Sea Shells & EBay

Over the weekend I was looking for a specific shell for a product that we make. I am nearly out and will need them this month. It was my error in not checking the stock sooner

I decided that since I was updating my eBay store front Mystic Witch it would be just as easy to look on there. Sometimes for certain items I can find huge lots for less than I pay with vendors I work with (Sorry guys, it's true).

I happened upon one such shell that was decorative, sturdy and a large lot. Perfect! Until I really looked at the article particulars. Then it wasn't that great of a deal.

The post showed a very large box of these shells. Shipping was $16+ expedited envelope. The item price was 25 cents. Now, there are sellers that do this. Placing an item for as low a price as possible in hopes it will rise well above what they want. The price was nothing strange it was the shipping method. I looked at the box of shells and knew there was something fishy. I wrote to the seller asking if it was per shell (which was not what the listing stated at all) and if it was for the entire lot (what it did state) how are you getting those shells in an envelope?

Receiving a curt and brief answer it was 25 cents per shell, and I could purchase the entire box at a higher price.

Usually I would just laugh this off. I was tempted to turn this person in. Why? Due to the fact that as a Power Seller, listing items of a higher ship rate than normal I get a warning. Someone is going to send a shell that probably weighs 1 ounce or maybe 2 completely in an envelope with bubble wrap to a customer for $16 plus dollars? And that is OK?

I realize that eBay can not police every post but to me that is just abusing the system to the maximum.

Why on earth would anyone pay that much for a sea shell? An average one not something special.

To me if the rules apply to us it should apply to all.

Needless to say I am not bidding nor has anyone else