Whenever I think ebay shipping costs are excessive I tell sellers that I will prepay for shipping and send them a label to be taped to the box. Never had a seller refuse. I have done this for several heavy amplifiers and other things. I some cases my shipping cost was 1/2 of the Ebay quote. In your case, if a seller insists on using Ebay quotes and shipping methods and you decide to pay their excessive price, you CAN leave negative feedback and low DSR scores to warn future prospective buyers.
E-BAY and SHIPPING ARE GETTING OUT OF CONTROL
It seems that e-bay is totally controlling the elevated shipping now.......I bought a small amp (14.5 lbs)in Ct and the shipping to Idaho without insurance was 90.00...........I was looking at some Audio Research front panels in SC and the shipping to Idaho was 45.00.......Shipping is getting like gas prices, no control........I checked with Fed-Ex about the shipping on the amp and they said 41.00 with insurance......I ask the seller to ship by Fed-Ex and he tells me its e-bays deal and he can't do anything about it.....Of course I had already paid for it...........Then I find out it was shipped by NEX ??? Read a review on that company.....All negatives 100 %