After reading your post last night, I had a couple of thoughts. Also, I will answer Fred's(?) question, from the standpoint of a buyer.

First, it is great and as one who buys on eBay, I appreciate when a seller does what he/she can to keep the cost down. Like you say, it does go noticed, at least by me, when someone posts a s/h fee that is low or most fair. When I posted my feeling of $1.50 to $2.00 for s/h, I was considering that some people may be going to Office Max etc. and buying their envelopes at higher prices and the envelopes may not be recycled and that some may have to drive a distance from rural areas to take the envelopes to a nearby post office. I think I mentioned in a previous thread that I am fortunate that I live within about a mile and a half of at least 3 post offices. Some though might not have a post office so convenient. Anyways, as the price goes over $2 I feel there has to be a very good reason. Price of the chip demanding insurance and Priority or Express mail for example. I, however, have never purchased such a high end chip. Also, I will pay a little more from dealers I am familiar with whom I know are putting the chips in envelopes, flips, ziplock bags or other packagings that further protect the chips then putting them in a padded bubble mailer. Grant it there are good ways to accomplish this packaging that are cheaper and equally effective but I still credit those who are providing the extra safety. As I see it, at least I am getting some value from the higher price. On the other hand, when you pay $2.50 for s/h and someone throws your chips into an unpadded mailer with maybe a little kleenex at most, then I do get a feeling of being riped off. One that really got me was someone, some years ago, that had a s/h fee but required you to send your own self addressed stamped bubble mailer.

As for Freds question. I usually buy $5 chips so I will start there. If you are selling a $5 LE, then rather than opening at .99 or $4.99, start at say $5.99 or $6.99 to cover a little profit and the listing fees. That, to me, is still reasonable cost for a chip. Then put a s/h fee of $1.50 on that. If I were to bid uncontested that would be around $8.49. If I have a bidder against me I might still be looking at about $12. Some NISs that I buy from will charge me $7.50 or $8.50 + $1.50s/h for a chip. Therefore, the prices I mentioned, assuming a competitive bidder against me, will probably still come in at a reasonable competitive price. If it is a hot chip than you will probably make more. If it is a more ordinary chips than, at least you should come out fair. If it doesn't sell at all than hopefully the chips you sell will cover the ones that you don't... I have noticed, from my experiences, some NISs will sell on eBay. Then they will use past sales as a way to build a email list and will often start sending me offers for other new releases. Or they will insert a card or note in the package with their web address. Your eBay customers can end up as regular customers who will buy some of those other chips, that you didn't sell on eBay, at a fair enough price. Take some of those chips and add a buck or two to their face and sell them to past customers. Add $1.50 for s/h and you will probably make those fees back.

Now, I must add again, I have never sold anything on eBay so I am only speaking from my observations and some assumptions. Also, the example above would be for a current uncirculated new release. Some chips might warrant higher prices and if a standard house chip maybe less. In any case, take the fair value of your chip and add your expected minimum profit to the price along with all your eBay expenses and then start your bidding at that point. That way, every bid that comes through will be gravy, or icing on the cake or the cherry on the sundae. Remember, It doesn't matter how many bids you get if the price bid doesn't meet your expenses. The only bids that count are the ones that exceed your costs and represent profits. If you only get 1 bid, that may seem disappointing but if that bid gave you a profit and cleared all your costs than you did OK.

One last point. I have thought of starting to sell some of my extras on eBay. While considering this I have had the concern that whithout a lot of selling experience I might not get the most bang for my buck. Therefore, my thought was this. Start out with some of your more ordinary chips and establish a reputation and familiarity with the collectors. After you have built some feedback than post some of your more premium stuff. It has often interested me that two people will be selling identical chips. One guy will have 10 bids and be selling for $18 bucks and the other guy doesn't have a single bid at $10. ????? My thought was that maybe the one guy is selling because he is a familiar seller with a lot of feedbacks and the other may not be known and have fewer feedbacks. The chipping community is a fairly small group and, at least from my experience, certain people(sellers)do stand out.