This really explains it all. Thanks so much!

great article so informative...keep up the great work

wonderful! thanks so much. and it's great to see Canada, Australia and other countries' info included.

Thank you! This article was really informative.

Very interesting articile! very useful!

wow so much helpful information! thank you xx

excellent info - great to have it all in one spot - thank you!

Awesome! I do all my internationals through USPS.com, it's so easy! Thanks for all the good info!

What a helpful little article. Thanks so much!

Great links! Thank you! I needed this ;))

Thanks for the great tips!!

great info great links

FYI I dont know about the rest of the country we have new customs forms in fla and the pic shown is of the old ones

Estimating and calculating shipping can be daunting at times ... thanks for this great article helping to streamline and organize the process!

Great advice! I've been meaning to sign up with Endicia, thanks for the reminder.

A lot of good information here. Thanks!

this is grand! thanks!

So much helpful information! I especially appreciate the international shipping tips. This can be scary, but doesn't have to be.

Wonderful explanation of the basics! I definitely needed this when I was starting out. Shipping can be so stressful!

Some great info here :D

This is great information! Thank you for sharing!

I highly recommend using USPS Delivery Confirmation tracking. Proves date/time/location parcel was delivered and save seller lots of time/stress if buyer falsely claims it did not arrive. Worth every penny post office charges.

Great article!!

This is a good, thorough article! Not only do we, as sellers, need to design and create top-notch products, we need to deliver excellent service all the way to the customer's door.

Great info in this article. When I'm at the post office, I grab a couple extra of their customs forms and insured package forms. It's good to make them out ahead of time during this busy season.

Everything, I mean everything you need to know!!Thank you!

Great Article, Shipping is a very important aspect of what we do. I got myself a scale at the post office it only cost $39 and will do up to 10 lbs... well worth the cost.

great article!! thanks so much for posting! xo.

great info! thanks!!

Granted, printing customs forms is easy but standing in line at the post office during this season can take more than an hour out of your day.

This post was extremely helpful. Thanks so much for providing relevant and detailed information.

This is a GREAT article. Thanks!

great article!!

THis is a VERY helpful article especially for new sellers! I wish I had this the first time I shipped my clothes! Especially the part about keeping TRACKING packages! Please Please PLease be sure to ship with tracking ESPECIALLY for international(I suggest priority flat rate through paypal) to avoid losing your hard earned money:)

Awesome info, thanks!

Thanks for posting a lot of important info!

goodness etsy... you are too helpful, thanks!

Whew! That's a lot of good info. Thank-you.

whoa! It made me think about the whole shipping pricing. Usually, my shipping costs are a bit more expensive than I put in my listings. Althou, I will have a free shipping promotion this weekend.

Helpful! Thanks for all the links.

shipping from canada is expensive in the country and internationally... i have to think light - and not too much packaging - those extras add up at the weigh scale. great article - esp. love the links!! thanks!

Thank you for compiling this info! Peace!

Thanks so much for this article. I've had almost as many non U.S. customers as I have U.S. customers and these are some great things to think about.

Marking to read later!

hey, this is one very useful post! lots of good information. Thank you!

Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving fellow Etsians!

This is a really great How-To, so much great information in one little entry, thanks so much!

I like that the issue of heavy baked goods versus high shipping charges was addressed! I hate that shipping is more than the item in most cases in my shop but there's just no other way around it. We recently switched to the medium flat rate box which will fit any order no matter how large and hopefully encourage customers to purchase more products!

Great tips and info!

I always try to charge less for shipping than the actual cost, and never charge a handling fee. (Better to up your price on goods, in my humble opinion) I ship out of Canada and 98% of my customers are from the US so my advice is to ALWAYS ship Internationally! Canada Post's website makes it really simple to check rates and print labels right from your computer, complete with Customs forms. Thanks for a great, informative article!

Great and timely article. Thanks! One other thing to consider - you do not pay Etsy fees on shipping, so if you decide to include the shipping cost in your item price instead of separately, you will have a higher Etsy fee for each sale. Eileen...

Thank you for this extremely comprehensive guide!

It's great to see all this info in one place, thanks!

Thank you so much for the info!

Great information! Thanks very much~

Lots of information. Thank you!

I sent my first international order a few months ago, it was a learning experience. I'm so gald the Etsy administration thought to post this article, its very helpful.

Etsy fees are minimal:)

Interest items they're cute !! Thanks for share this great news : )

What a great article on Shipping! Lots of information! Thank you

Thanks for your tips ladies, good to know the cut off dates so we can prepare, appreciate all your help and the time spent researching. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you~!

This was VERY informative and extremely helpful!!! Thank you, as I am just starting and am concerned about the shipping issue.

thanks for the info! 1AEON hearts ETSY:)

Thank you indeed for all the info!

Thanks for the tips. I appreciate the research,and now this is less mysterious.

great info! thanks for all the links!

Exactly what i needed, thankyou!! Shipping is a little less intimidating now (^-^)

Shipsurance is also a great way to insure packages and less expensive than USPS!

Great article!!! Very important!! Thx Etsy!!

great article! Thanks for lighting the holiday fire under... um, well, you know ;)

Great article. Thanks so much!

Helpful tips!

How did you know this info is just what I need right now? Thanks so much!

Really helpful; thank you!

Thanks for a great article Danielle!

thanks for the article. I guess I can only consider some of the info though cause I'm from Israel

Great stuff! UK sellers can also download a customs form via the Royal Mail website - this saves a bit of time at the post office

Very helpful article. I must add that for UK sellers, (check the 'Customs Forms' section in the article) you can ask for a supply of customs forms stickers so you can complete them at home and stick them on your packages BEFORE you go to the Post Office. I was given a load of them, plus the required 'Air Mail' stickers too, which means I can save a lot of time in the Post Office (not to mention saving time for the poor people queuing behind you!)

Thanks! Lots of great info :)

lots of helpful information! shipping with appropriate travel-worthy packaging is important, too!

How great to have all this information in one spot. Thank you SO much!

Appreciate all the helpful tips here but for US sellers I cannot urge strongly enough: ALWAYS check with the USPS website for complete, up to date and comprehensive information regarding any shipping!

Thanks, I was just about to ask for cut off dates on the forums. This answered all my questions!

Great article, thanks! :)

Great article, love the picks!

