I'm frustrated. Trying to figure out how to allow customers to combine shipping.

[CRwinebottles]

At the suggestion of Kathy from Woodcraftsandcandles I'm coming here for an answer.

We sell lamps made from wine bottles. They mostly are all about the same size/weight. We ship them in two box sizes - 12" x 9" x 9" (for a single lamp) and 15" x 9" x 12" (for two lamps). These are custom sizes.

One of the problems I have is that can't see what a customer sees because I can't buy my own items and therefore can't get a read on the final shipping cost.

Currently I list the size and weight of each item including the box size in my listing and I understand this is wrong. So, for this post, I measured and weighed just the items themselves and here are the measurements.

The lampshades are 6" wide x 51/2" tall. The bottles are 12" tall and 6" wide. This includes the bubble wrap that we use. The bottles and the shades taper so we use the empty space by the bottle's neck(s) to nicely pack in the shade. We can place two shades together when shipping two lamps. We also place either packing peanuts or newspaper in the vacant spaces. The weight of the packing material + the box for the smaller box is 1 pound 2 oz; The weight of the larger box + packing material is about 1 pound 6 oz. Each lamp (including the shade) weighs 1 pound 6 oz. Adding the packing material + the box the total weight for one lamp = (call it 3 pounds) The total weight for 2 lamps is 2 pounds 12 oz. (call it 3 pounds) Adding the packing material and box the total weight for two lamps is approximately 4 pounds 8 oz.

So my questions are "How do I get calculated shipping to work for 2 lamps?" and "How can I test that the answer is correct without buying my own lamps?"

[vintageNCtreasures]

Frank and CathyfromCRwinebottles says
#1 "One of the problems I have is that can't see what a customer sees because I can't buy my own items and therefore can't get a read on the final shipping cost. "

#2: "Currently I list the size and weight of each item including the box size in my listing and I understand this is wrong. So, for this post, I measured and weighed just the items themselves and here are the measurements. "


Question 1: Frank, all you need to do is LOGOUT and add items to a cart or either use another browser.
Then you can see what a buyer sees in regards to shipping cost and the methods offered.
You can also change the zip codes or country on that add to cart page.
The only thing you can't see is the recommended box size.

*********************
Question 2: I don't know who told you weighing the item + packing + box is wrong but they are "WRONG". I am 100% sure Kathy did not tell you this.

For the weight you use the TOTAL weight, item + packing + box. ready to mail. If you ONLY put the item weight then your shipping cost will NOT be enough.

For item size you only put the item + packing NO Box.

***************************
Question 3: "They mostly are all about the same size/weight. We ship them in two box sizes - 12" x 9" x 9" (for a single lamp) and 15" x 9" x 12" (for two lamps). These are custom sizes. "

If you want 2 lamps to fit in that largest box you need to put the lamp size small enough so TWO will fit in that box size of 15x12x9.

For 1 lamp to fit in the smaller box 12x9x9 and for 2 to fit in the larger box you'd probably need to put for the item dimensions , at least 11x8x4 no matter what it measures.

For example, If you put the dimesions for 1 lamp 11x8x8 to fit in the smaller 12x9x9 box of then 2 WILL not fit in the larger box. because of the height.

Sometimes you have to "trick" the calculator when it comes to multiples.

I can't tell by your size what the actual measurements are since you are using space to put the shades.

********************************
Do you have ONLY these box sizes listed in package preferences under "custom box" sizes?

If these are the ONLY 2 boxes you use you need to add them and DISABLE etsy's box sizes.

Maybe Kathy will have some more ideas.

[Former_Member]

Hello Frank and Cathy - Pat has given you good information.

My suggestion would be to trick the calculator and I would start with entering the size of your lamp as 6x4x6 - that would fit in your 12x9x9 box.

If you double that it will be 12x8x12 and that would fit in your 15x9x12 box but not in the smaller box. It would also preclude fitting more than 2 in that box.

For the weight, if the total packed up weight in box of 2 lamps is 4.8 pounds you want to make the weight of a single lamp half of that. I know you said that 1 lamp all packed up is 2.12 - but if you put that for the weight, doubling it will be too much and will go over the 5 pound threshold. So make the weight you enter for 1 lamp 2.4 pounds or a little more, just no more than 2.7 pounds.

Since weights over a pound have a big range with the same price, it's more important to think of what they are adding two together.

I would give what I suggested a try - and make sure those two boxes are listed in package preferences with the use Etsy common sizes unchecked like Pat said. Then test, also how Pat told you to.

Let us know if this works.

[Former_Member]

One last thing - I see you ship to some other countries. So I would put the weight for one at 2.75 pounds. For a label that will have to be 2.8 pounds. Then that will make 2 of them 4.15 pounds. This might be better for International where prices might be different by the ounce.

