Back in the old days, before computers were considered entertainment, Someone told me about a way to sell an item by mail and get MORE than  the selling price in profit. The answer? Charge enough for shipping to cover the actual cost of the item AND the shipping, and the selling price is all profit.

Some days I think a lot of eBay sellers have heard this.

I believe a person is entitled to expect a fair profit on his  goods for sale.  He may not always get it, because he may have paid too much for the item himself, but he is entitled to expect it.  If you go to any store, be it  a boutique or a Big Mart, you will notice that the item, once it is paid for, is customarily handed over to you at no additional charge. But wait, an employee had to put that item on the sales floor, maybe someone assisted you in selecting it. Surely a cashier spent time ringing up your sale. Add to that the cost of keeping the store comfortable and clean, not to mention the advertising. Shouldn't the owner be paid for all of those costs?  Of course he should and he is- that is why he marks up his merchandise over the wholesale price.

Now, down the street, there may be someone selling cars or furniture or appliances "on time" and he may provide his own credit or financing. And if you wake him up in the middle of the night and ask before he has a chance to think, he may tell you that he makes more money on the financing than he does on the goods he sells. So be it.

When you, an eBay seller take ten boxes to the post office, do you expect the recipient of each one to pay for the full trip? What if you stop off at the In and Out Burger on the way? Do you deduct something for the part of the gas that was your personal use?  Do you tell the IRS that you were reimbursed for all of that mileage you claimed? What happens when you forget something and make a second trip? Does your customer have to pay for your mistake?

Now, two things are going on here: First, some people are using any excuse to get a little bit more money for the things they sell. The second thing is that  some people are trying to accurately and fairly manage their auction sales- in a businesslike manner. The difference between the two is easy enough to see, if it isn't simple to describe or name.

Again, back in the mists of time, L.L.Bean offered free shipping on all of their orders. Really. Or, actually, the price of shipping was included in the price of the goods.  I don't know if it was a greedy heir or a well-meaning corporate accountant who noticed they could be making another $2 or $3 on every sale simply by acting like the rest of the world, but that was the Beginning of The End for the Golden Age of L.L. Bean, if you ask me. The next thing you know, they had models in the catalogues and inventory changed from year to year.  Where are the Norwegian Fisherman Sweaters of days gone by?

But we were talking about gouging, weren't we?  If a person is concerned that he won't get a fair price for his goods, he can set the minimum price a little higher. If a buyer sees an outrageous shipping and "handling" fee, he can vote with his pocketbook- adjust his bid. If he is outbid, then the answer is simple enough, he found the item to be less valuable than others. If he really wants the item, he must contend with the laws of supply and demand and the generally undiscriminating behavior of some people in auctions.

I do not imagine many gougers are suddenly going to abandon their handling charges as a profit center and I expect plenty of buyers will continue  to pay them, just as plenty of borrowers wil pay 25-30% interest charges on their credit cards.  Yes, thirty percent. But you and I, we don't have to be like everybody else. We can be smarter than that and more decent.  And if we are considerate of our fellow community members, we will at least have the reward of  being good people, instead of  making an extra $100 or so a year off of  being jerks.  When you are treated particularly well, it is easy enough to say so in feedback. When you are treated a little badly, you needn't post negative feedback- just post a positive, but accurate description of how you were dealt with. Others will read and understand.  Maybe, just maybe, the seller will appreciate the way you handled it and do better next time.

Thanks for reading this guide. I would appreciate your giving it a "helpful" vote and also your taking a few minutes to see some of my other guides and reviews, on everything from DuBose Heyward to The Last Days of Disco.

I hope you enjoy your day.

WT