Great article! I'd just like to add that USPS does not offer insurance for first class international, but it is easy and cheap to purchace third party insurers.

Informative article! Free WORLDWIDE Shipping everyday & always in my shop.

very helpful thanks

Excellent recap. Personally, I couldn't function without PayPal shipping - I love the convenience.

i use stamps.com. they have excellent tracking and i get emails sent to my inbox about deliveries. i can also send emails, store addresses-makes shipping a breeze. i can ship my products immediately and my customers love it. people should pay attention to what kind of envelope and or box they ship in- packages are thrown on doorsteps,in puddles or snow. i ship in waterproof envelopes with a protected label. learned the hard way watching my inkjet label turn unreadable in drizzly rain to the mailbox. likewise if your product is going to someplace steamy, provide protection from the heat. also let your customers know if you are going to use recycled packaging. presentation counts even with the shipping materials- be neat and tidy. have a great holiday season!

Great post, thank you so much!

I am glad you touched on international shipping, there are lots of things to consider when shipping internationally.

Lots of helpful info. Thanks!

Great article. I'm sure real sellers know all tricks but thank you.

Great article! Thank you very much for all the detail that you provided!! Sincerely, Lucilia

thank you

Shipping can be a crazy process. Thanks for the insight.

This article really helps!!! Thank you so much!

very informative, thanks for posting this. dr. nanette (alcat2021)

Fantastic, I am going to check how to improve my shipping options from Spain!

Thanks for info. :)

Very useful information for sellers!! Thanks

Very important article. Thanks!

Very helpful : )

Thanks for all this great help.

Thank you so much for this. Very useful!

Hi im new to this website, please check out my store, its andrew12.etsy.com i make hand sculptured wire wrap jewelry. We are always putting new designs on the page, please watch for them.I really appreciate this article it has really help.

great article! one thing though that should be mentioned. i am an american living in australia so i send a great deal of letters or parcels to the states. i have expedited or expressed mail to the states with a tracking number where i can check the delivery on line...so i was told when i shelled out the money. tracking actually ends at the border. once auspost relinquishes the item to another country's postal service, you cannot track the number online, nor can customer service of either country. i found this out the hard way when i first came here. i was told by auspost LATER that expedited or express only guarantees it leaves the country within 24 hours., which is also kinda hit and miss, too, depending on airlines. i also found that it can take longer than regular mail on delivery. the same goes with articles going to australia by the states. tracking ends most usually in california. and again the delivery time seems to be longer. so in the long run, sellers and buyers are best to just offer regular international mail when it comes to or leaves australia.

very timely and great help. just beginning and hope to be able to send anywhere it's needed.

Excellent~!

Thanks for the helpful information!

Really great info.... unfortunatly for me I just discovered that my popular wedding favors are prohibited to ship (matches..duhh!)!! ahh!! I must put on my creative thinking boots now. Thank you, This article opened my eyes before customs did!

Send a lot of international packages First Class? Don't want to wait in line to pay for postage. Just look up the postage amount online at www.USPS.com, go to the 'kiosk'/'ATM' machine and print out your postage as a stamp. Stick your customs label on your package and off you go. A great time saver!

I cannot stress the importance of this page http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/ab_toc.htm enough. I do want to clarify that knowing how your product fits into the int'l shipping puzzle is critical to providing a positive customer service experience. It's not just about speed & cost. By not following the conditions of mailing you risk fines. More frequently/likely you risk having your goods confiscated/destroyed. As an artist, this is distressing to say the least, but for the customer it can be a huge source of frustration and anger. For example: A customer in Mexico orders a pair of sterling silver earrings, as a Christmas gift ($20 total) You figure "Meh, they cost me $x to make. I'll make another pair if something happens. No worries." You ship them USPS First Class International. A couple of weeks pass... The customer sends you a convo asking you to track them. You can't track so you assure her that, esp. around the holidays, packages can take longer than usual & you reinforce her confidence by providing the ship date (and a certificate of mailing if you have one). A couple of more weeks pass & still she doesn't have them. The end result is that she never gets the earrings. She is frustrated and thanks you for mailing another pair(folks aren't always so mellow), but they won't be there in time for the holiday. She has to scramble for a last minute gift as she is empty handed. The replacement package never arrives. You handle all of the communication professionally & shipped multiple replacements. Your customer is, thankfully, understanding about int'l shipping & customs delays. But chances are she'll buy locally or look elsewhere due to this experience-which she may share with other people. AND she is extra stressed this holiday as the time she spent emailing you & calling her local PO could have been spent with friends or baking fabulous cookies. You could have probably done the same but you were busy remaking & reshipping. If you had checked the USPS conditions sheet you would know that Mexico does not allow jewelry or precious metals into their country. When the first package, & all of the replacements, went through customs, entering Mexico, the scanners picked up the familiar outline of earrings & the packages were promptly removed by customs officials/workers & ,for all intents and purposes, destroyed. You wind up cranky, your customer winds up unsatisfied, stressed out, & quite possibly very angry. It could have been prevented. This happens every day. Many countries restrict the method in which you may send jewelry (any jewelry) or some restrict jewelry completely. Some countries don't allow paper goods or leather. The United Kingdom restricts jewelry & precious metals to certain methods of shipping... (manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, silver; precious stones; jewelry... may only be sent in registered First-Class Mail International shipments or insured Priority Mail International parcels.) Most countries do not define what they consider jewelry, but the harmonization codes document does a good job of it and is a fine place to start.... http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm Maybe many sellers are comfortable taking a somewhat calculated risk, but as merchants who export tangible goods, I think it's important to know what defines your product, so you can properly interpret the conditions of mailing to improve the customer experience. Anyway, I know this is lengthy but I hope it helps! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Shipping!

Oh and Endicia is a great service- their integrated customs forms are also integrated with speedy lookup of mailing conditions... If anyone wants to testdrive Endicia.com for a month please use 675682 as the Promotional Code http://www.endicia.com/SignUp

Great gathering of information!

By the way, here's a link to a snapshot of last year's holiday USPS transit times and methods (originating from SW Florida)...The global priority package that took 13 days was shipped to Canada, I believe. First class international transit times are not listed, but ranged from 4 days - 4 weeks (in 2007 I had packages take 9 weeks- both heading to europe and shipping to me from europe)..... http://beclever.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/shipping-times/

I like to add little freebies and samples of my favorite sellers like little soaps from fairybubbles and cozymoments. The buyers appreciate a little bonus, as it's unexpected and indulgent!

