You know what really ticks me off? Inflated shipping charges. Now, I purchased four soft cover books, couldn't weigh more than three pounds total, from this one seller. In the auction it states that MEDIA MAIL is the mailing service to be used and combined shipping is offered. Sounds great to me. Also, insurance in required. Ok, sounds better. I made the purchase and the total amount for the four books was $45. Now, with media mail shipping, insurance and the usual little handling fluff amount, I am thinking this should total about $10. ($3 for media mail, $1.30 for insurance coverage up to $100, and the fluff amount). WELL - this "seller" invoices me for, get this: $33.75 for Media Mail shipping and $5.20 for insurance! Uh, HELLO? $38.95 to MEDIA MAIL me FOUR books?! Are you smoking CRACK? The wise ones at eBay agreed that it was nuts but stated there was nothing they could do about these obviously inflated shipping amounts. I found that to be a bit off considering according to the USPS website, inflated shipping amounts is considered MAIL FRAUD and is punishable. I wrote eBay about 9.8 million times in reference to the fact that the seller was NOT answering my emails or concerns and just repeatedly invoiced me for this crack injected amount for shipping and insurance. For $38.95 they could overnight fedex me the freaking books.
Well, after they stuck a non-paying bidder strike on me, eBay let me appeal and lifted the strikes off my account - since in over 5 years I have NEVER not paid for an item....I also have never been raped on shipping like this either.
So all in all it did work out, though I did not get my books. I do hope, though, that eBay will reconsider taking on inflated shipping amounts and make the transaction nullable if, in fact, a seller is obviously raping a buyer on shipping. I mean, this isn't a couple bucks I was disputing. Anyone that ships media mail knows that you can't get any cheaper that $1.26 for a Lb...I mean come on people......$38.95??
I love eBay and am more greatful they removed the non-paying bidders strikes. I just wish there was something I could do to get this seller to cut the crap. According to thier feedback, I am not the only one who has resently been "surprised" by their shipping/insurance amounts.
Live and learn I suppose.
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