There seems to be an issue with many buyers now that the star rating from hell has arrived with shipping and handling charges.  Buyers.  There is a report button at the end of every auction!  Suggestions on what to look for.

I just made an online purchase through a well known company.  I purchased one item at $29.95.  Because my order did not hit the $50 minimum order I was charged a $5.95 additional.  The shipping and handling was $11.95.  What do we have as a total for this 13 ounce piece of plastic?

Item                           $29.95
Under order fee          $ 5.95
Shipping/Handling       $11.95

TOTAL                      $47.85

eBay has millions of items for sale and hundreds of thousands of sellers.  Some get great deals on their products, others do not.  Some inflate the shipping and handling to the point that you can report that to eBay.  For example:  Blue jeans are actually rather heavy.  If a pair of jeans is listed on a BIN for $3.99 and the shipping is $20, that is called fee avoidance and you can report the auction for that reason. If another seller has a pair of jeans for $9.99 and the shipping is $7.00 or $8.00 you can bet that A) does not include insurance, B)does not include delivery confirmation and they are charging actual shipping.

Why then would a buyer purchase the pair of jeans with a $20 shipping when they are aware of the cost of the shipping prior to bidding?  Then turn around and hit the seller's star rating.  Sellers are really trying to figure that one out.  Our simple thought process is DO NOT BID! 

Unless you are shipping USPS priority mail using their boxes or getting used boxes from stores, the balance of the shipping supplies are NOT free to sellers.  Sellers have to pay for bubble wrap, envelopes, labels, packing peanuts, tape and all the other supplies involved in making certain your item arrives safely.

Ebay sellers are not usually million dollar companies that can purchase millions of pounds of packing tape at dirt prices.  Those big online companies are charging you for that but it is just hidden in the price of your purchase.  Although eBay does have some very big companies selling, many are just like yourself, either stay at home mom's needing extra income, people clearing out their basements and those sellers who actually pay their bills from what they make here and it is a full time job.

So, before you bid there are things you should do and use common sense.

1.  If the shipping and handling is not listed in the auction, EMAIL THE SELLER PRIOR TO BIDDING!  There is no reason a seller should exclude that information unless it was an oversight. Equally, there is no reason a buyer should hit the commit to buy button without asking first then complain when they get the invoice!

2.  If you do not like the charge for shipping and handling, DO NOT BID!  There are hundreds of the same item usually, keep looking for another seller.

3.  If you are purchasing multiple items from a seller, EMAIL THEM FIRST, with you zip code and the item numbers and ask for shipping prior to the purchase.

4.  If you are purchasing multiple items and they say the offer a discount shipping but it is not stated what that is in the auction, EMAIL THEM FIRST prior to bidding.

5. If you do bid and are unhappy with the price of shipping, oh, well, no one forced you to purchase the item.  You knew ahead of time the price so why turn around and hit the seller with a bad star in their rating. 

The reality what most sellers have found is two things.  1) offer free shipping and still get their stars hit for shipping and handling.  2) charge a nominal handling charge, still get hit on the stars for shipping and handling.  The only thing that leaves is offer the item and shipping for free but then there would be no eBay sellers and eBay buyers would not have a site to buy from. 

There are reasonable shipping and handling charges.  If items are breakable you will see sometimes an additional fee of $5.00 and that is not unreasonable.  Some are just .50 others $1.50, again, not unreasonable. 

Most importantly as I request buyers to do, DO NOT when purchasing multiple items and they combine shipping and handling, pay prior to the invoice!  Many sellers combine all purchases as I do.  If you pay prior to the invoice you will end up with a handling charge for each item as well as shipping for each item.  Wait for the invoice so all that may be adjusted by the seller. 

FYI:  By eBay rules a seller is not allowed to up the cost of insurance or delivery confirmation.  If you have a seller doing that, just do not bid, simple. 

USPS raised their rates on everything.  Sellers do not set those rates, neither do you and some buyers are still unaware of that rate increase from last year.  UPS and FED EX have also raised their rates.

USPS
Insurance is now $1.65 up to $100
Delivery Confirmation
Priority           .65
Parcel             .75

FYI Media Mail
Media mail when allowed is the least expensive shipping option.  Media mail is also the slowest option and can take upwards to 3 weeks for your package to arrive.  Bear than in mind if you have a media mail option when you purchase.

Nothing excuses the seller who seriously inflates shipping and handling.  By the same token, nothing excuses a buyer who buys from that seller then complains.  As a buyer, you need to do your research, read the discussion boards under your Community tab.  Know what to look for and how to save yourself some money!