Thanks for the great information. Got more reading to do now :)

That's excellent info! As a new seller this info had really helped a lot!! thanks!

Good article and very informative comments as well.

great tips, I actually pay for delivery confirmation on every package it is very helpful and has come handy

Super tips, thanks for sharing :)

This was very helpful to me. I just revised my intl shipping based on some of these suggestions.

excellent article! thanks

Very good article and I appreciated the long post from clevergirl... I guess she is clever!

Thanks pfd! :-) I also wanted to add (no groaning please! :-p) that on international package it is a good idea to include a label with the destination address, return address, and the customs label/form # if you can. I suggest a label as you can attach it as close to the item as possible (I often put them on the bottom of the little gift box I use for packaging my jewelry). That way if your package is opened by customs, chances are that your item and the packaging will be reunited. Clever-out

GREAT INFO! THANKS!

clevergirl, thanks so much for all the helpful info. daniellexo, HeyMichelle, stellaloella, Vanessa, if you need translation into Spanish just convo me!

Good overview. Here's some additional information. 1. I didn't see a mention that Paypal's seller protection requires SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION (not just delivery confirmation) if the total amount of the transaction, including shipping, is $250 or greater. 2. In the US, the USPS website information about country-by-country import restrictions as well as costs for all possible classes of mail, size restrictions, etc. is available through the postage calculator. It may take a few minutes to locate the information you need, but information on every mail topic is available at usps.com. If you can't find what you need, click on contact us and complete the email form. A response will usually come within 24 hours. If you can't find what you need by using the USPS search box, try to google instead. I've found it easier to locate information through google's search engine than the one at USPS. 4. Private package insurers charge far, far less to insure packages than USPS does. Shipsurance, U-Pic, and Auctiva are the largest. If you ship just a few packages, it may not be worth the hassle to learn a new software system to buy insurance, but if you ship quite a few packages, the cost savings definitely mount up. Private insurers have slightly different rules and very different costs, so you have to do some research to figure out which best meets your needs.

Thanks so much for the information!! Great to see other countries mentioned there as well. I offer FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING on my site always, all the time! :o)

Being new to Etsy, I have been trying to figure out the shipping detail by trial and error. Now I have a much better grasp on the whole thing! Thank you!!!

Great article & follow up info in the comments. Curious about the links for FedEx, since Etsy just wrangled us sellers a nice discount.

Very helpful. Thank You!!!!

Thank you ESTY!! Happy weekend:)

Thanks. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Thanks, very useful info!

This a great article. Very helpful. Thanks to everyone for their input!!!

Post couldn't have come at a better time! Thank you.

VERY helpful! I learned tons through this one article. Will come in handy when I need a question answered. THANKS!!!

Great info..thanks

The article is helpful and thanks for the info in the comments, too.

This is very helpful thanks!

Hi, with consideration of shipping proof from Australia to overseas,overseas registered is one option and regular air mail with insurance is another. You cant insure overseas registered parcels and the prepaid registered satchels only go up to 2kg, but when you insure regular airmail the recipient has to sign for it at the other end. You can also get something called delivery confirmation for a small additional feel, this is a card which is attached to the outside of the parcel and the recipient signs it and its posted back to you by the receiving post office. You wanna stick or staple the card firmly to avoid it falling off in the post

Thanks for the tips!

You might also want to be sure to cross check the Etsy address with the Paypal address!! I wish there was a way to always make those two sync up without checking!! :)

YES YES YES! Thanks for the info!

Great article guys! Thanks so much

A must read. It removes a lot of mystery.

much needed InFo.. thanks Etsy for posting it! Great

I find this article very useful. I am new to etsy and this information will really help me.

Thanks for going through all the trouble of giving us all of this very useful information.

Thank you very much for the information and links, especially Endicia. Etsy Admin and experienced sellers always do a great job of sharing information with the community!

Such useful post, thanks!

Very helpful information. Thanks!

Very helpful information. Thanks!

Very helpful information. Thanks!

Very helpful information. Thanks!

Very helpful information. Thanks!

I needed this.

Wow! This article is fantastically helpful! marked, faved, commented, saved-- ;) Thank you!!

Thanks for the order deadline list!

I just posted my first parcel to the US before this arrived - wish I had read this first! Thanks :)

Thank you - this will help a great deal!!

Great!

Wonderful! As a new seller this article was extremely helpful :-)

Great Advice, thank you. Shipping was my biggest challenge when i first opened...it gets easier the more you get used to doing it!

I'd be happy to translate in Italian if you'd like! :)

Wow, great information!

I print postage at home except for international and take them to the post office counter where they scan in the del. con #'s and/or print a receipt for non-US packages. This helps protect me by showing the package was turned over to the post office. When a Non-US package hadn't arrived in 7 days (too early to worry about it) the customer filed with etsy. I sent copies of the receipt to both etsy and the customer. Etsy dropped the claim. Keep good records, keep emails and convos till you know the customer has their item.

thanks for all the great info!

Thanks for all this great info! Those holiday shipping deadlines will be here before we know it!

Great article and I was completely shocked and surprised to see my little suitcase pillow in the related items too!

Thanks! Great help

What a great family of Artisans we have here at Etsy to offer so much excellent and helpful info., especially for those of us that are still fairly new. Thank you! You're outstanding!

great info- thanks so much

thanks... now... if only i have someone to ship the stuff to! lol

Great information. Thanks!

I missed this article . Thanks for such helpful info.

thank you so much for the useful info.

thanks for the intl. info. time to buff up profiles page:)

Thanks so much, I didn't know shipping could be so complicated. I am saving this article.

I would add that you should always write your sender's address on the back of the parcel, that way if it can't be delivered for any reason you stand a good chance of getting it back eventually. Also don't be afraid to ask the staff in the post office if you have any questions about postage options. I always find them very helpful.

Also, if you're an Etsy seller living in the US, Paypal takes 6% of the transaction fee, instead of just 3% if your customer lives in the States. I wonder if the 6% goes for all international sellers who sell anywhere.

Great info for me to start up my shop.

What GREAT information! Trying to figure out shipping costs was one of the hardest things for me when setting up shop. Thanks for the tips and helpful hints.

