Postal fees have increased just like everything else due to the increase in the cost of living expenses such as the rising gas prices. However, shopping and buying online is still a reasonable way to go. One can do this in the comfort of their home, can compare prices, and in most cases have the item delivered right to one's door. This not only saves you the time and effort of going out to look for a particular item, it also saves you the wear and tear on your vehicle, not to mention the fuel costs in traveling to find the item.

As a seller on eBay, I do charge handling fees. I think some people don't consider that packing materials, such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts do cost, plus I do take into consideration my time and effort to pack the item to make ready to ship and the costs I incur when taking the item to the post office. Also, eBay charges fees to list the items being auctioned, as well as gets a percentage of the selling price. And if you pay through PayPal, they also get a percentage of the sell.

So the next time you are shopping and buying online do consider the convenience, the over-all savings of not going out to shop, plus auctons being posted by a seller, like any other business, is hoping to make a bit of profit.