Oversized Package Shipping with CS

[Former_Member]

I had a question from someone in the regular Forums about oversized packages.

"Now last question lol...for large items...USPS has charged me a $10 "balloon charge" over a certain length does Etsy recognize this also if applicable? "

I have no experience with oversized packages. Does anyone else know about this?
I told the OP I would ask over here and invited her over here for anymore help she needed.

[vintageNCtreasures]

Oversize is not necessarily the length, but the overall dimensions/size and then it depends on where it's going.

It doesn't matter if you print postage on Etsy, Paypal, USPS or go to the USPS counter, certain box sizes are considered oversize to some zips.

A good example, I had an order last week (from my website) and when I went to Paypal to print the postage label, I put in my box size of 13x13x13...it came up $10 more postage than what I'd figured.

So I changed the size to 12x12x12 and the postage came up exactly what I had figured.

So I found me a slightly smaller box.

This order went to OR.
Just 1" made a difference, I also tried 13x13x12 and 13x12x12 and all came up more postage than I'd figured but the 12x12x12 did not.

But that same order if it was going to OH would NOT have been considered oversize and would have been the same postage cost, if a 13x13x13 or a 12x12x12.

Seems locations close to you the box size doesn't matter as much unless it is really big but for locations across the country 1" can make a difference in the postage cost and whether it is oversize or not.

If the OP is selling a lot of oversize items and using CS, then she needs to have her item sizes and custom box sizes to accomdate an oversize box so the Etsy calculator will figure for an oversize box depending where the buyer is..

If she is using NON CS, then she needs to go to usps.com and put in the weight and package size of her items and different zips to see the differences in cost if she is charging a flat rate for everyone.
That way she can put in the most expensive to cover everyone and the size of packages she is mailing.

Hope this helps.

[Former_Member]

The OP is using CS - so I was wondering what she needs to do to calculate it correctly for CS. CS will account for oversized I believe is what you said - but she would have to have a box in Preferences that would accommodate the item that would pull up the proper price if it is considered oversized to some locations.

Since we add the dimensions of the item into the listing - for something that might be oversized when shipped - she would want to put a box into Preferences with slightly larger dimensions.

I'm just trying to get this straight. My understanding of CS is if there is no box size available for a large item - the calculator will base the shipping price on the actual size of the item (dimensions). I remember asking Calia one time about this. That is what she said.

[vintageNCtreasures]

You're right Kathy.

Yes, she would need to put a box in her custom box size list and uncheck etsy box sizes.

I listed 2 TV trays the other day and it's going to take a box size of approx. 18x14x6 (which is oversize to some zip codes).

So I added this box to my list of boxes and I put 17x13x5 for my item size so the calculator would have to use that box size I entered because I don't have any other boxes remotely close to that size.

The item isn't quite that large though, more like 15x10x3 but I didn't want to put that for the item size and then a smaller box get picked instead that is not oversized

If I were using Etsy box sizes, etsy would choose the box size based on the item size which may or may not be considered oversized.

So it would be best for the OP to uncheck etsy boxes and enter in her own box sizes.

[Former_Member]

Thank you Pat - I think I'll send her a convo to come see your response.

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Thank you Pat and Kathy for the info. Pat, I am the crazy OP =)
I just started to implement CS to my listings. I sell vintage items and seem to have been slightly mis-informed on some points before being lucky enough to meet Kathy in the forums & finding this team. Forgetting about all the mistakes I made previously, this is what I did today:

I measured all my items wrapped and made a list
Then I found the box size I would use and weighed it with item
I went to "Add Shipping Profile" .. created a CS profile and named it, checked off what I needed to etc..

Then on the profile page I kept Etsy size boxes and added all of my own custom sized boxes as well. I named each custom box with the type of item I would put in it such as hardware/noise makers. Some of my custom sizes were listed in Etsy boxes but I named them as well for easy "visual" reference and because I have a memory like a sieve. I then added my possible balloon size boxes and named them by color chair/item that will go in them. (thanks for the info above...I guess I was just unlucky when I shipped a few out and thought ALL large boxes had a balloon charge) I also added flat rate to the profile.