Thanks for all the helpful info, I'm a newbie to Etsy and wondered about customs and things, so it's great to have all the links and info in one place!

Thanks. Now I just need some bites, so I can mail out my cute ornaments in time for Christmas.

So much useful information. Thank you so much!!

Very helpful. Thank you!

this is great! thanks!

weight off my shoulders on how to word it. thank you.

great. thank you! very helpful article.

I may be missing something, but when I ship a 1 lb. pkg. it can cost anywhere from about $4.00 to over $8.00 depending upon the USPS zone. Any ideas on how I can factor that in? or do I just assume the highest cost and price accordingly.

I'm trying to set up shop, but I can't enter a shipping amount without knowing where I might be sending it! I know the packaged weight and I can give that to a customer with links to usps, etc. Is there any way to allow for variable shipping? or a calculate feature or button for customers? Help, can't get past the shipping amount!

Recently had an item lost in the mail, and I needed some good shhipping advice!

Thank you, that was a great help.

One question I have about the original article - I don't believe paypal cares one bit about a 'certificate of mailing' (ie proof that you shipped). You need to have proof of delivery, ie, delivery confirmation in order to prevail if a buyer files an "Item Not Received" claim. If you can't prove it was delivered paypal will refund the buyer and take the money out of your account. And I second the posts regarding knowing what you can ship where. You would think nobody would care about felted stuffed animals coming into their country; but Italy does not allow "toys not wholly made of wood"!

That last comment really helped me . Thanks

Thank you for all your info. Right brains need all the help they can get.

Love this! Thanks for allt he great pointers - TheIDConenction

This is my major problem. This is why I have not started my store.I wish there was some soft ware I could use. Shipping is very confusing for me.

Great information and very useful tips, thank you!

Can someone tell me what I should do if I'm shipping large items and a lot depends on not only weight and dimensions, but where the item is going. I don't know what dollar amount to place on my items.

Just starting out, this article was very useful...thanks!

I'm just starting out...like yesterday...and I'm totally lost on all this...it's seems a lot to take in at once!

A SUGGESTION TO ETSY: add continental destinations to the "shipping to" menu. Along with the individual country listings in the "shipping to" menu why not also include continent designations??? This would be especially helpful for those Etsy sellers OUTSIDE of the United States as postal rates & systems vary from country to country, but can generally be grouped/priced by region by their local postal system. Just a thought.

I'm justing starting out and this article was quite helpful. I feel like I will understand the process better once I am up and running and actually shipped something.

I'm new, too, but can't tell you other newbies how thrilling it is to set up shipping accounts in USPS, FedEx, UPS and print your own label from your computer, then actually stick the thing on a box and send it. If you can, it's helpful and reassuring to do a test run: pick a friend, family member, etc. and ship them something inexpensive and not too big. Click the options in the shippers sites that provide you with tracking and shipment confirmation so you can practice that at the same time. Ask your recipient to email you when they get the package and maybe even get them to convo you with a testimonial you can use.

I live in New Zealand - is it worth even trying to ship things that can't fit in a little padded envelope? I'm afraid our ridiculous shipping rates and shipping time would make it a pain for the customer.

i am having a bad time trying to locate the way to make changes in my shop i want to put in free shipping for two weeks and cant find where to go to cdo it.MIKE

Thank you for your post as I am new to ESTY and soaking up all the information I can.... Here's to Great Sales in 2010!!!! Marilyn in Texas

Thx for the Info... I just got my first order from Canada. With this information, and the help from my Post Office, I am sure I can get it done.

Finally, I located the info I needed. Right here. Thanks.

This has given me exactly the info I need Thank you!

I really appreciated this article and the links to different sellers who made comments.

I sell large, sometimes heavy items, some fragile. Shipping cost has to have the insurance cost calculated in. I pack with care and that can cause the package to be larger and heavier which will bring the cost up even more, but the item needs to be protected from the abuse that it will sometimes get put through by the transit system of the chosen carrier service. A shipping calculator based on size and weight would be good to have in my store. I have to figure the cost to the furthest destination that I would have to ship. I state that buyers should email for an accurate shipping cost but some buyer's may want to purchase at that moment and not have to email, wait for me to respond, they have moved on and I have lost an opportunity to sell the item.

I have had several inquires from Europe but our product is quite heavy at 3 to 5 lbs. and the cost of shipping is very expensive. Any one else have this problem and come up with a reasonable answer? Thanks.

Thank you so much for all this information! This answers all the questions I had and the links were super helpful.

This is awesome information! I just looked at Paypal shipping. What kind of paper do you print the labels on? How do I make them waterproof(laminated)? It would be so cool if someone would explain these little things!!

Can someone tell me how to use Paypal shipping labels? What kind of paper do you print on to keep it waterproof/laminated? I'd really appreciate any help!!TY!

Wow, thank you, so much information!

thanks so much, just what i was wanting clarity on (customs stuff).

Thank you! International shipping can be so confusing. Your article is wonderful!

Thanks for putting all this information together. International shipping can be intimidating. Bookmarking!

For international shipments from the US, Our post office now has new white forms with 3 carbon copies - 1 stays on the package with a tear off portion for the customer and 2 go to the post office. You can't track the package by going to USPS website, but check with your Post office if your international package gets lost - they may be able to pull some information for you. Also, if you are looking to cut costs on packaging, go to Ebay - you can buy mailers for fraction of their cost in Walmart, Office Depot, or Staples.

I'm not sure where Magicjelly has her information from, but I have been in the fine jewellery industry for over 20 years and have a small jewellery business of my own. When working for a wholesale company that imported jewellery and precious stones from Italy and other countries we had no problems. Along with the fact that many companies in Australia import there finished or semi-finished metal items from overseas and semi-precious and precious stones as well. As a country we export gold and fine gemstones all over the world and importation is not restricted except for Ivory, Italian meditteranean coral and repltile skins amongst some other items. Check the details at the Australian Customs site before making a declaration that stops buyer and seller for trading.

How do I send PDF (how to instructions)documents? Email?

Thanks so much. I've been totally lost on this.

My head is spinning from all that I need to work out now BUT that was really informative and simple to navigate. Thanks a lot! Claire.

I just registered with the canada postal and united kingdom so I can go in an figure out my cost for shipping.

