Should eBay consider placing a cap on shipping costs? Should eBay set a standard rate chart and force sellers to comply or be gone? I think so, and here's why:

Anyone who browses, buys, or sells on eBay knows that the shipping rates on eBay are outrageous. I don't mean to say that all eBay sellers gouge their buyers on eBay, but lets face it, majority do. I think the most outrageous shipping costs can be found on cell phones and other misc electronics. It does not cost $15-$20 to ship a cell phone...unless it's overnight delivery, and for that cost, it better be! I recently purchased a cell phone on eBay and reluctantly paid $12 in shipping costs (cheapest I could find) and when the standard issue 50 cent bubble wrap mailer came in, it had postage of $3.60. There was no packing, nothing, just a user's manual and the phone, no insurance, no delivery confirmation, just 1st class postage. Therefore in addition to what profit he or she made off of the phone, they banked about $8.00 on just my purchase. These people sell 100s of phones per day, and they're making a killing off of the outrageous shipping costs. However, you can report as many as you'd like to eBay, but they'll never remove the listings nor will they do anything about!

If you checkout the "Seller Central" discussion forums you'll find hundreds of pompus sellers who brag about charging $4+ handling fees to cover the cost of "materials" or "gas to post office." I give packages to my carrier either at home or at work (no cost), I leave packages in my mailbox for pickup (no cost), or I drop off packages at the post office on my way to/from work (no extra cost). Seriously, it does not cost that much to get packages to the post office. You can get all of the free shipping supplies your little heart desires, and pay nothing for boxes, peanuts, bags, envelopes, mailers, etc. Many of these items are free from the USPS Postal Store. The only "material" costs should be for scotch or packing tape and a roll costs what $3-$4 for packing tape? How many packages can you seal with a roll of packing tape? So yeah, I think a maximum handling fee should be $2.00, no more. I don't charge a handling fee, because I don't have handling costs! I get free supplies, work dropping off packages into my schedule, and I use my printer as well as tape and other supplies for more than just eBay sales.

Unless the item is bulky, oversized, odd shaped, etc the maximum shipping charge should be $10. If it can fit in a Priority Mail flat rate box, I shouldn't have to pay more than $10 to ship it. I can cram all kinds of crap into a flat rate box, and I charge $8.95 when I am using one. Come on eBay! Do something about this! Also, these "per item" fees, come on! A combined shipping discount should be just that, a discount! Most sellers I've seen charge "highest" shipping first, then charge $1-$3 per each additional item. So, if the highest shipping cost was $9, and you purchase 5 extra items and the seller charges $2 per additional item, your shipping cost is: $19! Sure, you may "save" a few bucks, but your package likely will cost less than $10 to ship.

The following is the shipping chart for Amazon.com, sellers on Amazon do not get to set their own shipping costs. "Amazon.com charges Marketplace buyers a flat rate for shipping, and funds are passed to the seller to offset the costs of packaging and labor, as well as the actual postage required." Amazon shipping chart:

Item:                                         Standard Shipping: (4-14 days)         Expedited Shipping: (2-6 days)

                                                     Amazon:          eBay:                           Amazon:              eBay:

Books                                               $3.99          $4.68                             $6.99                $10.00

CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl                       $2.98          $3.50                              $5.19                $7.00

VHS Videotapes                              $2.98          $5.75                              $5.19                 $10.00

DVDs                                              $2.98          $4.95                               $5.19                $8.96

Video Games                                  $3.99           $4.95                                $6.99               $9.95

Software/Computer Games             $3.99           $5.75                                $6.99               $11.00

On Amazon.com everything else from cameras, computers, cell phones, toys, electronics, housewares, etc. all ship Standard for $4.49+ .50/lb and Expedited for $6.49+.99/lb. Therefore, a computer that weighs say, 20 pounds (estimate, desktop cpu) and you want it Priority/Expedited, you'd pay: $26.29 whereas on eBay you'll pay $29.99 to $44.98 to ship, with the average shipping cost being around $35. If you want a laptop expedited, lets assume it weighs 6lbs, you'd pay $12.43 whereas on eBay you'd pay $29.99 to $50, with the average cost being around $36. You can see huge differences in shipping costs, and it's truly, truly ridiculous!

If you're ever in doubt about how much you should pay for shipping, open a shipping calculator, say USPS.com's rate calculator and enter the information and estimate the weight. You'll get sample rates that should be able to base your decision from the information you obtain there. The only way we can reduce the high shipping cost is to refuse to buy from sellers who gouge. The best and easiest way to get anything accomplished is to "hit 'em in the wallet."