Then I started on listings. I filled in weight exactly and box size 1 inch below the actual dimensions of the box I need. So if I needed 6x6x6 I put 5x5x5 in the listing. Hopefully that is correct.
If I know it would most likely need flat rate I did it the same way (got flat rate box dimensions from USPS site)
That was as far as I got today for about 60% of my items.

Tomorrow:
I will have 2 profiles for my books. The first will be only media mail.
The second will be for more expensive books or those with very delicate pages. I will not use MM just regular shipping choices. (I don't want to take the chance of them being randomly inspected and roughly handled) I will do the same as above attaching items with weight, boxes etc and also finish up some items I didn't get to today.
I do have a couple of free shipping items I need to address, for now they are under the old profile only available to ship to US...I will try splitting free domestic and a shipping fee for international..we shall see how that goes...I know there is a thread for that and will eventually get to it.
Thank you for actually reading to the end of all this chatter.. Please let me know if I have made any errors so far. I have struggled with this like you would not believe. I do however look forward to using it, I have been burned by shipping way to many times!

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

I just got my first CS order and will ship it tomorrow...I will let you know how it goes...I've got my fingers crossed =)

[Former_Member]

Good morning ChippyGoodness. Welcome. So here is the thing - actually you enter dimensions of the item itself with packing material around it but NOT the box. Now, if you prefer to only put one thing in a box for the most part, your method will work okay putting an inch less than the box you hope it will go into. But the calculator will not, for the most part, be able to combine items into one box. That might be fine for your items if you usually only sell one at a time - or if you don't want to combine. Just be aware that the bigger you make the dimensions of your items, the less the calculator can combine them.

The weight is always the item, all wrapped up, and in the box. You want the complete weight to ship the item. So if you sell one single item - the weight will be correct for postage.

It is always a good idea to test the items you have done. You can open to your shop in another browser and not sign in - go to your shop as a customer and add any zip code you want and check on shipping and put items in your cart to see how they look to a customer.

Or you can sign out of etsy, and then go back to your shop and do the same thing. You should test as you go along to make sure things are coming up the way you expect.

And if you have all the boxes you are going to need in your Package Preferences you might want to uncheck the use etsy common sizes.

Did you put a s/h fee on anything? If you add it to the profile you are using it will go on each item - if you add it in package preferences it will go on the box used only - just once for each box.

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Good morning Kathy
Yes I added my fee so that is covered. When I weighed I did so in the box already. As for the box sizes I left one inch, mainly because from all my orders I have only had a few multiple item purchases and honestly didnt even think about the multiple purchase thing. So now I am wondering what the best way to fix all this is. I already purchased a large amount of boxes in the exact sizes I need. The sizes jump around so it might be a problem...do you think I should just go to the listings and make the item sizes smaller? I would leave the weight the same. Then when it came time to ship I could just cut up boxes to fit for multiple purchases since Etsy thinks "size doesn't matter"...what's your suggestion?

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

when I measured i did so after it was wrapped in bubble wrap

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Wow I just went to another window and added items to my cart...they all look correct. What is interesting is that it did combine small items and thats ok I could make it work but did not do so for larger items. I will however make my way to the suggestion thread.....as items were added to cart the shipping price changed as a total...wouldnt it be easier to understand for the customer to see each item listed with listed shipping cost PER ITEM next to it ..then at the bottom in SUBTOTAL see the DISCOUNTED COMBINED PRICE with choice of mail preference? I know Im ahead of myself here, Im not going to change any other listings until I can get the ones Ive done already straight...my head is pounding already lol

[vintageNCtreasures]

If you think you might sell multiples, you might want to make your item size a little smaller but leave the weight the same.

If you use your box sizes or etsy box sizes and you can get the order in a different box than it comes up you can put it in a different box.

