To the two less than zeroes who simply find it intolerable to pay additional shipping fees if a seller honestly errs in not anticipating the shipping foibles that have muddled shipping fees that can change weekly of late, perhaps a walk in seller's shoes might enlighten. The idea that a seller should have to pack up irregular sized or weighted items prior to listing on Ebay, to the farthest zip code in Maine is outlandish. First lets address the abiding spirit that used to exist on Ebay. A sense of community used to prevail and communication and mutual understanding between buyers and sellers were on the whole neighborly. To the Moper declaration of "Wrong!" I am sorry that's the the same as giving the bird. When it comes to determining shipping so many obstacles have tripped up sellers of late that errors are bound to happen. First, UPS's inauguration of dimensional weight. Sure a seller can go and determine fairly closely what shipping will cost on line. But this issue of dimensional weight pops up. That's the size of the box shipped. UPS's computers are programmed to instantly compare standard weight versus an internal scale of costs regarding dimensional weight and which ever is HIGHER is the fee charged. Dimensional weight cannot be determined on line. Add those fuel surcharges which can go up willy-nill another variable I have yet to figure out how that is determined. Further insurance is a factor of where the item closes at during auction and can't really be predicted sometimes. Granted not a large dollar amount but these loose charges do add up. Ebay has now a flagging system which notifies seller that by their estimation charges for shipping are too high. So far, save for a notification, nothing worse than that has been levied by them. So it does become for a seller a determination that hopefully is close, I shoot for within ten dollars and feel lucky to be within that range. However once I sold a miniature prop one of a city street at Warner Brothers for SUPERMAN. I was $80 off due to the newly enacted dimensional weight and fuel surcharge assessment. I emailed buyer and asked upon the safe delivery of prop, would he be willing to split the difference explaining why so far off on estimate as miniature was only slightly heavy, more unyieldly than anything but when I set about packing it well to arrive in perfect condition,( a near two hour undertaking,) it turned out to be a carton almost 5 feet long and about 16 X 16 deep. I charged $55 for ground and it came to a shocking $135 with insurance. In no uncertain terms a flat screw you was the answer. The extra care in packing to arrive safely 2000 miles away was met with zip concern or understanding. This same person purchased another item later which I had not connected to the months earlier purchase. Whatever the prop or costume was I charged $25 shipping and it came to $21. Upon its delivery he demanded a $4 refund on shipping when he viewed the shipping fee sticker. That's when I noticed his email which rang familiar. I emailed back that I would be pleased to refund but I reminded him that when I asked for a similar request months earlier regarding the SUPERMAN miniature he was less than fair. I received back an email that went something like "f*ck you If I am not sent by Paypal $4 in 24 hours you will receive a negative." Believe me his user ID is now blocked. It has also made me much more careful about setting shipping rates. But how frequently I get emails regarding my supposed high costs and I have to answer by sharing past experience and promising if over will refund................every question every time. And still with fuel sky rocketing I am off more frequently than I prefer. But its rare if more than $20 and I eat the loss. But its the lack of understanding by some buyers that catches one off guard. The first to bellyache at overcharge but under charge and its the bird. The issue here is it takes so little effort to play nice. freeman
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