Highway Robbery

[US71]

Someone on e-bay is selling an Arkansas I-40 shield .  Starting bid $25, buy it now $60. That isn't a bad deal until you see he's charging $75 for "Economy Shipping" . Is he serious? 

[agentsteel53]

Someone on e-bay is selling an Arkansas I-40 shield .  Starting bid $25, buy it now $60. That isn't a bad deal until you see he's charging $75 for "Economy Shipping" . Is he serious? 

no.

from the auction:

"Shipping cost" is purposefully set wrong at a flat (ridiculous!) $75, simply to avoid dealing with the often wildly incorrect "eBay shipping calculator" and also because I usually do not pack items (thus to be able to accurately estimate costs) until an actual bid is received.  WINNING BIDDER should please wait for an accurate invoice from me,  before sending any payment.  This item will likely be shipped via USPS Parcel Post. (though other methods/options are available, if desired)

THE REAL SHIPPING COST will be my ACTUAL shipping cost, plus ~$7 just to cover my time/materials involved.  (as I sell stuff to make extra money here, not shipping?!!)   I always strive to pack all items carefully for safe shipment no matter the carrier, and use recycled packing materials when available.  I will gladly combine shipping for winners of multiple items when possible.

I can understand the frustration - I too sometimes get wildly inaccurate estimates, usually on the side of being far too low.  I've taken to overstating the weight of my signs by about two pounds, and statistically it comes out that I am not making any money on shipping, but most individual buyers get overcharged about a dollar or two, while an occasional buyer gets a bargain.