And want to help a stranger out? I won an auction on eBay for a bunch of darkroom equipment. Hooray! But the guy won’t ship it. Boo! Admittedly, he did state that in his auction, but it was 1am when I bid, and I was rather excited. So, I’m looking for someone who wouldn’t mind picking up a bunch of suff, and packing it in boxes (which I will ship to you), an sending it all my way. I’m in Houston BTW. You will of couse be “rewarded” for your generosity (although not well, I did just win an auction on a darkroom). So, anyone feeling philanthropic (and honest)?
As an active ebay seller I can assure you that packing and shipping items is the least fun part of the selling process, and acquiring the properly sized boxes and packing material to safely contain oddly shaped and delicate items (like darkroom camera equipment) for cross county shipping can be quite involved. It’s not like shipping shoes or other durable items. A good amount of time and care often needs to be taken in this process in order to be done correctly.
I would suggest emailing the seller and explaining that you thought you had shipping lined up but it didn’t pan out, and is there a dollar amount you could pay that would make sense to him (or for him to pay someone else) to undertake the significant PITA of boxing it up and shipping it.
/grabs baseball bat?
where in CA, again? 
Damn, I used to live there about a year ago. It’s in Orange County for those that don’t know. Wish I could help you out but I’m not goin back there till the end of April. Unless you wanted to wait that long.