S&H SCAMS!!

If you have been on Ebay for a while then I'm sure this is old news.  But for you new Ebayers I would like let you know how important it is to look into S&H amounts before bidding.  Sometimes shipping is so inflated that will end up costing you MORE than retail!

Many sellers with inflated shipping use the type of label that does NOT show the amount of postage.  They are hoping you will not have any idea what the actual cost was for them.  In case you are not aware of this, for USPS items (Postal Service) you can go to their website and calculate postage to see what it actually cost.  Just go to USPS . com and click on the link at the top that says "calculate postage".  Look on the label from your package and see what the weight is for the package.    Then select the type of packaging (envelope, box, etc.).  You may need measurements for large boxes. Then enter the zip code where the seller is located (if it is on the label as it should be) and enter your zip code and you will see what it actually cost. 

While Delivery Confirmation is 65 cents if you go to the post office and purchase it, the type of Delivery Confirmation that is on the Paypal printed label is FREE.  So, there is no additional charge for Delivery Confirmation on these pre-printed white labels.  If you see a GREEN postal service Delivery Confirmation sticker on your package, that means the seller paid extra for it.

Insurance will also be extra of course and if your package is insured it will be officially marked on the package (not hand written).   There are other services that cost extra and they will ALL be clearly indicated on the package. 

Keep in mind that most sellers do charge handling fees to cover packing materials, extra time, gas, etc.  But this should be within reason.  Example:  If a seller packages your item with newspaper and in a used box, there is ZERO costs for packing material.  You can expect a little extra though for the time it takes to pack the item and take it to the post office.  Some sellers have their items picked up so they are not even out that amount.  Sellers who use professional packing materials do have extra costs for those and you should expect to pay extra for an item that is professionally packaged (i.e. real packing paper, tissue, styrofoam popcorn, bubble wrap, plastic bags, unused boxes, etc.).

Some sellers will even STEAL FedEx and UPS boxes & envelopes and use them for postal mail & packing material. And then have the nerve to charge a great big handling fee!

FEDEX, UPS, etc. have different rates and methods of calculating them.  This information is just regarding the US Postal Service.  I would go to the Fedex or UPS (or other carrier) website for more information on calculating charges for that type of delivery.

EXAMPLE OF INFLATED S&H CHARGES:

I purchased three Webkinz stuffed animals from two different sellers, both charged $6.95 for the first item and $4.95 for each additional.   I was charged $16.85 by EACH seller for S&H for 3 Webkins in ONE shipment!  Both sellers crammed all three in an envelope that was WAY too small and the actual postage was $2.16 for one set of three and $2.84 for the other set of three!!!  OUTRAGEOUS!!

There was NO packing material used other than the envelope and they used the smallest envelope they could possibly fit in.  These sellers are charging EIGHT (8) times the cost of actual S&H!!

Twice the cost of S&H is considered excessive on Ebay so this will tell you how out of line this type of pricing really is.

Many sellers offer a "money back guarantee minus S&H" so they charge enough so that they get their profit no matter what because they are overcharging for S&H.

These sellers are just being cheap and are trying to avoid paying higher Ebay listing fees & final value fees by figuring their profit into the S&H amount (they do not pay listing fees for S&H).  This is a scam all the way around, against the buyers and also Ebay.

Buy from HONEST sellers who charge a REASONABLE shipping and handling amount.  Reasonable would be the cost of postage and packaging materials, time, gas, etc.  I am a seller also and I do figure a handling fee into most of my items but usually only a dollar or two for smaller items and sometimes $5 or so on larger items.  But many times, I charge LESS for S&H than the my actual cost.  And I also offer free shipping on certain items.  

Don't buy from these rip-off sellers and  complain to Ebay (as it is against Ebay policy) if you are a victim of these inflated shipping & handling charges.   But also take the time to give good sellers a 5 star rating for fair shipping and handling charges.  They deserve it!