You're cost is always "the bid plus the s&h fee". It doesn't matter if I priced:
A) the chip at $.01 with a $3 s&h fee
B) the chip at $1 with a $2.01 s&h fee
C) the chip at $3.01 with no s&h fee
D) or even the chip at $10.01 with a $7 refund
The per chip out of pocket cost is still $3.01 in all of these examples.

What kind of response do you think you'd get if you asked someone pricing the chip below face to combine s&h fees? Why would they? They paid more than the bid for the chip, have to pay eBay and PayPal fees, and have to actually ship the items. The total $3.01 costs in this example offsets all these costs and provide the profit buyers are looking for in sales. Why would I sell you the chips below what most ChipBoard members sell their for (usually $2.25 to $3 per chip)?

It's the seller's choice to deliver the chips -- whether he uses FedEx, USPS, or delivers them in person. A penny saved is a penny earned.