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Posted By: davidcycleback

As an eBay seller, I can tell you what I have done. Say real shipping cost on a lot will be $5. In the hopes of getting an early bidder, I have started said lot with $1 or free shipping. This is essentially an early bidder's discount. If no one bids after a day, I raise the shipping back to the normal cost $5. Do I feel guilty for raising the shipping price? No. Do I feel it is my fault or responsibility that someone didn't bid on day one? No. Do I feel ashamed for charging the eventual winner actual shipping cost? No. If someone bid on day one, would I really have paid for shipping out of my own pocket? Yes.

Believe it or not, auctioneers want people to place bids. They love to see folk place minimum bids, even when it's just $5. If there are zero bids after five days that's not what the auctioneer desires, and it makes no sense to blame the auctioneer for bidders who don't bid.