I was glad to see that some other ebayers are catching onto the shipping & "Handling" rip off scams that are so prevelent on this site.

The thing that bothers me, is ebay does not really do anything to moniter it. If you complain to them, they just tell you that you have take the issue up with the seller.

I usually bid on or buy mostly clothes and lingerie on ebay. I find it utterly insane when a seller charges say $6 to send a pair of panties or a bra. When first class it costs less than $1. Or they won't send priority for the rate of $4.05 that it would clearly fall into weighing less than a pound. When you ask someone if they can ship an items for less, most will start ranting that they have to pay for shipping supplies, tape, gas to the post office, their time. It gets to the point of ridiculous. I mean, they charge for tape????? And of course, they want to recoup their ebay fees and paypal fees!

I see it like this.....it takes spending some money to make money. If you do not have items that you know you can at least get a fair price for, so you have charge outrageous S&H charges.....don't try and sell it on here....donate it to charity for heaven's sake! What's the point?! When I sell, I try only to sell items that I think people will be able to find and be interested in.

Personally, I like to be given a choice on S&H, depending on the weight of the item. 1st class or prioirty. If I want to pay $2 to have a bra or panty sent, or $4.05 for priority, I should be able to choose! But $6.99? And up!!

Then there is the scam I have seen that a seller has a "buy it now" price on an item for $.99. Then the shipping & "handling" is $9.50! I will never play into that. You ask a seller about this, and they will  say "you are getting the item for $.99, so the S&H shouldn't bother you".

Well, I'd rather a seller charge $8 for the item and then charge $1 to send it! It may work out to the same, but to me, it is the principle of the matter.  

I do selling (but more buying!!), and if I can, I always offer the buyer a choice of shipping options. Luckily, I do have loads of reusable boxes and envelopes from items that have been sent to me over the years, so I don't need to buy them. But then.......there are people who will still add outageous "handling" fees, even if the use priority mail, and those supplies or FREE!!!

I try to keep shipping as close to the actual cost as possible. I may round up to the nearest $.50 or dollar. Which does not amount to much, but I get delivery confirmation on eanything I sent it, and most of that comes out of my pocket. I do not add $5 in to cover ebay and paypal fees, or for the tape I use, or for the air I am breathing while packaging each item!!!

Another huge rip off scheme, is international shipping. It absolutely makes me croak when I see some of the S&H fees that are listed for overseas buyers! Say, a shirt or blouse.....they'll be charges for like, $20 or more! When in all actuallity, it would cost $6 or $7. Lighter weighter items even less. I never charge an overseas buyer $10 or $15 extra simply because it is overseas. I do give them an option of standard first class or I do explain that they can use global express priority, which is insured, traceable. But that the cost generally starts at around $20 and up. So they have the choice...but that is what it is....THEIR CHOICE. 

I do make it very clear in my terms and conditions that if a seller picks a certain shipping method, or does not get insurance, that if they leave me bad feedback for their choices, they will get it right back.

I've never had this happen, but if I ask a seller if they can ship an item by a cheaper shipping method, and if by some BIZARRE chance it never arrived or got damaged, I would never blame the seller since it it is at my request.

The only problem is, all of us who can rant and rave about unfair shipping practices.....it will probably never end, because there are people out there that will always pay for it. People that are not familiar with shipping and the different shipping options, and just pay what is listed, thinking the seller is giving them the best deal. That is what is sad. There's always a sucker. Unless we can get through to ALL of them, these scams will continue. 

An ebayer advocate for FAIR S&H!!!!!