Don't know that this would work with VS, but...

I ordered a pop top ring online...it's a cheap ($5.95) ring that flight attendants use to open soda cans. The shipping was also $5.95...and that was the standard shipping fee on this particular website. I sent an e-mail and asked if someone could just pop it into an envelope and charge a smaller shipping fee....they came back with a "yes" and I was charged a dollar for shipping.

Did the same thing trying to order a hard to find size of a plate hanger. $5-6 for the hanger and $7.95 for shipping. The e-mail response I received stated they were a small business and that was one way they could offset costs. I did not buy the plate hanger from this merchant.

Doesn't hurt to ask.....