I've just had done the postage for 2 identical items. One going to Manchester, about 70 miles away, the other to Los Angeles (8500 miles). Both postage methods are basically the same in comparison.

Mancland: £2.50
LA : £3.74

Seems to be a slight per mile difference

So I just checked the price to Germany: £2.42


Just as bad as using Skype. If I phone my neighbour during office hours on his mobile it's 20p-30p/min, during the same period if I phone a mobile in the USA, it is 1.2p/min