when setting up the shipping per item amount you entered the price with the leading dolor sign "$2.00", do not enter the dolor sign, only the amount.
you will need to edit the eCart object, on the shipping tab, edit the shipping per item rule and change the calculation from:
Subtotal or 'Quantity' 'Times' '$2.00'
to:
Subtotal or 'Quantity' 'Times' '2.00'