One coin can be sent "First Class" for 39 cents or perhaps 63 cents. Yet a seller will want $7.95 etc, for shipping and handling for one coin.
That is a $7.00 profit on the sale for sure.
Off topic, but this my "GRIPE" at eBay.
I've seen high S&H. I understand that gripe.
But, the S&H should be listed on the listing. If it is not, private message before bidding.
Don't forget, S&H is usually where listers compensate themselves for eBay listing fees and end of auction fees.
(But, you are right, I've seen S&H for DVDs and such as high as $25)
On the other hand, as a seller, I do add a small amount to the actual shipping cost. I take great care (and use lots of tape and packing materials) to be sure my stuff is going to get there in one piece. My time and materials are not free.
Not an expert but I've sold several smaller things on eBay.
One thing that drives up the cost of shipping is "return receipt". You need to track your package or a bidder can say they never received it. To do this you must ship Priority Mail with verification which can get up to $5 real quick. Add some special packaging like padded mailers, throw in your gas to get to the post office and you get to $7.95 quickly.
I couldn't agree with you more about the outrageous shipping fees. The irony is that they actually get less money than they would get and fewer bidders, if any, than if they just put in reasonable shipping charges. Even if I am interested, why would I bid on something with a $30 shipping charge on a $5 item I can buy new at the local Office Depot for less money.
I guess these crooks are always out looking for the "greater fool" and evidently they are still there for the fleecing. In my opinion ebay ought to ban these crooks outright who charge excessive shipping fees. I once sent an e-mail questioning the shipping to such a shipper and got back a terse "ok". He knew he was a crook. Ebay nees to rein that crap in.
See my previous post #112 for some background.
Yes, it is insane that people charge, and even crazier that people pay those shipping costs.
We charge actual shipping + $2 S&H if we have to supply a box, or $1 S&H if we use a USPS box such a a Priority Mail box.
We sell in some very competitive niches and this policy nets us more sales.
Outrageous shipping/handling charges are the worst things about Ebay buying. I automatically ignore sellers who use S/H to pad their profit.
You always need to look at total price....then decide if it's a good deal or not.
yeah shipping as a profit-center for sellers is a big issue with some sellers, in cases often as absurd as you note.