Great article, but I still have a problem that is keeping me from listing a lot of things I'd like to sell! How should I know what shipping price to put in my listing if I don't know where it's going? I've sent queries to Etsy and was only told to use the USPS shipping calculator...which is no help to me unless the item has already SOLD and I know where my buyer is located. Using flat rate boxes and envelopes aren't always the most economical options, so I'd love to know how I can use other vessels to ship items in and know for sure how much shipping to charge. Can anyone help me with this or am I totally missing something?

Thank you so much for this info! We made our 1st etsy sale!

These are great tips! Thanks!

very informative but i have same ?as BBC1489. How to know what to charge for shipping.

BBC1489 and smalltownkreations ~ I used the USPS shipping calculator. I create in South Carolina, so I picked the opposite coast for my domestic calculations. I chose California, and filled in a zip code. You can google zip codes. I also purchased a scale, so I know the exact weight of the item. Hope this info helps!

I'm brand new to etsy and i also have the same delima how do i make a shipping price if i don't know where its going?

All shipping will be billed to customer depending on location and type of shipment preference.. customer pays all shipping fees..Insurance available for a fee on request.. cost will be applied to Items sold with purchase

Thank you so much for all this relavent shipping information. I'm sure I will refer to it repeatedly. Thanks, to everyone that contributed!

A question for HauteInteriorsLLC, or anyone who knows the answer: What brand of scale did you buy, and what happens if your printed label amount differs from the Post Office's scale amount? Is the label then unusable, or do they just charge you the extra amount at the counter? Thanks.

Just setting up my shop now...does anyone know if there is a way to block all international orders? Other than just mentioning it in your policies. I hope to allow that at some point but right now since I'm just getting started, I want to avoid the headache and worry - once I have the basics down, I figure I can add international shipping. Thoughts? Just put it in policies?

I think when you set your Shipping Profiles (i.e., create a shipping profile), that is where you add all the countries and/or regions that you would ship to (if you are shipping to other countries/regions than the U.S.) Since I, too, am only shipping to the U.S., I didn't create anything in the Shipping Profiles section because I am only shipping to one country. So, each time I list an item for sale, when I get to the page that asks me to select a shipping profile (i.e., one that I would have already set-up if I chose to set one), I just skip that box, and go on to the next box which is the "Ship From" box and I select "United States"; then the next box which is "Ship To" and select "United States" and click on "Add". The next box which will appear will ask how much shipping you are charging to ship that specific item. I find it easier to do it this way. Maybe it will be the same thing if I had just selected only United States in the Shipping Profiles section, but I didn't trust that. You should also state in your Shop Policies that you do not ship internationally. You can see my shop as an example. Good luck. It took me a while to figure things out. I lost money on shipping on my very first sale. I'm still learning. You can convo me if you have any questions I may be able to help you with.

Please check out this Squidoo article for tips to increasing your Etsy traffic. Also, at the bottom of the article, there's a link to a great place for buying mailers at fraction of the costs in Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, etc. I buy all my mailers there! http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-tips-for-selling-handmade-on-etsy

Free Shipping First Order United States $5.00 United States $10.00 Other Countries

Free Shipping First Order, United States $5.00 United States $10.00 Other Countries Will Ship After Check Clears

I bought my shipping scale on ebay for 25.00 shipping included,it weighs items up to 75 lbs. I live in Missouri, I check rates for California, Canada and Australia and use those for my shipping prices. I note in my ads I refund excess shipping over $2.00. I have noticed when I check on-line for far away countries, the estimates are very high, if the buyer actually buys, it is usually always cheaper than what they were charged and I refund them, I bump my charge down a few dollars when making the ad knowing the on-line estimate is off. I don't pre-pack each item, I place item in open box of right size, weigh and measure it, then I add 1-4 pounds for packing depending on fragility. I wrap breakables well and double box them. You get better about guessing extra packaging weight the more you ship. I am usually with-in 1.00 of actual shipping, sometimes I make a dollar, sometimes I lose a dollar, it evens out. Etsy needs a shipping calculator, it would solve so many problems. I'm confident that they will have one eventually. I print my labels on-line, you get a discount, sometimes of a 1.00 or more and it makes for easier tracking. I am able to drop my packages off at Post office and not have to wait in line. If you ship Priority, the Post man will pick up your packages at home! My local drug store is a registered UPS shipper, they offer 11th package free deal, ship 10- 11th is free up to 12.50. Items will ship almost as cheap Priority as Parcel Post if they are 3 pounds or under. If Priority is 1.00/ less more, I go with that, the shipping time is 2-5 days Priority versus 5-14 days Parcel-makes for happier customer. International Shipping is as easy. I sell a lot to Canada and Australia. You lose business not offering International shipping. Insurance is almost a must, even for non-breakables, items have a mysterious way of getting "lost". The lost items have seemed to lessen in occurance since buying insurance..hmmm. If item is "lost", tampered with or damaged, I ALWAYS file a claim, hopefully, the problem areas can be pinpointed by the Post Office... plus a squeaky wheel gets the grease if you know what I mean :) I also make note in my refunds through paypal on lost, damaged, tampered items so there is documentation there to. This only happens about 3-4 times a year on 1000+ packages. I know for a fact that items get lost and I have read stories of Postal workers stealing items but I also know some buyers know how to work the system and if they have a lot of claims filed for "lost" items, they'll eventually get caught. I do want to say that this is a problem I have had on ebay and so far never on etsy. You can order FREE Priority boxes and International forms on-line, they are shipped to your door and it's so handy to have them available. We have a furniture store a few blocks from home that gets some of the best LARGE boxes and packing foam, bubble wrap, peanuts, etc. I check them once a week for free packing supplies. My husband sells car parts like long car grills, we get long boxes from the florists that those grills fit perfectly in. Egg cartons, washed styrofoam cups and meat trays make great filler material that don't add a lot of weight as long as you note in your shipping policy that you use recycled shipping materials and make sure they are clean. Those plastic bags on the newspaper, blow some air into them and tie the end and instance air pillows :) 6 pack soda and beer cartons are great for keeping glasses from clinking against each other. I only have around 2 items damaged in shipping per year out of over 1000+ packages between my husband and I. I do not offer free shipping as you are charged a commission on the sale amount and not shipping so I would rather sell an item for 10.00 with 10.00 shipping than to sell it for 20.00 with free shipping. I also wish etsy would allow you to apply a sale to your invoice as I offer 50% off when you buy 5 or more items but I pay commission on the full price and not the sale price. But since etsy's commissions are so incrediably reasonable, no complaints :)

Thanks for the info ,now I am writing shipping details from France in my item description, easy way for buyer , becaus lots of people not reading or shop policier or profile ! I am shipping export box !

this is really helpful, thank you so much! Now, I know where to find shipping info and can apply those rates to my costs. Great job Etsy team!

