Etsy is an e-commerce platform that specializes in unique goods and gifts.
Buyers can find a variety of items on Etsy, from handmade goods to vintage items, and even downloads and printables.
Etsy has continued to steadily grow over the years, bringing about much competition for Etsy sellers and their online businesses. Due to this, it is important for sellers to make the most of their margins once their items sell.
A large part of increasing margins is being smart with your shipping practices. Many prospective sellers wonder, does Etsy provide shipping labels? What does shipping cost on Etsy? Is Etsy shipping free?
In this post, we will go over everything Etsy sellers need to know about how to ship, along with tips to save time and money when shipping on Etsy.
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Does Etsy Provide A Shipping Label?
Unfortunately no, Etsy does not automatically give you a shipping label when an item sells. This differs from other popular online e-commerce platforms like Poshmark and Mercari.
When it comes to Mercari and Poshmark shipping, once the sale is made, the shipping label is sent directly to the buyer’s email.
Etsy operates similarly to eBay, where sellers have to purchase their own shipping labels through a variety of platforms and options. Next, we will go over where you can buy a shipping label for your Etsy orders.
Where Can I Buy Etsy Shipping Labels?
Etsy sellers can, but do not have to, purchase their shipping labels directly on Etsy. However, it may be wise to purchase your label directly from your Etsy store because this platform incentivizes you to use Etsy shipping labels specifically.
This platform states using Etsy shipping labels specifically positively impacts your Star Seller shipping score. It is unclear how much this truly boosts your score, however, it is something sellers can experiment with.
Plus, there is an additional incentive to purchase from Etsy when it comes to the shipping price. Etsy states its sellers can receive a rate for a shipping label that is up to 30% lower than if purchased directly through USPS.
Alternatively, sellers have other options for obtaining an Etsy shipping label. First, an Etsy seller can take their package directly to the post office and purchase shipping labels on-site.
However, this requires a lot of time, effort, and coordination. Plus, this will be more expensive.
Another option Etsy sellers have for shipping labels is purchasing them from another trusted third-party site. This can be the best way to save even more money on Etsy labels. My preferred site is Pirate Ship.
Pirate Ship offers integrations with many popular e-commerce platforms, like Etsy, to make purchasing shipping labels simple.
To connect your Etsy account on Pirate Ship, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Pirate Ship on the web browser.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Click settings.
- Click integrations.
- Sign in to Etsy and allow Pirate Ship to connect.
Pirate Ship can be an easy and cost-effective option for sellers. Sometimes Pirate Ship prices beat Etsy prices, depending on the shipping service.
I encourage Etsy sellers to price compare to see which platform will give you the better deal. After all, making it in e-commerce means optimizing and maximizing your profit margin to increase your take-home profit.
Whether you purchase your shipping labels from Etsy or another site, it can be quick and easy, while also saving you a trip to the post office.
How To Purchase An Etsy Shipping Label
If you decide to purchase your labels directly from Etsy to boost your seller score, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Etsy on your web browser.
- Click Shop Manager.
- Click Orders and Shipping.
- Scroll until you find the order you want to purchase the shipping label for.
- Click the van icon.
- Check and make sure your address is correct. You can edit it here if need be.
- Enter the shipping information for the package you will be sending to your customer. If this is an item you have sold previously, you may already have the details preset from last time.
- Click Review your purchase.
- Select what you would like to print, and customize the orientation of your label if need be (desktop printer vs thermal printer).
- Click Purchase.
- Print your Etsy shipping label.
If you will be shipping the item internationally, you will have to perform one more step and fill out the customs form.
Also, in step 6, I mentioned a standard printer and a thermal printer. For those that are not familiar, obtaining a thermal printer may be a way to help decrease your time spent processing orders.
Additionally, thermal printers are great for the environment and end up being cost-effective due to them not requiring ink. I personally use a Rollo printer for all of my shipping needs, however, there are other brands like the Dymo labelwriter.
When using a thermal printer, it will automatically print the label in a 4x6 orientation. This means you will no longer have to cut out a label and tape it. Etsy allows sellers to update the orientation of their default shipping label to 4x6 within the shipping settings.
Once all of the above steps are complete, your buyer will be notified that the item has been shipped. This does not require manual action on your part.
Shipping Services Available On Etsy
Etsy provides integrations with the following shipping partners:
- USPS
- FedEx
- Global Postal Shipping
- Australia Post
- Canada Post
- Royal Mail
In the united states, USPS continues to be the most popular shipping option, with Fedex as a close second. When considering USPS, Etsy offers multiple options for shipping services.
USPS Priority Mail
With this service, you can ship domestically and the parcel will arrive in 1-3 business days.
USPS Priority Mail Express
Priority Mail Express is one of the quickest shipping options. Buyers can receive their package within 1-2 days. Generally, I would avoid picking this option as a default due to its hefty shipping price.
However, you can allow buyers to pay up for the option to expedite shipping.
