The way to fix this once and for all is for eBay to require the use of a shipping calculator the way they are moving toward requiring PayPal.

I don't mind a "handling fee" attached, either. Packing materials, gas to the dropoff point and time all cost money. It's also not fair to expect someone to charge $15 for shipping, but have to buy $3 in packing materials and $5 in gas and have to eat that $8 out of the price of the item -- particularly when it's a cheap item.

Many eBay sellers, though (including my wife) schedule home pick-ups. That cuts out the gas, anyway.

The issue of why charging abnormally high shipping rates isn't morally right, is twofold. One has been mentioned (shorting eBay on the listing fees). The second is actually a function of psychology. Yes, you can add up in your head how much you are willing to pay, goods + shipping, and stop bidding there. However, many people don't do that, and/or they stink at math and CAN'T do it.

If I could run a controlled experiment on this matter, I would, but I bet you'd find that people lose the "buyer's discipline" more quickly when they have to do this equation in their head, and often end up overspending.

That's great if you're the seller. Sucks if you're a competing bidder on a budget.

I'll give you a firsthand example: I bought a Lane #1 Gold Nugget for $50 with free shipping a couple of months back, using Buy-It-Now. The ball sat there for an entire day and no one bid on it. Now, how many people do you think are going to get a Gold Nugget in great shape at $25 with shipping of $25? Not too many. It would have gone for a combined $65 ($40+$25) at least. My gain and I'm not complaining, but only because I jumped on a good deal once I did the math. A lot of people won't/can't.

Jess

Edited on 5/28/2008 9:28 PM