I wanted to purchase a digital copy of a computer game from a supposedly American company selling on Ebay. The seller charges for the game in US currency plus charges almost double that cost in shipping.

Why is shipping being charged when I download the game on the Internet? There is no shipping and when I ask the seller about this he tells me it's Ebay who makes the shipping charge and he will reimburse me the shipping fees after I've made the payment.

Surely if he can reimburse me then it must be he who receives the money and not Ebay. Plus I wasn't aware that Ebay was involved in shipping matters.

Is this simply a scam to get more money, or Ebay actually making this charge?

Rathe than make another post I'll also ask this.  I recently made a small purchase on Ebay from a Chinese seller. The seller charged me GST and included it in the item price. I was given no invoice showing this GST charge nor his ABN. This means there is no official record of this GST payment.  How does the Australian Government get it's hands on this payment?  Surely if I'm purchasing something for use in business then I should be able yo show record of this taxation payment in returns to the ATO.

I have no problems with paying GST, but I refuse to pay it when it's not shown until I've commited to buying the item, or given proof of making such a payment. I'm thinking perhaps this Chinese seller is using this to put more money in his pocket. The fact he's selling the item for one cent and then adding a shipping fee to boost the total payment and sending the item via China's free post system makes it appear to be yet another way for sellers to make more on their sales. Can a seller make this charge without showing it in the listing?  Should Ebay be informed of these extra payments?