Ebay has been getting more astringent with areas where Sellers pad their item price to avoid paying Ebay fees. Often, sellers hide fees to entice buyers and create a delusion that their product price is less than a competitors . . . the auction price, yes! The final price, NO!

A trend has grown where most Sellers will claim that they combine shipping, yet some fail to designate exactly how the combined shipping rate is figured or what the discount is to the buyer. AVOID auctions where Sellers don't designate just exactly how shipping will be discounted. It was a costly lesson for me - a Seller advertised a discount and then only discounted grosgrain ribbon 75 cents for combining. Sure, the ribbon was 99 cents and a great value! But the $5.00 for the first ribbon and $4.25 for each additional cost me TRIPLE what I could pay retail for the same ribbon. ALWAYS ask questions and NEVER assume anything.

Not all Sellers are honest! If while bidding, or even while searching, you notice an inflated shipping price - whether you buy the item or not - REPORT IT TO EBAY! Ebay is interested in collecting their fees, but as members, we should be concerned with holding other  Sellers accountable. I have received negative feedback more than once for confronting a Seller and their less than honorable practices. That is fine with me. It is more important to me to let the Seller know that their shifty business practices aren't going unnoticed - than it is to maintain a 100% feedback rating.