I had a packaging/shipping store (like a UPS Store) for 29 years. The last few years I was getting caught in tariff fees and custom problems even on items shipped as gifts. One man sent a birthday package to his granddaughter and it got hung up in customs with a $40 tariff. He didn't want them to have to pay it and so we had to pay this whether we wanted it delivered OR if we wanted it returned. It was hit or miss if things got caught up. I do not know the specific reasons for the change in Joann's policy now, but my best guess is that it has to do with all the new rules about international shipping.