I have experimented with everything from free shipping to one penny shipping (so the buyer can then rate the shipping costs) to flat rates to cover time, packing materials, gas, and the actual postage. I can see why some sellers raise postage to cover fees, especially when eBay takes a cut of the shipping charge themselves. Some people don't realize that there is more to shipping and handling than just the cost of postage. Buyers get to sit comfortably in their easy chairs waiting for their item to be delivered to their door, while the seller is busy locating packing materials, packaging the item so it arrives in good condition, driving the item to the post office, and standing in a line twenty people long with only two people working the windows. I don't see any problem with flat rates that add a couple extra dollars to the total to offset some of those costs. There has also been many a time when a flat rate isn't high enough to cover the actual postage. Does a buyer ever contact the seller when this happens and say "Hi there. I noticed that the postage was higher than what you actually charged me. Please send me another paypal invoice so I can make up the difference. Thank you". I think not.