Daniel,
Whenever I buy an item on eBay or elsewhere online, I calculate price+shipping and make a decision accordingly. For example, take this hypothetical scenario. Same cue for sale at 3 different locations:
$2000.00 w/ free shipping (=$2000)
or
$1950.00 + $50 shipping (=$2000)
or
$1915.00 + $10 shipping + 4% for paypal (~$2000)
Even though the end result is the same, I think people will have a different response to each price, positive or negative. I understand that.
I haven't posted a cue on eBay in quite some time, but you have just reminded me...Previously I advertised cues with "FREE SHIPPING!" and the results were, in my opinion, higher bids. I'll try to remember it next time, and try that again.
I recommend that you decide what the cue is worth to you including shipping and bid accordingly.
As an aside, I live in Canada. It will cost me more than $35 to get a shipping tube and ship the cue express + insurance, especially to USA. I know it's quite a bit less expensive to ship similarly USA -> USA, but even then I didn't think $35 was "so high". Maybe I was wrong.