I do this with some of my items I know can be mailed together ok.....I put a smaller sizes.

It's figuring out what you can combine ok and what you can't.

On items I don't want combined with anything else I do this for example, if I'm going to use a 12x12x8 box and the item I've listing is ALL I want to go in that box, I'll put 11x11x7 so the calculator will have to put a second item in another box unless I have an item 1" or less.

I also don't have a box size big enough in my custom box sizes to fit 2 items with a size of 11x11x7 so it comes up double shipping (so I can ship in 2 orders and I do note this on my listings).

This is the only way we've come up with to get around NOT having a "ships alone" button (we've been asking for since the very beginning).

I UNCHECK "etsy box sizes" because like for this item, if I left etsy's boxes, then that list has a bigger box and would combine both of these larger items I don't want combined and would make the box oversize.

I only have a list of box sizes I normally use under custom boxes, I don't use flat rate or regional rate because my items vary a lot and I don't want CS putting something breakable in a flat rate envelope.

This is something else that we really NEED, the ability to ADD flat rate options to a shipping profile NOT to package preferences where it is applied to all listings.

We should be able to add a flat rate and/or regional option to shipping profile for certain items that we only want that option on.

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Pat this is excellent - This is something else that we really NEED, the ability to ADD flat rate options to a shipping profile NOT to package preferences where it is applied to all listings.

We should be able to add a flat rate and/or regional option to shipping profile for certain items that we only want that option on.

The idea of making item size smaller and leaving weight is good. For the most part I do not sell breakable items that need to ship alone. I was thinking about it and may leave Etsy boxes checked...I will order two of each sizes they have listed and store them, this way if they combine something, I wont have to rig up a box that size on my own. Etsy does not list any size bigger than I am already using anyway. Im trying to go the easiest way possible.

I do understand and agree a 'ship alone' option would really be best for sellers with breakables.

[Former_Member]

Chippy - how did your CS sale go?

Okay, I have to weigh in on the flat rate and regional rate packages. I need them as a package preference because I don't usually ship one item in a flat rate box - my items usually start in a small First Class box and work their way up into regional and flat rate boxes. The more items a customer purchases from me the bigger the box gets.

So for my votive candle sets - I ship one in 6x4x4 box FC. 2 or 3 in a Box A - and 4-8 in a medium flat rate box and 9-12 in a large flat rate box. Now for 4 through 12 sets - it can be cheaper to ship in regular priority boxes if the zip code is closer to me. So I might also use a 7x7x6 box or a 12x12x8 box or a 10x8x6 box. I use all those boxes depending on the number of sets bought and the zip code and weight. How would I make a profile with all of that?

[Former_Member]

Let me just add that is the way it is SUPPOSED to work. It does not. If I could some how say just how many can fit in what box, that sure would be nice. Because the way it works now is that it does not work period.

[vintageNCtreasures]

Chippy says "I was thinking about it and may leave Etsy boxes checked...

I will order two of each sizes they have listed and store them, this way if they combine something, I wont have to rig up a box that size on my own."

Just read your post and these box sizes etsy has listed are "virtual" boxes.

You can't order them.

Just because it comes up a box size does not mean you have to use that exact size.

If it comes up on your order page a 12x12x8 box is recommened but you can use a 10x8x7 you can.

These are only recommended, you don't have to use that exact size.

Same if you use custom box sizes, just because it comes up a box, you don't have to use it.

I had an item come up the other day to put in a 6x4x4 box and I put it in a 7x7x6 box.
Does not matter.

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Another ahh haaa moment! Ok thank you! For some reason I thought it had to be within an inch or two of what was recommended...no idea where I got that from...

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Hi, Chippy, welcome to the team! Nice to meet you. You sound like an upbeat and positive person. I like that :) I sell vintage and have had good success with calculated shipping.

[SandyPawsDogTreats]

Hi Ginger thanks for the welcome!
Kathy, I am delighted to report my first CS sale went perfectly :)