NuclearVision wroteDelivery isn't really expensive(is it?), what i think about is tax and fees and sudden addons to price from lebanese customs.
I wonder why shipping from china is hassle free and doesn't involve paying customs, although shipping is free, often.
I think the convenience of mail tracking, mail insurance, and quality and fast delivery is why people take the expensive delivery over the mainstream weird mail services "like chinese mail services" .
Let me just correct you that delivery is expensive for big and fast shipments but the Chinese are just cost effective, they already have billions of parcels going each month and they reach every place on the globe, add to that low taxes and low wages and you have a really cheap but lazy delivery service.
DHL is a luxury for people who need fast and reliable delivery. If amazon ever enables shipping to Lebanon i imagine a low rates will roll ASAP