Calculated shipping bug- not calculating correctly

[Former_Member]

Just received a convo from a customer saying that the calculated shipping was way off.
It is way off, but not on my end.
Checked the shipping profile, and it is all correct.
Calculated postage for this item to New York is USPS Priority Mail $9.97
Etsy calculated postage is showing $56.60

Have no idea how long it has been doing this, but I know it wasn't doing it when calculated postage was turned on in my shop.

Help please!

[vintageNCtreasures]

Ma and pa.....what are the dimensions you have for that item?

Sounds like it is calculating for an oversize box?

Or maybe you have the wrong weight entered?

Or maybe they selected Priority express if you had that choice in your shipping profile to pick from?


Sign out of your shop or use another browser so you can check out what buyer's are seeing in a cart.

Shop around in your shop and add different items and check the shipping with your zip code and the farthest zip from you.

[vintageNCtreasures]

Ma and Pa........just added some items to my cart and I'd about bet your dimension sizes are really big on some items and ok on others.

When the shipping is coming up very high and you have large item size entered CS is figuring as oversize box.

I added these 2 items and it came up over $70 to ship Prioirty or around $34 for Parcel Select.:

Fire King Oval Casserole 1 1/2 quart Anchor Hocking casserole dish meadow green

Pyrex blue Snowflake casserole dish 1 Quart blue Pyrex dish


Then I Put in these 2 items (similar to the other 2) and shipping seemed ok....$25.50 for Priority or $28.10 for Parcel select.

Pyrex Black Scrolls promotional casserole dish

Pyrex blue Snowflake casserole dish 1 Quart blue Pyrex dish


I also found some items where the shipping cost was the same for any zip code so I assume that these items do *not* have CS yet and if I added them with an item that had CS, it put in that shipping price to everyone PLUS the calculated price for the 2nd item..

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Ma and Pa.......mine did that in the beginning. I was putting in box sizes instead of item dimensions. You have to use the dimensions of the item plus any bubble wrap or packing material you put around it. So if you are using box sizes, the calculator will calculate oversize boxes.

[Former_Member]

Hi All,
When I first did CS it all worked fine.
I did enter for package size, weight, and it was working great. Did something change. I do not understand how CS can work correctly if we are putting in the size of the item rather than package size. Fragile items require more padding ie packing peanuts. How can I accurately measure an item, and its weight?

Thank you for all your help.

[Former_Member]

Ma and Pa, the change with the calculator just happened yesterday. There is now a box on your Shipping Profile page that you have to uncheck if you don't want to use Etsy Common Box sizes and instead add your own Preferences.

If you don't set up your own preferred boxes, the calculator is going to put your items in one of their box sizes and it might be oversized to fit your dimensions.

[Former_Member]

Thank you Kathy.
I will take a look at that option.
I liked CS the way it was, was working perfectly for me.

[Former_Member]

Ma and Pa, there was a big problem with the way it was before. The calculator was only considering the smallest box it could put an order in, not the least expensive. Now it considers both.

I have all the box sizes I use in my Preferred list and now my multiple item orders are going into flat rate boxes and the customer is getting charged far less.

I know it's an extra step, but once you put in all the box sizes you want to use it really works like a charm.

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

I didn't think of that, Kathy. I hope this fixes Ma and Pa.

[Former_Member]

So what I am seeing with the new CS is that I still have to enter- guess what the item size wrapped in bubble wrap, and the items weight wrapped. Rather than entering the package weight, and size. Even if I enter my preferred box sizes.

Am I correct on this?

Thank you again.

[Former_Member]

Ma and Pa - For the weight you want to enter the whole package ready to ship weight.
so that includes the box.

For the dimensions you want to enter the item plus packing material around it.

[Former_Member]

Maybe Ginger or Pat will come back. They both sell vintage items and know more about figuring those different dimensions.

[Former_Member]

Thank you again Kathy.
I will try that out, and see what happens.
I honestly did not have any problems with the original CS, as I just refunded for any overages if there were any, but I only had to do that once.

[custompetandtack]

Ma and Pa......I have 2 shops, this pet product shop and my vintage shop.

On some vintage items I allow for bubblewrap.....some I don't.

Example: S/P shaker sets, at first I was putting a 7x7x6 box size, someone buys 3 sets and it calculated as an oversize box even though it would not be.

So I started putting 3x2x2 for most of my s/p sets.

Some larger sets I'd put 5x4x2.

Same with other items. I've sold wilton cake pans but if I put a 14x10x3 size and someone buys 2, comes up oversize (and this is the item size).

So I just put a smaller size, like 7x4x2...they aren't breakable and I know I can 2 in a box that is not oversize.

