it affects us up here in Canada
I find it difficult to trade for only one chip only because our postal rates are double of what you guys pay.
To send a simple letter to the US is .98 cents with the tax,which isn't too bad, BUT.....for me to send one chip from Canada,it costs $1.96 PLUS the cost of the bubble mailer!Even if we send it in a normal envelope,it still costs us $1.96,because it is now no longer classified as a letter due to the fact that there is something in the envelope that is not paper.Since there is something other than paper,we also have to fill out a custom's slip as well.
This is what is required of us by the USA, apparently since 9/11.
So,for us to send one chip to you guys,it costs us nearly $2.50 when you factor in the mailers.
Will I do it? Yes....but only if it is worth my while tradewise.
When I get my personals done in a few weeks,I will definitely send those out to people who have been kind enough to have already mailed ones to me,but I will have to give serious thought to mailing single and common chips out at $2.50 a pop as part of a trade.
Honestly....compared to us,your rates are a bargain,and if the situation was reversed and I lived in the USA,I don't think that the increase would be that much of a concern to me.....YET!