To summarize, you might give this a try.

Change the dimensions and weight on 3 of your listings and then test.
Make sure those 2 box sizes are listed in package preferences and that you have use Etsy common sizes uncheck.
Dimensions 11x4x6 - I know I said 6x4x6 up above, that was a mistake. I can't correct it now. Sorry.
Weight 2 pounds 7.5 ounces.

Test

[CRwinebottles]

Hi Pat & Kathy,

Thanks for your responses.

I have been working on this for several hours. I changed my shipping to U.S. only for now to make the test simple.

I was pretty sure that the shipping calculator wouldn't be able, in a genius-like manner, pack my items into a certain size box the way hand-packing allows. And it won't. But I wasn't really concerned about that aspect.

While it seems that I shouldn't be able to put a 15" tall item into a 12" box - I can do that by packing the lamp diagonally (the diagonal measurement is 15").

I see what you are saying about "tricking the calculator", but in reality this method doesn't really trick anything. The calculator does exactly what it is told to do. What you are doing is creating a work around solution by massaging the size and weight to correspond with USPS shipping rates - and that does work - (I fudged the numbers as you suggested) . . . but only for two items.

Presently I have only two sizes of boxes listed for shipping. One is 12" x 9" x 9" and the other is 15" x 9" x 12". I can fit (only) one lamp into the smaller box and (only) 2 lamps into the larger box.

As a pretend customer I bought 4 lamps. What I was hoping would happen is that the calculator would figure out that I need two larger boxes for the four lamps - or - disallow the customer from purchasing more lamps than would fit into one box.

The charges were pretty close to USPS rates for one or two items and even for three items. But I think the calculation for the three items was a fluke, because when I added a fourth lamp to the cart the shipping became way off.

The total shipping for four lamps should have be twice what the shipping for two lamps would be ($15.46 X 2 = $31.52). Instead the price was $40.83 and I think that the Etsy calculator assumed the lamps would all be shipped in one box weighing 12 pounds.

Am I doing something else wrong? Should the Etsy calculator know when use multiple boxes or stop a sale if the box isn't the right size? I'm really not sure if the calculator is considering my box sizes. Can you check this somehow? Maybe I have my settings wrong.

Thanks again for your help.

Frank

[vintageNCtreasures]

Frank, If the caclutor is putting 3 or 4 lamps in 1 box, increase your item size, just make sure your height for 2 items is NOT more than your largest box height but tall enough so the CS won't put 3 or 4 lamps in there..

What size did you put for the lamps?

The calculator can only go on what info we enter.

If we have item sizes entered to fit in one box, CS will figure just one box, if that item size will fit multiple in a bigger box it fits them until no more will fit and will start a new box.

It will not stop a sale, it will calculate based on your info. If it's inaccurate then your shipping cost will be inacurrate.

If CS figures putting 4 lamps in 2 of your boxes you should see double that rate especially since you don't have a larger box.

CS should start filling that 2nd or 3rd box when one box gets full.

Try tweaking your item size a little bigger.
I can't tell you what to put since I don't know what size you entered to test with.

Once last thing, are you sure you have Etsy's common box sizes "Disabled" and ONLY the 2 boxes you have entered in the custom box section?

[vintageNCtreasures]

Frank says "The total shipping for four lamps should have be twice what the shipping for two lamps would be ($15.46 X 2 = $31.52). Instead the price was $40.83 and I think that the Etsy calculator assumed the lamps would all be shipped in one box weighing 12 pounds."

Did you go to the usps site and see if that $40 price was a 12 lb rate for that box, you can check retail or discounted (not sure what you have set)

Do you have a handling fee on those boxes?
If so that is added per order.

Handling fee on your shipping profiles? If so added PER item.

Both of these could have made the difference between around $31 and the $40 you got.

[CRwinebottles]

Kathy, I think you nailed it for me.

I played around with the size and weight, bought 6 lamps and (low and behold) the calculator placed only two lamps in a box and then packed two more boxes of two lamps each. The progression of shipping cost is correct (exactly 3 X the amount for shipping two lamps).

I haven't compared the pricing to USPS yet, but I have a feeling that will be correct also.

As an aside, during this test, I found something that was a surprise to me. I added "Parcel Select" to my shipping methods figuring I could save my customers money only to discover that it was less expensive (and faster) to send the lamps "Priority Mail" than by "Parcel Post".

Many thanks for taking the time to help me. You are my Advil for the day.

Very best regards,
Frank

[vintageNCtreasures]

Frank, I was glad to help, I figured it had to do with the size of the item if CS was putting to many of your items in that large box.

Yes, I've found out the same, Priority is a lot times the best way unless you get into oversize boxes going from the east to west coast and then Parcel select is cheaper.