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Getting a Handle on International Shipping

February 21, 2008 - 12:05 am | GoTo

Getting a Handle on International Shipping

We struggled with setting prices for international shipping, but after some research we came up with this plan:

• United States (on Etsy you’ll also need “United States Minor Outlying Islands”, shipping USPS the rates are the same as zone 8 shipping)
• Canada
• Mexico
• Everywhere Else

A lot of that decision was based on this info, looking at shipping via international first class:

Size:
• Packages up to 4 pounds
• No more than 24 inches long
• No more than 36 inches in combined length, height, and depth
• At least large enough to accommodate the postage, address, customs form, and other required elements on the address side.

Source: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc2_021.htm#ep2086946

Country Listing:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub51/pub51cl.htm

I took a look at that list, exported it into Excel and sorted by country. That told me that Canada and Mexico were the only countries in zones 1 & 2 (respectively). All other countries are in zones 3 through 9. Then I noticed on this chart:


First-Class Mail International:
http://www.usps.com/prices/first-class-mail-international-prices.htm

that up to 8 oz, rate zones 3 through 9 were the same.
Over 8 oz, I saw they were pretty similar too, with usually less than $1.00 difference with zone 3 having the highest rates. Since there are so many countries in zones 3 through 9, I just lump them together and charge based on zone 3 rates. That way we’re never shorting ourselves on shipping charges, and the over-charge on packages heavier than 8 oz won’t be much.

Now that you have a feel for the international shipping zones, you can use the USPS website’s shipping calculator to estimate your shipping costs:

Postage Price Calculator
http://ircalc.usps.gov

If you don’t have a scale to weigh your packages you can take them to the PO and get weights for items that you’ll typically ship, but a scale is really worth its weight in gold for the convenience of printing out shipping labels (through Paypal Shipping, USPS Shipping Assistant, or other services from home).

Need to insure your International First Class package?

USPS doesn’t offer insurance for this service but you can insure through third-party insurers for less than USPS charges for domestic packages. See the “Shipping Insurance” post on the main Shipping page of this blog–link on the right in gold under “Pages”, or click here:

http://www.gotogreatpanes.com/blog/shipping



Posted in Etsy, Home, Shipping--Mailing
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32 Comments | Add your own

  • . AuntDsHandcrafts | May 1, 2008 at 9:12 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for this great info. I am currently adding international shipping to my shop :)

  • . Lavengro | May 6, 2008 at 7:17 am | Permalink

    Thanks so much for all of the information, it is a great help.

  • . rockcreekcreations | July 28, 2008 at 12:20 pm | Permalink

    Thanks a lot for this information. Most of my packages are also less than 8 ounces. I’m glad you did the excel sorting for me… ;-)

  • . Bird | July 30, 2008 at 12:51 pm | Permalink

    Greetings!

    Thank’ee’s for the info! That is going to help SO much! :-)

    -Bird

  • . Mel | October 7, 2008 at 2:23 pm | Permalink

    wow thanks for all the great info!!

  • . Lystrak | November 4, 2008 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

    Thanks again. A

  • . Teri | January 31, 2009 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    Thanks so much!!! I’m trying to wade through the information on International Shipping and this was a big help!!!

  • . Sandy | February 12, 2009 at 3:10 am | Permalink

    This is EXACTLY how i do my postage!

  • . nancy | March 11, 2009 at 2:40 pm | Permalink

    Thanks VERY much for sharing your work. You’ve convinced me to ship internationally.

  • . Denise | March 20, 2009 at 4:23 am | Permalink

    Hi thank you for info I am shipping a dress form to AUS any information? Thank You!

  • . GoTo | March 20, 2009 at 9:24 am | Permalink

    Denise–wow–that’s a big item! I’m betting the price would be high via USPS because of the size and weight of the box. Maybe look into local freight shipping companies? It will probably be a lot slower, but more affordable.

  • . lucie | June 18, 2009 at 5:32 pm | Permalink

    Thx you so much for your info..im very new to etsy and your info help me a lot!:)

  • . Jan | July 14, 2009 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    Very helpful. Thanks for this! Jan at Eclectic Vintage who has a secondary site on Etsy: http://www.eclecticvintage2.etsy.com

  • . Dian | July 22, 2009 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    This is SO helpful as I want to offer worldwide shipping. However, how do you handle customs? What about extra charges?

