Here's my two cents: Yes, some places have outragous S & H charges. on more than one occasion I've been told that's how they get away with selling the item for less. So they can make up the difference in S & H charges. Recently on eBay I had a lady tell me that's how she offsets the eBay fees. I didn't buy from her. Shipping was almost twice the price of the item I wanted. Oh well, just keep shopping around and eventually I will find it at the price I'm willing to pay. I was just using eBay as an example, I think it's that way with a lot of businesses. Maybe they think we aren't paying attention and that's how they stick it to us.