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Shipping Rates on Etsy.com?
Hi everyone. I have a question about shipping rates on Etsy. I have a shop and I'm wanting to sell some necklaces and other small items that I've been making, but every time I use a shipping calculator the shipping cost around $20 a package. I've looked at many different items on Etsy and normally their shipping is less then $5. My items aren't very large, so I'm not sure why it's coming out to be so expensive. Can anyone help me out?
3 Answers
- Yahzmin ♥♥ 4everLv 710 years agoFavorite Answer
Obviously, you are doing something wrong in your calculations, especially if you are talking about shipping WITHIN the United States.
The first thing you need to do is make up a 'sample' package, which includes a single item from your shop of average weight, the way you would normally be shipping it (box, padded envelope, etc.) and include a business card and receipt, as they also weigh something. Now, WEIGH that sample on an accurate scale. If the weight is less than 13 ounces, you can send it First Class mail in the US, even if it is a box, and it should be pretty cheap.
For example, if I ship an 8 OUNCE package from New Jersey (08520) to California (90210), it can cost as little as $2.56 - or as MUCH as $26.65! The difference? The LOW number is plain old First Class Mail; the HIGH number is Express Mail. The thing is with the NEW calculator, you have to read VERY carefully EACH ONE of the options - and click them to OPEN them up to see them. Because USPS wants to fool you into using the MOST expensive way to ship something instead of the LEAST expensive way.
Check it out here and be SURE to click on the FOURTH option - First Class Mail:
http://postcalc.usps.gov/MailServices.aspx?m=6&p=0...
If your package weighs more than 13 ounces, you need to do Priority Mail, either by weight or by "Flat Rate", but even these should only run about $5.00 for something like jewelry.
If you have to BUY your shipping materials, remember to add a bit extra to your shipping costs to cover that. And remember that international shipping is a LOT more expensive, but you can easily run sample costs for that as well, once you get the hang of figuring out what USPS is REALLY saying about prices.
