After buying on ebay for 7 years - I have found that sellers who do not charge for handling almost always pack very poorly. 

Are you one of millions of ebay buyers who has received broken or shattered or smashed or chipped items because of negligent packing?  How do you feel when you open a box only to find a damaged or destroyed "it" ?

Would you be willing to pay handling fees to sellers if you knew your chosen items might be packed properly? 

I worry about buying from sellers who charge only Actual Shipping Cost.  Actual Shipping Cost is a ridiculous concept - and, perhaps, a clear indication that the seller has no idea how to pack, nor wants to learn.

An experienced packer almost always charges a handling fee because he or she knows how much time, energy and materials are involved. 

Consider this:

When you purchase from any other online business, or mail order company, or store - handling fees are always charged.  Do you question Land's End or Crate & Barrel or Museum Shops or Macy's or any other mail order site when they charge you a handling fee?  Of course not!  You know that these companies must charge handling fees to properly prepare and send your items. 

How are ebay sellers any different?  A seller who knows how to pack must go through many steps to figure out how to pack your item/s, assemble all materials for extra protection of your item/s and carefully, thoughtfully package it/them for you.  Then, he/she must get your box to the shipping company - USPS or UPS or another company. 

Since proper, careful packaging is a complicated process, which takes lots of time, materials and thought - it makes sense that a seller should receive handling fees.