exorbitant shipping in US

[racketballshar]

Hi,

I just bid 99 cents on a small rhinestone pendant. I won the auction and the seller wants to charge me 34.99 to ship this small pendant from New Jersey to CA. That amount was listed on the auction, but I assumed it was a typo and the amount was suppose to be 3.49. It was still there at checkout, so I wrote to the seller and asked him to change it to the 3.49 so I could pay for the item. He responded that he included the labor of making the product in the postage. This seems fraudulent to me. He should just charge the amount of postage it costs to send it and list the item for the amount he wants. Is there anything I can do about this? I tried contacting ebay, but there are no phone numbers at this time and the chat function just responds with automated answers that don't address the issue. Any info or advice anyone in the community can give me would be greatly appreciated! 

[wastingtime101]

Never make an assumption - always ask the seller before bidding/purchasing. It's completely backwards for the seller to list that way. I don't know why they do it. Maybe they think 99 cent starting price is an attractive draw.

Either pay for the item or take the unpaid item strike. You agreed to the shipping when you placed your bid, so those are your options here. I know you want the item for under $5, but it's just not going to happen.

[tdumonde2014]

That's why you won the auction. You should have believed the shipping charges when you saw them. Now you have two choices, pay or don't pay. Good luck.

[kensgiftshop]

@racketballshar 

It does seem pretty high, but it was shown to you when you placed the bid.

When you placed the bid, you agreed to the charge.

[me298530]

It is against ebay policy to do what the shady seller is doing, as I interpret it.
Your only option is to not pay and possibly take an unpaid hit to your account or ask the seller to cancel the order, or proceed and consider it an expensive lesson.

Shipping policy
Sellers must........
Only include shipping charges that are actually incurred and are related to the cost of shipping and handling the items being delivered

Actual cost paid to the shipping service
Handling costs, including the cost of packaging materials and insurance

The actual cost of delivery confirmation or extra services, such as certificate of mailing, certified mail, collect delivery, delivery confirmation, registered mail, restricted delivery, return receipt, signature confirmation, special handling, or similar services
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/default/shipping-policy?id=5035&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-1...

[u_cant_take_it_with_u]

Any more, bold, ridiculous prices on what ever, where ever, are ubiquitous.  The type thing you fell victim to, is what eBay was trying to remedy years ago, when they started taking a percent of the shipping fee, for themselves.  This is probably all on you, because of your assumption.  If it's too good to be true, etc... etc ... 

[johnrj1226]

Should  have questioned the  shipping/handling charge before you bought.  You are not new at the eBay game -mostly buying - since 2001 eh.