  • . GoTo | July 22, 2009 at 4:37 pm | Permalink

    Customs fees/taxes are charged by the receiver’s country, and only once the package is in their country’s customs office (packages are picked at random–not every package gets hit with fees/taxes). The receiver is responsible for the fees and there’s no way for the sender to know what they will be before the package is sent.

  • . Dian | July 22, 2009 at 5:33 pm | Permalink

    thanks GoTo!

  • . pamela zimmerman | July 30, 2009 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    you always have such great information in your blog! thanks so much. I am struggling with international shipping right now, and this really helps me!

  • . Lisa | August 26, 2009 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for this information! I’m setting up my new Etsy shop, and I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to handle shipping!

  • . Lana | September 7, 2009 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

    Thank you so much, your insite is wonderful and I’m sure so very helpful to all of us!!

  • . Susan | September 14, 2009 at 1:20 am | Permalink

    Thank you! Just had my first order from Europe and really appreciate this information.

  • . Beverly | November 3, 2009 at 2:06 am | Permalink

    Thanks so much. I’m just starting out of Etsy and most of my research suggests shipping international and worldwide. You have really helped me to make this decision.

  • . Annette Dudley | December 29, 2009 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

    I’ve been reading lots of information on International shipping and still struggling to choose the best option. Lately, I have had requests from Greece and the UK for orders ranging from $75-$150 in costume jewelry weighing more than 1 pound and less than 2 lbs. What do you suggest for shipping? Can I still ship First Class International and add insurance through sites like U-pic? Or should I go via Priority Mail Flat Rate box or envelope? I know flat rate is not tracked so is that not a good idea? I have lots of questions as you can see. Thanks for your help.

  • . Annette Dudley | December 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm | Permalink

    I just found information on your site about 3rd party shipping insurance for USPS First Class International and I see that U-pic doesn’t cover jewelry but shipinsurance does. This looks like it might be a good option for me. Would you agree?

  • . Rachel Soumokil | January 1, 2010 at 5:05 am | Permalink

    Thank you so much! I’m also just starting out on Etsy and found this information to be of vital importance!!

  • . earthgemdesign | January 1, 2010 at 5:08 pm | Permalink

    I’ve been trying to figure out the international first class rates and the customs fees too. Thanks so much for ALL the important information needed now as I’ve just begun to sell online. I appreciate your sharing. Jan

  • . pam | January 20, 2010 at 11:40 am | Permalink

    You are just wonderful for sharing your research. As you know, most people on the internet try to “charge” for knowledge. Thanks a million for just wanting to ‘help’ others!!! Kudos!

    Pam

  • . Sue | May 13, 2010 at 9:01 pm | Permalink

    Thank you! This is exactly what I needed.

  • . ShadowCutter | June 11, 2010 at 2:58 pm | Permalink

    what about insurance? apparently First Class doesn’t have it, and Priority is a lot more than a couple dollars. This post is really helpful except for that issue.

  • . GoTo | June 11, 2010 at 5:38 pm | Permalink

    If you see the Shipping Basics page of the blog it includes info on how to insure your International First Class: http://www.gotogreatpanes.com/blog/shipping.

  • . Kinsmade | June 19, 2010 at 10:49 am | Permalink

    Wonderful way to break it all down for me! I can’t wait to see my sales skyrocket when I begin to offer intn’l shipping!!!

  • . Holly Sanford | June 25, 2010 at 12:58 am | Permalink

    I have done all the research you have mentioned, however I am blown away by how much it costs for me to ship internationally. Is someone really going to pay $34 ( for example) to have one of my purses shipped to them? I wonder if it makes any sense to offer international shipping at all.

  • . GoTo | June 25, 2010 at 6:09 pm | Permalink

    It would only cost $34 if you are shipping it Priority Mail or a faster service. You can ship up to 4 lbs First Class International anywhere in the world for $31.40 or less, and I’m assuming the purses don’t weigh 4 lbs.

    First Class usually takes less than 3 weeks to arrive, most international buyers know they will have to wait a little longer for an international purchase to show up.

    That said, lots of other countries have much higher shipping than we have in the US and what seems pricey to us is often close to what they normally pay for having items shipped from within their own country. I say list it and let the buyer decide!

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