*** more for Steve's eloquently stated description of what many of us have been saying here for a long time.

That said, recognize that it is up to the vendor to decide on how they ship something, especially if the item(s) have a high total value. I have on at least one occasion with one vendor specified both in writing and by phone that a certain item be sent by the "free shipping" option using specifically Royal Mails or Parcel Force, and because of its relatively high value they gave me a "free upgrade" to Fedex delivery for their own tracking security purposes, which ended up not so free on my end when I had to pony up $70+US to Fedex for their charged duty and fees, totally negating any savings I was getting on purchasing the item from that vendor and increasing its cost by 35%. Get it in writing if you want it shipped by Royal Mails or Parcelforce, and if it arrives any other courier consider refusing its delivery and asking for a refund from the vendor for the purchase price. FEdex/UPS will happily return ship it if you refuse to accept it and it should not cost you a penny, as long as you have not signed for it. Usually the first time Fedex will contact you before forwarding a package to you asking you to establish an account with them for billing purposes to pay for the duty and fees, and you can refuse the package then. But if you have already established an account with them by accepting a duty-owing package thereafter the packages will come through first and you will be billed shortly thereafter for the duty plus fees. So if you are wise, refuse the first Fedex account contact, or if it is already too late, then refuse acceptance of the parcel, if you want to protest the changing of shipping preference with the vendor.