@gumleaf_goodies,
I agree that there's a buyer perception very prevalent that "combined postage" = "discounted total postage", but in the strictest sense, that isn't what "combined postage" means. There are sellers who undoubtedly do focus upon the strict definition of that term, and merely because buyers often perceive "combined postage" to mean "discounted total postage" is no reason for buyers to be outraged because one may feel that the definition by some common usage ought to squash the definition by literal meaning.
Many sellers both can and do offer a reduced postage fee for multiple purchases. On eBay one will see this reflected in the postage and payments tab. But for some purchases, it isn't possible to combine - or at least, it's not possible to offer a discount for combining, because the total postage charge will itself go up as a result of weight, volume or both.
That's why I think buyers need to check that postage and payments tab, or ask the seller before bidding/buying - and to make sure that the question is very clear. "Do you offer a combined postage discount for multiple items? I am interested in buying [items no. xxx, yyy, zzz, and aaa] / [x quantities of item xxx]. Can you tell me what the total postage amount would be for these? I look forward to your reply, and thank you in advance" is clear, whereas "Do you combine postage?" or "Do you do combined postage?" is not (if the buyer is asking for a discount).
There will always be some sellers who aren't going to reduce postage, even if they can save costs by combining postage for a multiple item purchase. Presumably they will justify that on the basis of their having small margins, poor sales, ever-increasing total costs, the occasional sale where the quoted postage is actually under what it costs them, and/or the desire for maximum profit.
Some major / large sellers (both within eBay and external to it) offer flat postage costs irrespective of how many items are purchased. Some will offer free postage within Australia for orders over a particular dollar amount. Yet we know that those sellers are actually paying their couriers or Australia Post... and I'm not sure that there's any buyer in Australia who'd be contacting the company to say "No, you must not offer me free postage. Tell me the cost; I must pay you!" No, we as buyers will assume that the seller has been able to rationalise their methods of charging postage.
In the same way... I as a buyer am not able to see into the nitty gritty of a small seller's costs and management, to decide for them how they should be handling their postage costs - even if I disagree with them. My remedy - if I disagree - is to not buy from them.
