$18 to ship underwear?

I recently won four pairs of panties in separate auctions from one seller. They were .99 listings that ended under $4 per auction. The shipping cost stated on each auction was around $5.95, but I contacted the seller beforehand to ask about combined shipping. She hadn't replied back and the auctions were ending, so I stupidly decided to go ahead and just bid. Well, the seller replied conveniently after the auctions ended, at the same time in which I received a combined invoice that shows a charge of $17.90 to ship four pairs of panties. And this was with a discount applied by the seller. Now, I know I am at fault for bidding before knowing the shipping charge, you can flog me for that, I already feel dumb. However, charging almost $18 to ship a package that will weigh under a pound and most likely be sent first class is ridiculous. I sold five pairs of panties on hangars and mailed them first class for under $5 last week. I know the seller is most likely trying to make up the low auction ending prices by inflating the shipping. Is there anything I can do? I almost feel like not paying- mind you, I have never skipped out on paying for an auction in my ten years on Ebay, and don't care to have four unpaid item strikes possibly suspending my account. However, I've never had a seller ask such an inflated amount for shipping. I doubt if I contacted Ebay they would be any help? I could always pay and then leave a negative. It's rare that I've had reason to leave a seller a negative, but this is a gross exception. So yes, other than telling me "you shouldn't have bid in the first place, idiot," any suggestions on what to do?|||Pay for your items and learn your lesson. The time to negotiate combined shipping discounts is before the auction ends. You're new, and I think we all learned this lesson the hard way. It's not any fun, but it is fair.|||Paragraphs are your friend, this is how it should look: I recently won four pairs of panties in separate auctions from one seller. They were .99 listings that ended under $4 per auction. The shipping cost stated on each auction was around $5.95, but I contacted the seller beforehand to ask about combined shipping. She hadn't replied back and the auctions were ending, so I stupidly decided to go ahead and just bid. Well, the seller replied conveniently after the auctions ended, at the same time in which I received a combined invoice that shows a charge of $17.90 to ship four pairs of panties. And this was with a discount applied by the seller. Now, I know I am at fault for bidding before knowing the shipping charge, you can flog me for that, I already feel dumb. However, charging almost $18 to ship a package that will weigh under a pound and most likely be sent first class is ridiculous. I sold five pairs of panties on hangars and mailed them first class for under $5 last week. I know the seller is most likely trying to make up the low auction ending prices by inflating the shipping. Is there anything I can do? I almost feel like not paying- mind you, I have never skipped out on paying for an auction in my ten years on Ebay, and don't care to have four unpaid item strikes possibly suspending my account. However, I've never had a seller ask such an inflated amount for shipping. I doubt if I contacted Ebay they would be any help? I could always pay and then leave a negative. It's rare that I've had reason to leave a seller a negative, but this is a gross exception. So yes, other than telling me "you shouldn't have bid in the first place, idiot," any suggestions on what to do? . . . which is a lot easier to read. IMHO, you should pay and not neg the seller nor ding his/her stars. If you knew full well that shipping was $5.95 which would total $23.80 then the $17.95 that you were invoiced is a discount ($5.85). If you've been on ebay for your "ten years" you should have known better. Faulting the seller when you had the ability not to bid is wrong. While I agree $23.80 to ship underwear is excessive, I would not have bid and if I did I would not want to neg the seller. If you don't pay, you will have only one strike on your account so the choice is yours. And if you whine enough to eBay, they may remove it.|||In the future ask prior to bidding about combined S&H (give auction #) via __ method to postal zip ___. If you do not receive an answer from your seller before the end of auction, DON'T bid. 4 pairs @ $5.95 S&H per item as per auctions = $23.80 total S&H for 4 auctions. Your seller is charging you 4 pairs @ $4.48 per pair S&H for a total of $17.90S&H They did discount all 4 auction items.|||I recently won four pairs of panties in separate auctions from one seller. They were .99 listings that ended under $4 per auction. The shipping cost stated on each auction was around $5.95, but I contacted the seller beforehand to ask about combined shipping. She hadn't replied back and the auctions were ending, so I stupidly decided to go ahead and just bid. Well, the seller replied conveniently yep, seller sat at computer, not hitting reply button till auction was over. after the auctions ended, at the same time in which I received a combined invoice that shows a charge of $17.90 to ship four pairs of panties. And this was with a discount applied by the seller. A courtesy discount, not mandated by eBay. Now, I know I am at fault for bidding before knowing the shipping charge, you can flog me for that, I already feel dumb. However, charging almost $18 to ship a package that will weigh under a pound and most likely be sent first class is ridiculous. In your opinion, it is ridiculous, yet, you bid anyway ? I sold five pairs of panties on hangars and mailed them first class for under $5 last week. That was your decision. I know the seller is most likely trying to make up the low auction ending prices by inflating the shipping. You're only figuring this out now, AFTER the auctions ended & you won ? Is there anything I can do? 1) Honor your bids & pay. 2) Don't pay & get UPI strikes. 