If I have something that is very fraigile I do add some to the item size to allow for the bubblewrap.

I don't use package preferences because my box sizes vary since I reuse boxes that I get from stores plus standard size Prioirty boxes.

[custompetandtack]

Before Calcutated shipping, I was refunding all the time in both shops.

Since I've got CS in both shops, I've only had to refund 1 person and that was today.

She had purchased some fabric that I did not have CS on, just a flat rate price for everyone since it was over 1 lb and fit in the FRE..

She also bought a smaller piece of fabric that I had CS on for 1st class.

And CS did like it was supposed to, shipping totaled for the FRE and to ship the other package 1st class.

But since I was able to get that smaller piece of fabric with the other, I just refunded her the shipping for that 1 order.

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Bless your heart, Ma and Pa.......I will try to help you, for I am a vintage seller.

I posted this the other day:

****I sell vintage, and much of it is glassware 2 pounds and over. I hope that what I am going to share will help other vintage sellers. I know some sellers are having a difficult time with calculated shipping (CS), but I am one of the lucky ones, my shop works wonderfully with it. So please take what I am sharing and use it if you are able, if it doesn't work for your shop, then just disregard it and find another possible solution. I can only share what works for MY shop, it may not be feasible for yours. And I can say....I simply love it!

I primarily use two boxes: USPS Priority Mail 7 x 7 x 6 and USPS Priority Mail 12 x 12 x 8. I have put these two boxes in the "Package Preferences" area. I will eventually add USPS Flat Rate boxes to these preferences.

My item dimensions are already in my listings, so for each listing I look at the item and add packaging to those dimensions. I use plenty of bubble wrap, and I use styrofoam plates and bowls to wrap glassware in as feasible. I simply take all of this into consideration when I come up with the final dimensions to put in the listing.

An example: a plate that is 8" in diameter........

I put 10 x 10 x 3 as the dimensions in the listing. I do this because I enclose that plate within styrofoam plates and bubble wrap. Granted, it will not be 3 inches in height, but I allow a little extra space because I simply do not like to pack items tightly in a box, I allow plenty of extra space between items so I can use newspaper or whatever in between them. This also helps the calculator to not put too many items in a box.

The calculator will then use the 12 x 12 x 8 box, it will bypass the 7 x 7 x 6 box.

On weight, I use item weight and box with packaging....in other words, I use the weight of the complete package when it is ready to ship. This has been easy for me, because thankfully, I have always added the weight of the item and the weight of the final package to the bottom of each listing.

A teacup and saucer will fit in a 7 x 7 x 6 box. A saucer is usually around 5 1/2" in diameter, and a teacup is around 3 1/2" or so. I use something like 6 x 6 x 5 or whatever to accommodate the bubble wrap, styrofoam, etc. The calculator will then put this item in a 7 x 7 x 6 box.

If a customer orders a teacup and saucer that will fit into a 7 x 7 x 6 box, and then orders a serving plate with a handle on top that has the dimensions with packaging at 10 x 10 x 6, the calculator will put the serving plate in the box that is 12 x 12 x 8, and the teacup in the 7 x 7 x 6 box, as it should be.

So if shipping on the serving plate is $7.55 (retail rate on east coast - I live in Georgia), and shipping on the teacup and saucer is $5.95 (retail rate on east coast), then it will calculate correctly at $13.50. And the order will ship in 2 boxes.******

******************

Okay, Ma and Pa, I have since added on 3 more Priority Mail boxes.....small flat rate, medium flat rate, large flat rate. No now I use the following sizes:

a. 7 x 7 x 6 small priority box
b. 12 x 12 x 8 large priority box
c. small flat rate 8 5/8 x 5 3/8 x 1 5/8
d. medium flat rate 11 x 8 1/2 x 5 1/2
e. large flat rate 12 x 12 x 5 1/2

Item dimensions need to be item wrapped with packaging. Weight needs to be that plus the box.....the total weight the package will be when taken to the post office.

I've kind of developed a system, because even though I sell vintage, a lot of my item dimensions are going to be repetitious. Teacups and saucers will usually have close dimensions. Sugar and cream sets will have much the same dimensions, plates and casseroles and pitchers and salt and pepper shakers have similar dimensions, so my system is:

medium flat rate box......i usually use the dimensions of 10 x 8 x 5
large flat rate box........i usually use the dimensions of 10 x 10 x 5
small flat rate box......i usually use the dimensions of 4 x 4 x 2 or 5 x 3 x 2
large priority box......i usually use the dimensions of 10 x 10 x 6
small priority box.......I usually use the dimensions of 6 x 6 x 4 or 6 x 6 x 5

The above are simply dimensions I use a lot, for a lot of my items generally have the same dimensions, and gradually you will notice a pattern in item dimensions developing, as I have. Yes, they do vary and I take that into consideration.

