The “handling” fees I refer to are not the reasonable ones you describe (paypal fees are not, however, handling.)

I am referring the common practice now of seeing shipping fees of $20 to $30 — often more, on items where the real cost of S&H is vastly less. More to the point, the item will be $2 and the S&H will be $40 (with of course, no local pickup, and no discount for multiple items which would be the case if the cost where really packaging and handling.)

The item is being sold far below cost. It’s not a real handling charge. And it’s annoying as hell, and makes it much harder to quickly compare prices. It makes it impossible to get a refund (you can get the $1 refunded, whoop-de-do.) It increases taxes (shipping does not get taxed, but S&H does.)

So if I see some sellers with fake shipping and some with real shipping I will bid on the items with real shipping. However, sometimes there is no choice.