I go to ebay looking for a painting as a christmas gift for my aunt, NO I find one that is awesome, I bid on it and win for only $14.95, This is awesome I think to myself. NOw when I go to pay it tells me the shipping will cost $36.80,

Now I don't mind paying $50 for a painting, but I refuse to be cheated on shipping cost, it is the principle of the thing. So I email the seller and tell them that I will not pay that and to give me the fair shipping cost.

so he emails me back saying that I should of checked the shipping before hand and that he isn't cheating me, that it is the handling fee.

I check with the post office and find out to ship it will cost less than $16, so I email him back and this guy that I am not going to pay $20 for someone to put it in a box.

He hasn't gotten back to me yet

some people will do anything to get another buck, This is were I make my stand, these people need tolearn not to cheat people.

always read shipping cost prior to bidding.

now you can be called a non-paying bidder

I am new to ebay and didn't know about the shipping calculator, but I also don't care if I get negative feedback. I just hate being cheated

You get negative feedback and next time you bid on soemthing the seller can refuse your bid.

I do agree that some of the shipping is a rip...

I know I've looked at humidors that I thought were a great price only to find out that the shipping and handling was more then the cost of the item..

I think in a lot of cases they're betting on people not looking at the listed shipping and handling fees they tack on to get the price jacked up.

Did he clearly list the fees? If he did I don't know that there is much you can do.. It stinks, I know but he can list you as non-pay and give you a bad rating.

Next time RTFM!!!

I don't really care about ebay, I bid on something like once a year.

He didn't list it, he said there was a shipping calculator, I couldn't find it, I search for it several times, but on the 7th time it just pops up. anyway, people like this guy needs to learn not to rip people off

I've noticed the shipping has been getting crazy lately. But I have to agree with everyone, read first. I refuse to pay outrageous shipping charges too, but I look first. The seller is a dirtbag though. That's messed up.

Post a link to the completed auction. That way we can see what you're talking about.

I understand your frustration. However, I also understand that folks are on e-bay (a place where i've never been, to this day) to make a buck.

Business is business.

here's what's worse. i won a bed extender for my pickup on ebay. i offered to pick it up from the guy because he was only about 30 minutes away, and the shipping cost was rather substantial. he says that i can pick it up, but he'll still charge shipping. his reasoning is that they design the shipping to make money off it, as well. to me, that's just plain crooked. if he doesn't have to ship, he shouldn't be able to charge shipping. he knows his shipping charges are inflated, and designs them to make money. i don't care what anyone says -- that's just plain wrong. i still bought the part for less than a dealer would sell it to me, but i'll always remember this man for his poor character.

I think you'll need to just rack this one up to a lesson learned the hard way. Always, always, ALWAYS check the shipping costs BEFORE bidding. It's really a no-brainer.

always email first with your Questions, shipping, pickup etc...

My cousin sells ALOT on the Bay...

If I understand correctly...the Bay is paid by the seller based on the amount the item sells for..the sellers inflate the shipping cause the Bay gets nothing from shipping costs...

Personally I feel this is WRONG...

But as said by others Always, Always read very carefully the whole page b/4 bidding...

Tank

That's a good observation Tank. I've seen items selling for a dollar but shipping is $20. Crazy. I'll never buy from people with inflated shipping.

Actually... Stevo is talking about a painting...

So depending on the size and the weight(framed?)... plus the packing material(you don't want it damaged do you?)... the cost might actually reflect the actual shipping and not an inflated one...

You can get carried away. Happened to me here. I now read the shipping charges more carefully. You say the print is worth the cost, then pay it. Lessons learned.

Learned my lesson there also. Bought a new speedometer for my car and thought it would be packed well because of the high shipping charges (somewhere around $18). It came in a old taco shell box stuffed with newspaper. Postage stamp said something like $3.25. Was enough to piss a brother off.

I feel your pain, but be sure to read the fine print brother....

my wife sells quite a bit on that auction site and only charges exact shipping costs. After they take out their listing and final bid fees and after paypal gets their fees, it knocks down how much the seller actually gets for what they sell. If the seller has to drive a good distance to the PO that in the end takes away from what they make because of fuel costs.

You can even throw in the time involved in taking accurate pictures of the item and the time it takes to sit on the computer and get everything put in and make sure that you've described the item to the best of your ability. That takes some time to get everything done right.

If you broke down some of the items that she has sold she might not make but a dollar or two an hour for her troubles if that much. I couldn't do that.

to make this long story shorter, some of the sellers use that higher S/H to offset the time, fees and work put forth to sell an item that they figure won't get a high bid in the end.

I feel for you on that painting. I've fealt the same way a couple of times on there. Always read that page from top to bottom and ask question before you bid if you aren't sure about something on there.

my .02

Del