No, I don't have a problem with it. If eBay can't be motivated to police something that takes huge amounts of money out of their pocket, why should we care?

OP - the example you described is gouging and I do have a problem with that.

When you see these auctins - use the report link at the bottom.

That being said - if you consider the shipping and handling too high for your tastes - simply hit the back button on those - and allow other buyers (who like to shop by total price) - the opportunity to do so.

It is a case of fee avoidance, but like what was said in post #1, it's eBay's problem, not mine.

If they can not set up a program that will alert them to such a discrepancy between product price and S&H charge, that's no concern of mine.

Buyer can actually save money with this method.

If seller did price item according with proper S&H, it would cost more as higher FVF would now have to be incorporated into the price of the product.

It's up to buyer to do comparitive shopping and see which reputable seller has the item they are interested in, at the best "final-total" price. The cost breakdown makes no difference to buyer.

I am not advocating it, just saying why it was done.

Rick

Think of it this way. Maybe you are the one saving money. He could charge $97 with free shipping and pay all his ebay and paypal fees. Either way the seller is making about the same but you the customer are paying more.

There is not way to add shipping charges after the sale is complete less the seller telling you in an email you owe him or her more money. When the auction is setup you apply your shipping costs during that setup. There would be no way to change it after the auction is sold. The seller can request more money from you but as a buyer would you actually fall for such an event?

What you are describing is called "fee avoidance" and I do not buy from sellers who operate this way. When someone is placing some or all of the item's value into the shipping and handling to save on Ebay fees, that is not allowed.

However, people are allowed to charge for all of their actual costs of getting the item to the customer, and that includes postage, packing materials, insurance (or self-insurance), as well as a "reasonable" amount to help offset Ebay and Paypal fees.

Going back to the example of the boots, if the seller wanted to receive $80 for the boots, they could certainly start the auction at $80 and charge enough for shipping so that after all the Ebay/Paypal fees are paid, the $80 is what they're left with. I haven't computed it out, but hypothetically speaking, let's say actual postage is $12.00 and the box cost $3 and Ebay and Paypal fees are another $4, they could certainly charge the $19 for shipping, and it wouldn't be considered "excessive".

That is what I do, and I have never had any problems or complaints. Of course I also pack each item throroughly and ship promptly, and I never say that I'm charging for Ebay and Paypal fees. In fact, the mere act of admitting that you are charging for Ebay or Paypal fees is considered a "policy violation" because Ebay wants to perpetuate the myth that using this website is completely FREE for buyers!

"If they can not set up a program that will alert them to such a discrepancy between product price and S&H charge, that's no concern of mine."

I am very concerned about it. I have read alot of posts and replies from buyers who have turned away from ebay because of these very sellers who charge excessive shipping charges. Buyers who turn away from ebay, affects us all as sellers and buyers.

" If seller did price item according with proper S&H, it would cost more as higher FVF would now have to be incorporated into the price of the product".

As if ebay isn't confusing enough for the buyers. Should they really have to do all this research? I guess wise shopping is always best.
New ebay policies and fees are turning many sellers towards these kinds of practices, but it is all very confusing to the buyers. We are losing buyers in groves! Has anyone checked ebays quarterly financial report lately?
The best thing of course, is to not buy from them and to report it. What gets me is the ebay automatic shipping calculator. If I dared to charge the shipping fees that they calculate, I would get reported AND bad feedback star rating.It's just getting too hard to figure out how to keep buyers happy and still make a few bucks at the same time.