Super info, thank you for helping!! Getting my shop in order doesn't seem so daunting when you offer this much help, it's really appreciated. Keep up the good work ladies!

The article did answer a few questions that I had as regards to shipping I was nervouse that using flag rat boxes fo jewelry made the shipping to expensive. It's great that there are so many ways to receive info within the easy community, it's great!

WOW! So very much to learn and consider. Thanks so much for all the info. Also good to know that I am not alone being nervous about getting started.

I am very confident about gett ing started but the shipping truly scares me to death. I keep my costs low so I can't afford to mess up on shipping and bite my own hand!

I really look forward to getting started! I'm sure everything will work out on the shipping once I've got all this information put to good use. Thank You so much!

Thanks for this information. I will progressively sort through and am looking froward to getting started!

I'm new to Etsy, maybe I missed it but how do I offer FREE shipping?

how i will show shipping by Air mail on my account

I am selling photographs and I'm wondering how I can offer different sizes of prints

Very good and nice tips... but I need an help from Italian sellers!! I can't find a way to ship articles (1 or 2 kg maximum) in USA or in Europe in a convenient way. I've found ship around 30/40 euros... do you know other way to ship not so expensive? Thks

I am confused about the shipping

I am confused about the shipping

Is it possible to have a "local" or "in-state" pick-up (or even "local delivery") listing? I have some large, somewhat bulky items that would require personal pick-up as an alternative to expensive shipping and would like to be able to list them.

For those Aussie Etsy users check out the updated price list for Australia Post - http://auspost.com.au/media/documents/post-2010-web-3-6-10.pdf This is their most recent price list for shipping from Australia

Thank you for the precious information. I hope to put it to good use!

I agree with rosieposieretro! Most of my customers are local and it is more practical for me to deliver nearby. Please consider providing a "local delivery" listing in the drop-down selections on the shipping profiles.

The shipping field needs to be changed to allow for shipping costs that vary. There is no way to figure shipping UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE THE HECK IT IS GOING!!!!!

Great info! Thanks so much for this!

You can price for in the states or out.

You can receive 5 for price of 1 shipping wrapping cost!

Perhaps it is just me, but I am more confused than ever! I have no idea how to come up with a shipping rate chart based on the millions of choices from USPS. I am getting very frustrated with this!

Very grateful for this advice. I am just getting started, so need to know all the details before I can jump in. The shipping for me seems to be the hardest to figure out. I went by the charts given by USPS, - shipping out a Dancing Santa last year. Per the chart, size & weight, it should have been $32.00 shipping, but when it came down to it. . . I was charged $64 for it. Double! I definitely lost on the shipping, since I had to post the shipping when selling. Is there a sure fire way to figure shipping, maybe I'm not getting??? Thanks

since all my items are small i will be using uspostal service if it fits it ships flat rate not to exceed 7.00 per box, 99% of all my items will fit in one box.

thank you so much!

Why can't we just put "buyer pays actual shipping costs" somewhere on our site, and then calculate the shipping costs at the end of the sale? Or, if a buyer asks how much it will cost to ship to their area? All of this trying to figure out a rate before the sale is even made is very time consuming and makes me not want to sell very much! It's frustrating!

I am new and just starting my etsy account. I make solid wood lamps, tables, etc. How do I calculate shipping costs on, for example, a floor lamp that weighs 40-50lbs. and each piece is different, some weigh more, some less?

This info was very helpful. I really want to ship to other countries (currently only shipping to U.S. and Canada). I'm very worried about PayPal chargebacks, etc. I guess I should just try it out and stop allowing it if I have problems.

I am having difficulty regarding Etsy's format. I need a category that says "see description" for the reason that large items are not being weighed and shipped by me. Instead, the buyer arranges for a carrier to pick up the item under blanketwrap service. Etsy's format requires me to put in at least $1 for shipping. This is misleading, as I do not include the shipping in my sales. I have been forced to put in $10,000 for shipping hoping a buyer who is interested contacts me and questions it, but this certainly is not appropriate. Any ideas out there? How do I get this problem to Etsy?

thanks

I'm new to this website, however I know my shawls are absolutely beautiful. But they are buried. Will anyone ever see them? The three I have listed are called Arm Hole Wrap Shawls.

Recently we've been shipping packages to California from Michigan and noticed that the shipping is quite higher in that instance than if you are shipping from My Town, Michigan to Across the state. Will there be a choice in the future to have different shipping charges for different states?

Thank you for the information provided. Shipping seems to be a very dynamic part of my service as a shop owner.

great tips - - thank you!

this info is great but what if you dont want to ship internationally?

Will utilize flat rate postage when appropriate.

Etsy please consider offering us regional shipping for the US.... there are those of us that cant use USPS Priority shipping due to larger size. We need the ability to put our rate in for each region. West Coast, Mid West etc. I have this on my website and didnt lose or over charge 1.00 this holiday season. In my etsy site I lost on all the packages out west.

how do I select an option which means I want to ship only within The USA?

YES how do I select an option which means shipping only in the US?

PICK UP ONLY

Thank you for this info. Does Etsy allow two shipping options to run on a single add?

Thank you for this info. Does Etsy allow two shipping options to run on a single add?

you need to give us the option of deciding postage amount by zip-code. This current method creates many losses of money for shipping. And very frustrating.

U.S. shipping charges are for the lower 48 states, packages sent to Alaska & Hawaii probably will be slightly more.

i uess with time i will figure it all out....................info was very helpful

i still don,t understand the calculations, for foriegn countries,wyh can,t it be a flat fee.....

Me too..... I can't figure out how to ship only to the US... Gurr..... ETSY has provided a lot of info to read but I have not seen anything on just shipping only to the US, did I miss it somewhere???