USPS First-Class Mail
This shipping service is perfect for smaller, lighter items. The weight limit is 1 pound if you are considering shipping via First-Class mail.
USPS Media Mail
Media Mail services only cover a select few categories of items. Sellers can only use this shipping service if they are sending books, printed music, CDs, DVDs, and other qualifying types of media.
This service can have an increased delivery time, anywhere from 2-8 days, however, it will always be your cheapest option if your shop specializes in selling and shipping media items.
USPS Priority Mail International
This service operates similarly to USPS Priority mail, however, is able to be sent internationally. Due to the increased distance that the package will have to cover, the shipping time is typically 6-10 business days.
USPS Priority Mail Express International
Priority Mail Express is still a very quick turnaround time for an international shipment, as it is advertised the package will arrive in 3-5 days.
Whichever shipping method and mail class you choose, Etsy and the buyer will require the tracking number in order to prove the sale was delivered.
How Much Do Shipping Labels Cost on Etsy?
The cost of a shipping label will vary widely. That is because there are so many factors to consider. First, where is the item shipping from? Where is the item shipping to? How far does it have to travel?
Sellers must also consider the speed of the shipping service they are choosing. Obviously, the services with quicker turnaround times will be more expensive.
International vs Domestic Shipping
Within your Etsy shop, you can decide if you want to ship your items domestically or both domestically and internationally. If you choose to ship internationally, this will open up your customer base to a wider audience.
However, there can be extra complexity and cost when shipping internationally. First, as mentioned above, you are required to fill out a customs form for international shipments.
A customs form requires a few important pieces of information. These include:
- Package weight (to the nearest whole number)
- Seller’s full name
- Seller’s shop name
- Buyer’s full name
- The declared value of the package
- A description of the item(s)
- Tariff number (if applicable)
To comment on the last bullet point, the tariff number, this is only required in certain scenarios. If your package is sent to any country within the EU, a tariff number is required.
If you do not include this piece of information, the package could be delayed, or even worse, sent back to you. Etsy has guidance on its website to help sellers find the correct tariff number.
Do I Need To Offer Free Shipping?
Offering free shipping can be a tactical advantage to increase sales and stand out from the competition Etsy shop owners face. Since Amazon began, it has been conditioning customers to expect free and fast shipping.
These consumer habits translate to other e-commerce platforms, which makes sellers scramble to try and keep up. As hard as it can be, sellers are much more likely to purchase an item that has free shipping.
In order to offset your costs, try experimenting with increasing your price while offering free shipping. Alternatively, you can create multiple listings, one that has free shipping and an increased price, and another with buyer-paid shipping but a lower cost.
If you do require your buyer to pay for shipping, it’s important to know Etsy will charge you a 6.5% shipping transaction fee. This fee is charged to the seller for solely the price of shipping, not the item or total sale price.
If you pay for shipping yourself and offer a free shipping guarantee to the buyer, you avoid this extra 6.5% fee.
Watch the trend in sales and profit over time to see which scenario works best for your product and your business overall.
You can also decide if you want to offer free shipping domestically but require the buyer to pay shipping if they are international.
Another creative way to get around the shipping debacle is to include a handling fee. You can offer free shipping to your potential customers, however, charge a handling fee for the preparation it takes to get the item ready for shipment.
Etsy Shipping Policies
Within the shipping section of your Etsy store, you are able to create shipping policies for your listings. If you are a seller that has many of the same items in your inventory, you can make a shipping policy once and use it for all items that fall into that category.
When setting up your shipping profiles, you can choose whether you accept returns or not, and if you accept exchanges or not. Additionally, if there is an issue with the order, you can set a timeframe that the buyer has to contact you and ship the item back by.
As a default, Etsy is set up where the buyer pays the return shipping for returns and exchanges. It also offers protection to the sellers, informing buyers that they will be responsible for the extra cost incurred if the returned item is not in its original condition.
Digital Products On Etsy
When selling digital products on Etsy, luckily you do not have to worry about purchasing shipping labels. You can send an instant download straight to the customer's email.
However, some shops allow the option for a digital download plus the option for buyers to pay the seller to print and ship the item instead. In this case, you’ll want to follow the guidelines above to obtain your shipping label.
Depending on the digital download, you may be able to ship it with USPS Media Mail. However, check the terms and conditions prior to purchasing that type of label in order to comply with the regulations and guidelines.
Whether you are a new seller or a seasoned pro on Etsy, you know there is a learning curve when it comes to selling on the platform. This especially applies to navigating all of the shipping policies and prices.
Conclusion
So, does Etsy provide shipping labels? Unfortunately, the answer is no. But, now you know the options you have to try and maximize the profit within your business.
If you’re just getting started, there’s no shame in learning and trying something new. If you’re an old pro, there is room for changing and growing to help scale your business even more.
Do you have any more questions about Etsy shipping costs? How do you ship through Etsy? Do you offer free shipping? Comment below!
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