A couple of years ago I had a buyer in Japan buy a Peugeot road bike from me. He was looking for the most economical way to ship it to him and here is what I did. This takes cooperation between the buyer and seller but it worked out well for me and him. The USPS limit I believe is 108 inches total per box. A modern day BMX box is that size almost exactly and may be just a bit under. I took the frame and a few bits and packaged them in one box and the wheels and other bits in another. Each cost $45 to ship to Japan because he chose the least expensive method which was surface. The down side is that it took nearly 6 weeks to arrive. But arrive it did and in great shape. There are creative ways around shipping costs but they are becomming harder and harder to find. The buyer pays shipping cost so in my book the buyer dictates what how they want it shipped. If they want it in two days across country, it can be done but they have to grease that wallet hinge.
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