i participate in an international round robin every year- we ship through the post office- with insurance- i've never had one cost $98!
the most (and it was in a large- flat rate box- with insurance added was $23
you can access the USPS on line - enter the destination- size and weight of the box - the amount of insurance- anything else you want to add- and see exactly what it will cost. i've sent to the UK and to Austrailia- neither was too much more than shipping right here- the only issue i've had is it seems to take a lot longer for one to come to the U.S.---going out does not seem to be a problem- coming back takes months sometimes- you have to fill out a custom slip - be specific- yuoi can put it as a gift- but it has to have a value entered.