A seller on eBay has this explanation for the exorbitant shipping being charged for their auctions:
Don’t get sticker shock over the shipping cost. Obviously, I’m factoring in a base starting price to save on fees. Can I do that? Well, others do. Let’s see what happens. (Can you tell I’m new to selling?) haha
$11.50 shipping for a $12 mug. Hmmm. Does the honesty make it all right? Or does the honesty make you doubt the integrity of the seller? Here is a link to the auction. You decide for yourself.
eBay does have rules about such things:
Excessive Shipping Charges Policy
Sellers may charge reasonable shipping and handling fees to cover the costs for mailing, packaging, and handling the items they are selling. While eBay will not prescribe exactly what a seller may or may not charge, eBay will rely on member reports and its own discretion to determine whether or not a seller’s shipping, handling, packaging, and/or insurance charges are excessive. Shipping and handling fees may not be listed as a percentage of the final sale price.
Sellers who want to be sure they are in compliance with this policy may charge actual shipping costs plus actual packaging materials cost (or less).
In addition to the final listing price, sellers are permitted to charge:
Actual Shipping cost: This is the actual cost (i.e. postage) for shipping the item.
Handling Fee: Actual packaging materials costs may be charged. A handling fee in addition to actual shipping cost may be charged if it is not excessive.
Insurance: Sellers offering insurance may only charge the actual fee for insurance. No additional amount may be added, such as “self-insuranceâ€. Sellers who do not use a licensed 3rd party insurance company may not require buyers to purchase insurance. This is a violation of state law.
Tax: Only actual applicable federal, state, country, city, VAT, and equivalent taxes may be charged.
For cross border transactions, sellers may not collect tariffs and duties. However, buyers may be responsible for actual, applicable tariffs, and duties as requested by respective country laws.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
Listing cancellation
Limits on account privileges
Account suspension
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Loss of PowerSeller status
I do note that the seller no longer includes this “honest” caveat to their auctions, but continues to try to charge very large shipping fees.