Can we not put no shipping prices at all and then put in our product description to convo us with postal codes, zip codes or countries so we can then figure out the shipping price to tell the person, then they can determine if they want the product?

I was hoping for more information in regards to shipping larger items, such as furniture. I notice a number of sellers use FedEx, and the shipping rate is quoted. I wonder, do you have to take the item in to get a quote? Do they package it? How in the world do you weigh large pieces of furniture?

It looks like am not the only one who is confused by how to charge for shipping! I am selling small pieces of furniture that clearly need UPS or FedEx and I also don't know how to go about calculating that! I'd like to suggest I will deliver if the buyer is within an hour away! Can I say that on my items?

USPS charges approx $4.95 for their "Any size" shipping. But if the buyer wants UPS or Fed Ex I can deliver the package that way if the buyer wishes to pay the price.

I am trying to get things set up. I can see I need the handbook. For now I will just say "free shipping" till I can get everything working and opened. Thank you for your help. Truly appreciated.

I ship from Canada and when I go to try and find a shipping rate on their web site they require me to put the destination postal code or zip code to where it's going to. And the rate changes depending on which part of the country it's going to. So how do I decide on an appropriate flat shipping rate? There have been times where I did not charge enough for shipping.

Hello! This is my very first day. I hope you like and will share my product information! Best of luck to you all! Gloria

There is a lot of great information offered in the article but I wish there was more info about shipping from the EU, especially from Spain, to other parts of the world. I'm new to Etsy and still trying to figure it all out!

How about if I want to offer two ways of shipment - through Bulgarian post - which is the possibility here in my country and through DHL?

On Ebay you can post a shipping fee when you are listing your item without knowing where it is going. How does Etsy work? If I have different sized items that weigh differently, how do I do it here?

thank you for the information

Just found this very useful information. Thank you so much for sharing :) Shipping from Canada can be so confusing and the prices go up so frequently it's hard to keep up!! I know my shipping prices have always been quite low, but I would rather keep selling my items and put in the extra myself.

Great article and I'm thinking about opening up to selling to at least a few foreign countries - maybe some that have the least complex postal paperwork? Or maybe there are no easy countries to sell to from the US?? I gained a lot of info from reading comments here, especially those most recent. Seems to me lots of sellers are facing the same dilemma as I am - my items are one of a kind, all weights, usually heavy and sizes vary, flat rate boxes don't work for me. I've tried estimating weights without having to box up every item I sell and basing my shipping costs on a zip code across the country but I'm afraid my shipping costs look too high and I'm scaring people off. Even tho I say I'll refund the difference it seems people don't read the entire ad. And when I do get a rare sale and I pack it up and take it in I have been losing on the postage. I can;t figure out a better way to do postage. Are there any guideslines for items of varying weights and size? THX

Free Shipping to the Mainland USA for most of my Treasures ~ feel free to email me with any questions. See you on Etsy D'glee Originals

Greetings my friends; When you buy one of my Treasures you will receive Free Shipping to the USA Mainland. Any other fees are the Buyers responsibility. D'glee

Still not sure exactly what cost to charge for shipping since it depends on where in the U.S. it's being shipped to. I just spent $9.35 for shipping when I thought it was only going to be $5.20 so I lost money, not made money.....grrrrrrrrrrrrr....very confusing!!!!

Thank you so much! Wasn't going to ship internationally but with all this helpful info I am so encouraged I am going to do it. Thank you again!

I would like to have the option to put in more than one shipping choice. For example: 1. Priority mail or 2. First class mail with the different pricing and giving the customer the choice on checkout.

Thanks for this helpful info. Now, if only we could get Canada Post to create more small business friendly shipping rates ;-)

Thanks for the info...I'll need to bookmark this one!

Thanks for organizing all this info in one spot.

Thanks for organizing all this info in one spot.

Wow, so much helpful information. Thanks to all for your input. I have not had any shipping problems to date, but with time as I gear up my Etsy shop I imagine shipping will become increasingly important. Once again, thank you all for your input.

Yep, Etsy needs to incorporate a shipping calculator like eBay... Or maybe a way to set up shipping costs by US region. If I'm shipping from Maryland to Pennsylvania, it's not fair to force the buyer to pay the same shipping price as a resident from California would.

Does anybody knows if fine art can be shipped to Switzerland?? Long time ago a painting that I have sold to Switzerland was returned to me because it was not allowed by customs..... any help.....thanks

Great information. Looking forward to new doors opening around the world. Thank you!

Thank you very helpful.

Artisian 1st, Busy~ness later. Thank you for your helpful tips.

This will help me seeting up and list products

This will help me seeting up and list products

tnx for such useful info! exited to be setting up my shop!!

shipping 4.95

Thanks for the help. It is appreciated.

Thanks for the info!

I'm looking for any artist who can help me regarding the shipment from Italy to the United States. thank you very

Thank you for this imformation. I feel a little more confident now and also know I can look back here as a reference.

I am also having a hard time figuring out of country shipping costs. I am guessing that is there is a 0.00 in that area maybe the magic fairy will appear and fill in the rate. This is a lot of flipping work!!!

Thank you this was helpful!!

How do you save the country where your shipping from? Do I have to click on Unitied States everytime?

I can't figure out a predetermined out of country shipping costs either. Any suggestions?

My shipping is free...

Thanks this has great information.

Great info!

Great info!

This info. helped out tremendously and answered every question I had. Wonderful!

Thank you it was real informative!

Thanks,So much useful information.

Great article, thanks

Thanks for the information. I made the mistake of shipping to a country outside the U.S. and buyers are claiming packages were lost. I did not purchase insurance and now I'm out a LOT of money. Will be reviewing all the links provided above (once U.S.P.S. website is back up) to determine how I will ship internationally in the future. This is the first time in 2 years and got hit too hard on this one that I will have to figure something out to protect myself in the future.

Very good info. Thanks.

I clicked on the links for USPS Mailing and Shipping Guidelines and the one for USPS shipping calculator. Is it just me or do they not work for anyone?

Stone, they don't work for me too! :)

the links didn't work for me either, but I'm sure the information is still somewhere on the USPS website. I am wondering what the difference in shipping price is for international vs domestic. I want to offer my items to an international audience, but don't want to wind up losing money on shipping. Any ideas on about how much more international shipping costs than domestic?

wondering how to set the shipping when local pickup only?

Lots of Information and details to remember! ......