3) Learn to read & ask questions BEFORE bidding. I almost feel like not paying- mind you, So, don't. It's a free country. I have never skipped out on paying for an auction in my ten years on Ebay, Why should you ? Nobody made you bid. and don't care to have four unpaid item strikes possibly suspending my account. So, pay. However, I've never had a seller ask such an inflated amount for shipping. They didn't 'ask'. They posted it in the listing for you to see. You agreed to the ship charge BY bidding. The Seller gave you a courtesy discount, too. I doubt if I contacted Ebay they would be any help? Why don't you just go to the 'help pages' re: buying on eBay ? I could always pay and then leave a negative. Sure. Good idea ! Then every Seller who looks at your Feedback left can block you from not reading their listing, and, being a p.i.t/.a. after you win. It's rare that I've had reason to leave a seller a negative, Ah, you had reason before ? Hope it was a more valid one than now. Be truthful in the neg: I bid despite shipping being stated in listing. but this is a gross exception. Yes, this IS gross. Gross for a buyer to complain AFTER bidding about somethjing IN the listing. So yes, other than telling me "you shouldn't have bid in the first place, idiot," any suggestions on what to do? 1) Pay. 2) Leave a decent rating, or, none at all, if items arrive AS DESCRIBED & in good time. 3) Next time; READ & ASK QUESTIONS & WAIT for ANSWERS before bidding.||||||Actually, I've never left a seller a negative with the exception of not receiving an item years ago, so please don't make assumptions. I'm sorry I asked since the replies are quite hostile. I know I made a mistake bidding before knowing the full cost, but should I go ahead and support a seller who is circumventing Ebay fees by inflating the shipping? I guess I thought the combined shipping fee would be reasonable. Regarding reasonable, yes, I have shipped five panties and charged $5 for shipping. But I did not start my auction at .99. I guess I've been lucky because I've never had a problem with any other shipping fees I've encountered as a buyer. Forgive me for thinking that a seller would be honest and charge something reasonable for shipping rather than list for .99 and skirt Ebay fees.|||sirenviolette, perhaps you should contact ebay and tell them that seller's can't charge no more than $5.00 to ship 4 prs of underwear because you do. That may help. dvgvintage||||||Incidentally, I just now opened this morning's mail, my last two Mel Brooks films (from the River), same seller, $5.96 shipping, 5.6 oz. total weight, I'm guessing the stealth postage was less than that , who cares it's what I agreed to.|||OP, it's not that anyone is saying you got a great or fair deal on shipping. It's simply a matter of owning up to YOUR mistake and learning from this. Yes, you have to pay if you're a person of integrity. However, I think it's very foolish for a seller to operate this way. How many return buyers does this sort of attitude garner? Not many, would be my guess. It's a poor way to run a business and a decent seller wouldn't do this.|||well - I do read FB and have seen other sellers do this and get roasted with multiple negatives; after which they are never to be heard from again. Most, no make that all, multi-item purchases I have made, did have combined shipping (and a better discount, or no extra charge, compared to what you were offered). I sometimes asked before, sometimes after, purchase, to be honest. You can respond as you deem appropriate in the DSR FB for reasonableness of shipping charges. And FB narrative if you feel like it. Or not. Your choice.|||4 panties x .99 = 3.96 shipping = 17.90 4 panties = 21.86 = 5.465 per pair nice undies COST upwards of 7.00 a pair plus tax plus, you need to drive to the B&M to get them what difference does it make a buyer's pocket if it's the way it went or, 21.86 w/ free shipping or some variation thereof ? it's still the going rate. OP, you said you charged 5.00 to ship... what did YOURS sell for ? what's the darn difference ? there's way too much 'integrity' & 'honesty' about SELLER'S BEHAVOIR... yet, buyers can leave a positive with 1 & 2 for stars, or, bid, with intentions of strongarming a discount later. what is it with people so concerned thaty eBay get a cut of every darned dollar that goes through payPal ? eBay already profits greatly, whether it's excessive shipping or not, THRU the FORCED paypal. you think, by further adding to eBay's profits, you're going to KEEP eBay as it is, KEEP sellers HERE ? you are wrong. they leave daily. because, after selling 4 panties for $3.96, collecting 21.86, they lose $0.36 to eBay, $0.93 to paypal, X to USPS, X for the COST of the merch., plus, time listing, packing, answering pita eMails... you think such a seller is getting rich on your panties ? please ! this whining, not reading the terms, in addition to all the other nonsense... soon, the only way you'll get new panties is from a B&M.||||||i paid more than that for my last pair of chain-mail undies, but at least they arrived in time for the renaissance festival...