Buyers Beware of Inflated Shipping Costs!!!!

I have both sold and bought on eBay for MANY years now. I started an account when eBay first came out back in the day and I like to think I know a thing or two about a thing or two when it comes to buying and selling on eBay (which I do).

One thing I notice most as a buyer (if your a seller please consider this information as well!) is when sellers inflate the cost of shipping on their items. This not only is unfair to the buyer but it's also against eBay policy to do so. However, I see sellers all the time who grossly overcharge on shipping and get away with it.

So, I am making it my job to educate buyers out there on what to look out for when deciding to bid or buy an item or items here on eBay. I will also list in this guide when I find a seller who has done this and use it for reference in this guide. Consider it a protection policy if you will.

1. First of all, when making a purchase ALWAYS look at what the shipping cost will be. If it seems high then send a message to the seller to inquire if the cost is, indeed, correct. There are certain occassions when a seller typed in something wrong when they listed the item and the high shipping cost is a mistake. Then there are other times when they just down right over-inflate the cost so that they make more money. This is against eBay policy and the seller should be reported. You can report the seller by scrolling down to the bottom of the item page. There is a link you can click that says REPORT THIS ITEM. Click on that link and report the eBay for inflated shipping.

2. Use common sense when trying to decide if shipping has been inflated. Since I have both bought and sold on eBay for so many years I am more than experienced at being able to judge when an item has inflated shipping. Most of the time when I see this I contact the seller to make them aware of the fact that I know their shipping price has been inflated and they lost my sale for that reason. You also have to be careful with items you think your getting at a GREAT price.... sometimes sellers overinflate shipping to make up their loss for selling so cheap. Or people who sell $0.99 NR auctions oftentimes inflate shipping if they think an item will not sell for much. You have to be VERY CAREFUL. If you win an auction for a printer at $0.99 you may find the shipping costs $99.00-- and I have seen sellers do things like that.

As an example, let's say you are buying a shirt. Now, shirts don't weigh a whole lot. Less than a pound on average. If it's being mailed via USPS Priority Mail then prices start at $4.95 and go up from there depending on weight and destination. Honest eBay sellers will only charge $4.95 and use a flat rate envelope because a shirt will more than fit into a Priority Flat Rate Envelope. But you will see sellers out there who will charge $7.95 to ship one shirt. It's ridiculous!

3. Before buying or placing your bid, check comporable shipping prices. Look at what other sellers are charging to ship the same item. If you notice a big difference in shipping price between the average and the one you want to buy then don't purchase from that seller.

Just before I decided to write this guide I was on eBay looking for some glass eyes that I need to purchase as I sculpt little clay babies. Glass eyes are small, and the ones in particular I want are only 6mm in size or about the size of a sunflower seed. I found a seller who was selling the eyes and size I wanted and so I clicked on the listing (item #350155599293). The price of $5.04 is more than fair.  However, I was floored when I saw the shipping charges. Remember when I said to use common sense? Even someone not all that familiar with buying would know that $7.50 to ship sunflower sized eyes in a small envelope was appalling! This particular seller listed the shipping service as USPS First Class Mail which means you can ship anything first class that weighs up to 13oz using this service.

Now, I went to the USPS website and looked at the rate chart. You can ship First Class if the item is up to 13oz. Glass eyes weigh far less than 13 oz and are more like a 1 ounce weight. However, let's say they did weigh 13 oz. The MOST this seller could honestly charge to ship them First Class is $2.87 which is highest rate in the First Class chart. This means you can ship it anywhere in the United States for that price.... which is a FAR cry from the $7.50 rate the seller is charging for a First Class shipment! Since I buy and sell on eBay alot I was instantly aware that this seller was inflating (grossly inflating!) the cost to ship this item and so I will not buy from them. However, some buyers don't pay any attention to the shipping cost and maybe it seems reasonable to them... this is why it's soooo important for buyers to PAY ATTENTION to the shipping cost and ask questions if it seems to high. Or, better yet, don't buy from that seller. Period.

If you are wanting to see the exact classes and costs on shipping check out my other guides as I have written one with current (2009) rates for shipping via USPS. This guide is a handy tool and can save you money if you know what you are supposed to pay for shipping versus just trusting sellers to be honest.

Sellers: take this information to heart. Most of you are honest and charge honest rates. But there are some of you out there who take complete advantage of buyers by inflating your shipping costs and this could ruin your sales and reputation once people get smart and are aware of your schemes. As someone who cares I will diligently look for these types of unethical practices and bring them to light.

Below you will see a list of sellers that I have found who grossly overcharge on shipping. I am not saying to NOT buy from them but I personally will not. What you choose to do is your choice but I am making potential buyers out there aware that these sellers do inflate shipping and they should be cautious. If you have found somone you feel needs to  be on this list then send me their name by contacting me here on eBay. I will investigate and if I conclude they do inflate on shipping I will post their names here in this guide. Check back often for updates.

If this guide was at all helpful to you please be kind enough to vote YES below. Your vote matters to me and helps rank my guides accordingly.

Sellers I have found that grossly inflate shipping costs:

• 3551davidw re: item #350155599293 shipping cost $7.50 first class (the MOST it could possibly cost is $2.87 and that is worst case scenerio price. Infact, this seller charges $7.50 for most of their items regardless of the fact that most of them are ALOT lower to ship in price than they charge. Very disappointing.
• idreamfairies charged another seller $4.98 shipping and when the buy got the package the postage paid was only $2.27.
• *ajhunter* re: item #190196425693 charges $5.60 to ship this item which AT THE MOST should only cost $2.87 First Class and $4.95 Priority. There is no reason to ship Priority when First Class is cheaper and gets it there the same time.
• sosafan2 re: item #270335152808 this seller is charging $3.99 for First Class mail. The MOST this could cost using First Class is $2.87!
• johnd12 re: item #300290686731. Cost to ship $7.00 when the most it should cost is $4.95.
• infodirect-1 re: all their items. They sell products on CD or via download and charge $5.99 to ship something that shouldn't cost more than $2.44 to ship to the states via First Class International Mail.
• bargainboardwalk re: item #170299578300 & all their items! This seller is charging $2.49 to mail coupons via USPS First Class Mail which AT THE MOST should cost only $0.42.