by USPS.

Larger items can get much more complicated and shipping can get into hundreds of dollars so I understand the sellers system in this case because shipping cost can't be figured in advance.

Personally I would just forgo foreign sales entirely to avoid the potential nightmares and headaches, customs being one of them.

Last two comments are spot on with overseas sales. The seller is being smart.

Shipping and paypal fees are nothing if your item happens to get caught up in customs. Anyone every try shipping something to and from Canada? lol. Your package just disappears for a couple of months, and reappears with a bunch of orange stickers all over it holding what used to be the box together. And your audio components is now a kit that requires assembly.

It's common to not quote shipping until destination and shipping method is known. It's uncommon and suspicious if someone tries to separate the charges... sounds dishonest and manipulative. Best to walk away from anyone who tries to avoid 1 completed charge to close the deal.