Still a dead link on "USPS Mailing and Shipping Guidelines".

Thank you - this clarifies it!! Still finding my way...

Hello All. I have a few shipping questions as well.... 1). For small-med size jewelry, is it worth it to use USPS Priority Shipping with free boxes? Or is there a cheaper option? I was researching on the USPS website calculator and found that an item that is about 3 ounces would cost $5.00 to mail from VA to NH. That seems a bit pricey to me. Am I missing something? 2). Is it better to mail First Class and use an at home scale, and buy my own smallboxes/padded envelopes? Thank you for any help on this.

Please update your links, NONE of the USPS links go to a page.

Thanks, that's very helpful!

Thanks.

Brilliant source of information - and very clear for us new sellers. Many thanks for taking the time to write this!

Wanted to add that usps Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes can not be insured Internationally! I found out the hard way...just awful. This may be a new rule as the tracking used to be better as well. Now once it leaves the country, it seems to be out of their hands and not of their interest.

Thanks a lot. ^.^

Your USPS linked page no longer exists. The very first one listed above.

Please allow me to clarify. Under General Shipping Information That is the link that is broken. When you click it you get page not found. Considering the size of the USPS site, is there any possibility you could fix the link you are referring to?

This info was very helpful, Thankyou!

Thanks for the info.

Very good information. Thank you.

Yes, it would be super helpful to have that link to USPS Mailing & Shipping Guidelines fixed. Thanks so much for all the great info!

Thanks for the information. I was still a little confused on the Canada rates. I'm sure I will figure things out. Thanks.

The usps links are out of date. They take you to the usps website but not to the info specified.

Your USPS links are 404'ing.

the USPS links in this article no longer work.

No USPS info available, they must be out of date because I keep getting an error code 404...

Whoo! Lots of info for me to take in, but many thanks to all who contributed!

This is a lot of information to take in and process.

Trying not to get overwhelmed. My main take-aways are Endicia.com for International shipping, save shipping profiles for repeating similar shipments and get dilivery confirmations.

Informative article. But I still can't figure out how some sellers can ship similar items that I have for less cost via USPS.

Need help. I am offering FREE shipping if you purchase 2 or more items. How do you do a coupon code for this? I'm not finding any way to do this.

I presented this question a year ago and got no response. Can someone please tell me how to get this problem resolved regarding shipping? I am forced to put in a shipping charge in order to complete a listing. I do NOT ship heavy items. I need a category that says "see description" for the reason that large items are not being weighed and shipped by me. Instead, the buyer arranges for a carrier to pick up the item under blanketwrap service. Etsy's format requires me to put in at least $1 for shipping. This is misleading, as I do not include the shipping in my sales. I have been forced to put in $10,000 for shipping hoping a buyer who is interested contacts me and questions it, but this certainly is not appropriate. Any ideas out there? How do I get this problem to Etsy?

I just started selling not too long ago and this is great information! :)

Wow, so much info. Hard to imagine anyone in another country wanting my stuff. Glad the post is here in case. Thanks a million, RC

I'm so glad you guys have these articles! They've been a huge help :D

Nice informative article.

Thank you. Big help :)

I want to offer free delivery or pick up option within my city... how can i do this within the options available? I used Zimbabwe and made it a zero dollar rate and noted that customers in Toronto could select it when choosing shipping method but I have to believe there's a better way. thoughts?

Thank you so much for this helpful article. When I tried to run a shopping cart on my own website, shipping was a nightmare. You've made it so easy to sell with Etsy. My only question is, if an order requires an adjustment to the shipping fees, how/where do I do that?

Thanks for all info. Not too savvy with this online selling. Wish there was a way adjust a fee because of regions. Hoping to open shop soon see you there Tks

Thanks, that's very helpful!

Well I read all if this and I got my packaging down to a tee. Sent a thank you letter business cards and gave a free gift of my new item that is an expansion of my shop now im worried about tomorrow when I go to ship it will I denver labels confirmation form and if I added the right cost to ship but live and learn still to excited because its my first sale over the internet hope it goes well thanks for info. At the local market sold 16 baskets and packaged each one nicely abc they loved it

Thanks for detailed, easy-to-digest info. I really needed just one place to research all of my options!

Question, please help! Hopefully someone is familiar with this and could answer my question in a conversation directly to me. I would liket to allow free shipping on the 2nd item (I use only flat rate). My items are heavy, but several will fit in a box for no additional cost. How can I make this possible in my shipping section at the checkout? I think It is possible, I have seen others do it! Thank you to anyone in advance for helping me in my plight.

Great information, thank you

Thanks for the info!

I would like to allow free shipping, My item is small and light weight, the shipping of one could cover the cost of other four how do I handle this? My client says the shipping is coming up higher than what I indicated. The shipping for one piece is $5.00 but will cost the same if I do five.

My only question is, if an order requires an adjustment to the shipping fees, how/where do I do that?

I made shipping free if it shipping with another item will that help?

The item in question is the wired succulents. One customer wants to buy five and the shipping should only cost the $6.50 I indicated in my store. The shipping of one could cover the cost of other four how do I handle this?

some of this info is out of date - jewelry is not allowed to be shipped into the UK or Mexico AT ALL according to the customs info on usps.com (you must search for each country in Postal Explorer and read all of the prohibitions). this includes Britain, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and some of the local islands. etsy should get the word out about this! I wish etsy would also add a way to exclude orders from these countries, such as set your jewelry shipping profile to exclude buyers in these countries and let them know it is illegal to ship jewelry into their country. I'm sure a lot of people don't know this! (please correct me if I'm wrong)

Excellent information.

Shipping is very tricky. I have shipped a few things to Canada and it is very simple and not a problem at all. I am still a little hesitant about shipping international. Too many questions ... read too many problems that others have had. But I'll get there. Thanks for all the info.

Wonderful advice. I really needed this!!

This was so helpful! I no longer feel as intimidated by international shipping! All the links to USPS helped so much. I am on my way to interntational shipping :)

It's 2012 and we're still out here, grateful as ever for this good, sound, basic advice. Thank you!

My new goal for this year !

The international form you show in the picture is no longer used. It is a plain white form for under 4 pounds and a larger form for items over 4 pounds...I have been told that size does matter and have had to sometimes use the larger form for larger packages even tho' they are under 4 pounds.