Ecommerce

Etsy International Shipping is so expensive. Many people buying from Etsy wonder why the online platform is expensive and if you are one of such persons this post is the perfect guide. In this article, I will be showing you three reasons why Etsy international shipping is expensive. I would also discuss other issues related to Etsy shipping and how the company serves its global audience. 

Why is Etsy International Shipping so Expensive?

There are three reasons why Etsy International shipping is expensive. These includes:

1. Etsy products are handmade goods and quite delicate
2. Inflation, Oil Prices, and Cost of Transportation
3. Wrong packaging and misrepresentation by vendors

In our experience working with Etsy, we found the above as some of the reasons why Etsy international shipping can be very expensive. To provide clarity to each point, I have explained them below and added information on how to reduce the cost of international shipping when using Etsy. Without further ado, let’s get into what each point means.

Etsy Products are Handmade Goods and Quite Delicate 

Etsy products are handmade and this makes the cost of shipping them higher than the average cost of shipping across other eCommerce platforms. Aside from the fact that Etsy products are handmade, shipping them requires carefulness as they are quite delicate and could get broken before they get to their destinations. Both the handmade and delicate characteristics of Etsy products are a major reason for their expensive shipping cost. 

Inflation, Oil Prices, and Cost of Transportation 

These are factors that affect international trade and they affect the cost of international shipping on Etsy. If you are shipping to places farther away from the United States, shipping costs are bound to go over the roof. Etsy does not have a structured international shipping system like Amazon or Alibaba, and customers will have to deal with exorbitant costs of shipping which are influenced by the same factors that affect international trade. 

Wrong Packaging and Misrepresentation by Vendors

There are cheaper and easier ways to get the price of international shipping on Etsy reduced. If the packaging of goods to be sold via Etsy is done properly, you have a chance at reducing the cost of shipping. If a vendor fails to set calculated shipping and the right packaging preference, the cost of international shipping on Etsy will increase. There are a handful of ways to fix some of these issues and I am going to show you right away. 

How to Get Cheaper Shipping on Etsy

If you must use Etsy to ship to places outside the United States, the following are ways to make international shipping on Etsy cheaper:

1. Use the USPS Parcel Select Ground 
2. Use Flat-Rate Shipping
3. Use Regional Boxes
4. Use Etsy Printing Services for Shipping Labels
5. Use Media Mail 

Use the USPS Parcel Select Ground

This is a great way to reduce the cost of international shipping with Etsy. By selecting the USPS Parcel Select Ground under the Advanced Shipping Services options, you would be reducing, to a great extent, the cost of international shipping. The USPS Parcel Select Ground is recommended when you need to ship goods in large or high volumes. It is not the regular shipping option for the normal kind of goods Etsy vendors are known for. 

Use Flat Rate Shipping

The Flat Rate shipping option is another great way to reduce the cost of shipping if you’re sending bulky items to a customer. To use the flat rate shipping option, you need to order the flat rate boxes from USPS. The boxes come in three sizes such as small, medium, and large. Choose a box that can accommodate your goods adequately. Interestingly, the option provides free tracking on each box. 

Use Regional Boxes 

You can use Regional Boxes instead of the Regular Priority Mail or Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes. With Regional Boxes, you can save up to $3.55 per package when you are shipping internationally. You can use Regional Boxes to save on shipping costs if you want to ship to places around the States. I doubt you can use it when shipping to farther distances but there’s no harm in trying. 

Use Etsy Printing Services for Shipping Labels

This is the best way to make international shipping cheaper on Etsy. By contacting Etsy to print your shipping labels, you not only enjoy cheaper shipping but your products get transported by FedEx, USPS, or Canada Post right from your Etsy shop. Etsy will ensure your product is delivered to the customer. All you need to do is to print the label and pretty the item for delivery. 

Use Media Mail

When distributing books, music, records, scripts, and pretty much anything else that qualifies as “media,” using Media Mail makes it feasible to cut shipping expenses. Shipping for Media Mail is $2.89 at the Post Office and $2.10 for businesses. However, keep in mind that you cannot send non-media items at this pricing.

How Do I Get Free International Shipping on Etsy?

To get free international shipping on Etsy, vendors have to decide to make that option available. It does not require any form of technicality. Vendors only need to add the cost of international shipping to the price of the item being sold. For example, if the product costs $5 and the shipping cost is $15, the vendor can make the selling price of the product to be $20. 

Is it hard to ship internationally on Etsy?

It is not hard to ship internationally on Etsy. The platform allows vendors to ship their goods to 80+ countries of the world. However, to make the process simple, vendors need to understand how Etsy handles international shipping and what vendors can do to reduce the cost of international shipping with the company. 

Can you turn off international shipping on Etsy?

If you do not want to ship your goods internationally on Etsy, you will have to turn off shipping to the country or all the countries you want to backlist. You can turn off international shipping on Etsy by removing countries listed within your Etsy shipping profiles. To do this, go to your Etsy shop dashboard, from the left side menu, select Settings and choose Delivery settings, then remove the countries there. 

Final Thoughts on Why is Etsy International Shipping so Expensive?

Etsy international shipping can be expensive if you just start selling and delivering like that without understanding how it works. Etsy international shipping is expensive because some of Etsy goods are handmade, delicate, and are easily affected by the factors that make international shipping expensive. If you need to make your Etsy shipping a lot more cheaper, I am optimistic the points I’ve shared will guide you.