Shipping Costs

[TDCO]

Any suggestions for lowering shipping costs? I'm currently integrated with USPS and use Shippo for fulfillment, but $7.50 to ship a t-shirt 15 miles away? Come on now. I like the automation and free packaging supplies from USPS, but if anybody has ideas that won't interrupt the current process too much, I'd appreciate it! 

[HC_Charlie · Accepted solution]

Hello @TDCO and thanks for your question. As a small biz owner who does a lot of shipping, I also feel your pain about shipping costs. It seems like a t-shirt wouldn't weight much, so I'd look at trying to reduce your package size and mailing USPS first class mail. As long as it is under a pound you can ship first class. Also if you are able to pack it in a flatter bubble type envelope....or, roll it so it fits into a smaller box. That could help reduce the cost.

One option that makes shipping items more cost efficient is if there is a way you can encourage your customers to order multiple items in one shipment, or offer a package of several related items. This would help reduce your per-item shipped cost as well as increasing your over sales volume.

Hope these help you with your shipping and happy selling with Square ! ❤️ 🔲

[TDCO]

I'm currently using the bubble packs with USPS priority and shipping is over $7 still. 

[BernadetteA]

HI @TDCO 👋

That sounds like the correct price per the USPS website, Hmm.. how heavy are your packages? I believe First Class Mail rates should be available as well, but the weight must be below 15.9999 ounces. 

[ScienceMom]

I ship craft items all over the country to charitable organizations I donate to. Pirate Ship was recommended to me by an employee of the USPS who is also a small business owner. You can even use the USPS boxes and envelopes. As long as you can weigh the package at home (I use a kitchen scale), you can create your mailing labels, and even schedule USPS pick-up.

[mkeclay]

Can you do this while using the square site? Or do you have to use the shipping labels from one of their providers?

[Arie]

Hey @mkeclay,

Thanks for writing in and welcome to the Seller Community! There are a few different shipping providers you can take a look at here that integrate with your Square Online site. Hopefully, some other sellers can share some recommendations for shipping options. 

[Mrsmacdood]

I use pirate ship and it is definitely worth it!  I used to just print the label out on my printer and cut it down and tape it to the box.  It includes the bar code for USPS to scan it and everything.  When you enter in shipping info on the pirate ship site it gives you more than one option for shipping.  You can choose which one you want, and sometimes I find that UPS is cheaper.  Bonus for my customers!  

I did go ahead and purchase a thermal printer (about $80 bucks) and a roll of 500 thermal labels and it has saved me so much time and energy!  Also the added extra tape to tape them on sometimes put my packages over the weight limit and they would charge more.  

[SassyT]

I'm in the same boat as you. Any ideas from anyone would be greatly appreciated! 

[mdgolden01]

I have used USPS for my small business. I just use the flat rate boxes. I’m in Iowa so they range from $8-20 just depending on what I’m sending to my clients. 

I have recently start selling planners that I made and have fancy boxes that hav emu logo for VIP clients and those ran me $20-25 depending on where I sent them too. 

not sure if that will help you at all! 
but for me it was easier to know exactly what my shipping cost were and I could add it to my items that I was selling. 

so my planner for example the shipping cost is built into what I charge! 

🫶🏻🫶🏻

[SassyT]

Thank you MDGOLDEN01. My question is really how to set the shipping costs for multiple items. 

I would like to make it so if my customer bought more than one item, then the higher shipping costs would be charged and they wouldn't be charged multiple shipping costs. Example, I have a customer that went directly thru me because she didn't want to pay $3.95 shipping per shirt when I could send her two shirts in the same package for $3.95 instead of $7.90 shipping. I would have lost the sale if she hadn't contacted me thru IG. 

I see your point about incorporating the shipping fees into the cost of the item! 

Thank you, 

Sassy T

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