Is there a reason why eBay shipping is usually expensive?

eBay shipping is expensive for a number of reasons. Once upon a time, when eBay (and PayPal, for that matter) was in its infancy, a buyer could claim he didn't receive an item he ordered, and he would get his money back. If a seller is offering free shipping, then the price you are paying for the item is typically inflated to compensate for the business expense the seller is absorbing. Also remember that on eBay you can find items that other online marketplaces (such as Amazon) may not have, like that extremely rare box of chocolates autographed by Mozart (...) so, even if the shipping is a little high, for you it might be worth it (or, you have not much choice in the matter), in order to get the item before someone else does. Some sellers offer free standard shipping, with the option of expedited shipping that will cost much more. Other sellers will offer only priority shipping that adds to the total payment. However, you do get the benefit of being able to track the package.