Let me start my case for padding postal charges with a disclaimer that it is something I do not do. Postal fees are listed in my ad. If there is an overcharge I refund the extra monies paid. That happens every so often when combined purchases make the use of "flat rate" USPS boxes the way to go. As Will Rogers said.."I would rather be the guy that bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the guy that sold it..I would rather pay too much than charge too much."

If I saw an ad in which the seller sought to profit on postage I would simply not buy from that seller.

As of late I have moderated my stance. My products sell at a value that the time, materials and effort of packing/shipping are secondary to postal charges. I do not need to build in a profit margin in postage.

Some sellers do not have that luxury. Their products command such little price they need to add a bit to actual postage. Case in point....I recently purchased 11 VHS movies for less than $1.00 apiece. The listed postage was $9.00 total. The sale started at 99 cents. The seller had 2 other movies I was interested in and postage on each sale was $5.00 with a $2.00 combined shipping discount on each VHS. Total postage for 13 movies was $15.00. Experience tells me 13 VHS movies will fit into a $8.60 USPS "flat rate" Priority Mail Box. I asked if the seller would agree to the use of the $8.60 box for all 13 movies. The seller refused. It was possible for the 3 lots of movies to sell for only the 99 cent opening bid. If the sale was for less that $3.00 and you figure the time/expense to package the movies..the 50 cents or so apiece "handling" charges built into the shipping charges were necessary to prevent a loss of money on the sale. The more I thought about it the more I came to appreciate the logic and bought the movies I wanted and would buy again from that seller.

A somewhat similiar..but to me different sale left me with a bad taste that would prevent me from buying the sellers product again. DVD's were offered with a $4.00 shipping charge and the offer of discounted shipping on multiple purchases. I purchased 4 DVD's and after the sale was told the discount was $1.00 off per movie after the first. I was charged $4.00 for the first and $9.00 for the remaining 3 for a total of $13.00 for a ONE pound package that was to be sent media mail for only a few dollars. I was being charged nearly FIVE times the actual cost. I bear full blame for not asking BEFORE I bid, but that still does not make it taste any better and I would not buy from that seller again.

It is reasonable to add enough of a handling charge to postage to cover actual costs. It is another to be a "postage pirate." The trick is to ask BEFORE you buy and avoid sellers who are unreasonable in their charging practices.