Really, all I do is decide what box they will fit in and then put the dimensions in the item listing that I need to make that item fit in the box. Basically, I just tell Mr. Calculator what to do :)

It is super simple for me, and it works dandy in my shop.

Well, this is a lot to read through, but maybe it will help. My best to you!

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Also, all the above boxes are listed in my package preferences. I have unchecked the box "use Etsy common package sizes." In the beginning, I put the box sizes in my dimensions, like 12 x 12 x 8, and the calculator went into overdrive and calculated oversize boxes. So if you put 12 x 12 x 8 in your package preferences (if you use that size), and have the item dimensions as 10 x 10 x 5 or 10 x 10 x 6 or something like 11 x 10 x 5, etc., then it should not put in charges for an oversize box.

[Former_Member]

I appreciate all the help.
As I said before the original CS worked perfectly for me, but was not aware that they changed it.
The way CS was originally you entered the package details, not the item details, and I loved it. Although I understand the new CS, I think it is more of a complicated process that I honestly feel is not necessary. Since refunding on shipping overages isn't a difficult process, and as I said with the original CS I only had to refund on overages once. This is just my personal opinion. I understand that some had issues with combined shipping for multiple items and that that prompted the change.
Either way I get it and will have to go through and change the listings that are on CS.

Thank you again for the explanations.

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

We have bulk edit now for CS. That will help. I thought it has always been based on item dimensions but I may be wrong.

[Former_Member]

Ginger I'm not sure if they are talking about how shipping was before and referring to that as the old CS.

I can tell you Ma and Pa - last year I had to refund around $1400. So no, the old shipping method was not working for people like me. That is time consuming and I don't even know how many sales I lost because the shipping got so inflated. Sure I refunded, but people had to trust me to do so. That is no way to do business.

Remember, nobody has to use CS - it's totally optional. So if the old method was working for you there is no reason to change.

[vintageNCtreasures]

I've been wondering the same thing......'m not sure either what ma and pa mean about "As I said before the original CS worked perfectly for me, but was not aware that they changed it."

There has only been this one CS....there was no CS (calculated shipping) before.

You put in a shipping cost for everyone and a cost for each additional item, this was not calculated shipping.

Before it was always a guessing game figuring postage to the west coast then on top of that trying to figure out what to put for each additional item cost.

Hardly ever worked out for me.
I either lost money or had to refund.

Now I don't lose money and I've only had to refund once but it wasn't the fault of CS.

Someone had bought fabric that I had only flat rate shipping on and she also bought another smaller piece of fabric that I had CS on and since it was small I just put it in the FRE and refunded her the $2.00.

Not to mention, wonder how many buyers just didn't buy because I had to put shipping based on west coast zip codes......and didn't bother to ask if shipping would be less. Plus having to trust a seller to refund.

Like Kathy said, CS is optional.....if it doesn't work for you, use the old way of shipping, put a flat shipping price in and so much for each additional item.

[SucculentGiftShop]

I am having issues as well. All of a sudden it's automatcally selecting way bigger box sizes than I entered. The option to not select the 'common' box sizes cannot be deselected.

Can someone help please. I just now discovered the issue, but this has probably been going on for the last 2 days (I thought it was strange that I had not received any order...now I know why, shipping charges are outrageous all of a sudden. I need to get this fixed fast, losing too many orders this way.

[Former_Member]

Marieke,
Etsy changed CS.
You need to enter the package weight, but the dimensions are for the item with what ever wrap you use like bubble wrap. Do not use your package dimensions anymore.
The others are not familiar with the original CS, just the new one.
You can send me a convo if you want any further info.

[Former_Member]

Marieke,

I answered you up top too. You must have the box checked for Use Etsy Common Box Sizes on your Shipping Profile Page - if you add your own box Preferences and UNcheck that box, then the calculator will pick from your box sizes. The box the calculator picked for you is oversized and that is where the high price comes from.

[Former_Member]

Ma and Pa if you are talking about when they first set up CS, yes we were all entering our box sizes then. The problem with that was the calculator was putting things into separate boxes for one order.

They have refined it so that the calculator can fit multiple items into boxes and choose the cheapest option as well as smallest size.

If you only want 1 item to go into a particular box, just continue to put in your box size for dimensions and make sure to have that box size in your Preferences and the Use Common Etsy Sizes box unchecked.