The auction stated that shipping was available to "Australia only" for AU $2.00. Did you e-mail the seller asking him if he was willing to ship to the U.S. and, if so, what he would charge? It is the responsibility of the bidder to understand the terms of the auction prior to bidding. If he was going to charge AU $2.00 in his country then it’s reasonable to expect that he would charge more to ship to the U.S. – regardless of what another auction by another seller has done in the past.

All that’s beside the fact. After having won the auction, you’re being told s&h is AU $10.00. This is where you need to decide if your winning bid of AU $7.00 (plus the s&h of AU $10.00) is worth it. Just like in the casinos you don’t have their money until they cash in your chips. Here too the seller will only receive your money if you send it.

So, if you think it’s worth AU $17.00 for the item then send it with a smile (and don’t let it torment you for the next 18 months as it does some people). If you disagree with the final cost, and apparently you do, then simply tell the seller that you had not noticed that shipping was only available to Australia, failed to ask about s&h costs prior to bidding, think the s&h fee is too high, and wish to withdraw your bid. No harm, no foul. I’m sure that this is a common occurrence on auctions where the s&h costs are not listed for locations outside the seller’s country or where s&h costs are omitted from the listing all together.