Shipping, via USPS, is weight dependent. The location is also a factor, shipping to CA is more expensive than shipping to NY. You can also add insurance, tracking, receipt of delivery that are extras and add cost.
Another thing to look at is how fast you want the package to arrive at it's destination. The faster the service, the more expensive the shipping.
Generally speaking, a shaft shipped priority and insured to most places should cost less than the entire cue since the weight will be more and you probably want to insure it and add tracking.
Check out the USPS web site for additional information and options. So long as you have basic information like the total weight of the package you are shipping and know where it is to be shipped, you should have a good idea of the cost.