Bob, you have to be careful how you use the word "fraudulent." You may not like a seller's terms, but that doesn't make them fraudulent. High shipping charges are not misleading in any way - they're just high!

I attended an eBay seminar last weekend and asked just that question: is eBay going to do anything about sellers who start bids at a penny, then charge full retail price for the item as a "shipping charge"? The answer, in essence, was: not likely. The only thing eBay's concerned about is whether the seller is using that tactic to avoid paying appropriate listing fees.

Their position is consistent: all eBay does is put buyers and sellers together. If a bidder doesn't like the terms and conditions, he doesn't have to bid.

(False statements in listing descriptions can be fraudulent, Bob, I agree.)

I also asked them about the use of the word "illegal" as a descriptor for perfectly legal items. Short answer is, there is not going to be a change in that position, no matter who we talk to. eBay will not change a policy in one listing category, nor will they stop prohibiting the sale of illegal items.

Michael