When two separate boxes are cheaper than one big box

[Modernware]

I am experimenting with Calculated Shipping for vintage ceramics. I have two items that are currently set to CS, both around 1lb 10oz and 8x8x8 with packing. I have created a 10x10x10 box and an oversize 18x12x12 box in preferences. If the item ships alone, it costs $9.97 priority, cross country. If the two items are combined in the larger box, the rate balloons to $41.61 priority, cross country. The buyer would not be given the cheaper option to send two packages for $9.97 + $9.97 = $19.94 (savings: $21.67). They are given a cheaper $15.31 rate for parcel post, but that is much slower. I could delete the larger box to force two shipments, but I need that box preference for larger items. Any ideas?

[Former_Member]

Hi George, you can make the size of the item bigger. You said you put it in a 10x10x10 box - you should be able to make the item size up to that 10x10x10 size, but you could start with 9x9x9 first and see if that forces 2 boxes. You should be able to make it big enough that 2 won't fit in one box.

[Modernware]

Thanks, Kathy! I really have appreciated reading your replies on the forum and it has made it easier to understand CS.

I am having trouble navigating CS because I believe it is designed to work best for the smaller multiples of craftspeople. It is my thinking that there should be an option for vintage sellers to specify 1) ships alone and 2) have the calculation work from the boxed item size rather than the bubble wrapped item size. For smaller items, the box size is not so critical because 10 items will fit in a 10x10x10 box, I can really get burned In shipping larger items if CS automatically crosses an oversize threshold (which is becoming more the norm now) and the shipping cost balloons upward.

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Hi, George! Vintage sellers have been asking for a "ships alone" option for a few months now. Hopefully, we will see that option in the near future. Sellers have also suggested the box size instead of the bubble wrapped item size. I hope you can get CS to work well for you. I've used it since early March and all my orders have calculated correctly.

[Former_Member]

Hey Ginger, glad you chimed in. George, Ginger is a vintage seller and as she said, she has been using it a long time and doing well with it.

The ships alone thing has been asked for since the very beginning of this. It would really simplify things for many people.

Etsy has said, that if an item matches a box size, it will put it in that box. For instance if you have the item dimensions at 10x10x10 and you have a box in package preferences that measures 10x10x10 - it should put it in that box and nothing else.

You can test this yourself - sign out of your Etsy shop and go back as a shopper. You can add things to your cart or change zip codes - then see how things are calculating. Rather than waiting for a sale to see if it does it right. or open to your shop in another browser and don't sign in.

[custompetandtack]

Hi George, I have 2 shops, this pet product shop and a vintage shop and I've been using CS in both shops since the beginning too with very accurate results on single and multi-orders.

Until or if we ever get a ships alone button, if I have an item that I don't want combined with something else I do put the box size for the item size but sometimes the problem with this is if you have a bigger box, CS will put 2 items in that bigger box.

If I have an item that I want to ship alone that measures with packing 10x10x6 but I put the item size as 12x12x8 so that is all that will fit for that box and if just that item is bought, that 12x12x8 box size shows up to ship it in.

Problem is........I also have a larger box in my sizes, a 14x12x10.

So it would be possible for someone to buy that item I have as 12x12x8 and say a smaller item and CS would combine them in my 14x12x10 box.

On some really heavy items in my vintage shop, I have done this.
I did a Parcel Select/insured shipping only profile and attached it to my heavier items.

That way if someone buys a smaller fragile item that I only have a Priority/insured profile on, CS will not combine them 2 items becuase they have different mail classes.

I just note on the items with only Parcel Select/insured that if I can mail for the same as Priority I would.

I also put that 14x12x10 box size for my item size and not the item size, so CS won't combine other Parcel Select items with it.

[Modernware]

Thanks so much for all these great suggestions! I was out of town yesterday and missed them. I was close to giving up and now I am encouraged to see it through. It just would be so great to give people real shipping costs instead of apologizing for the one size fits all. It is wonderful to hear from people who are selling vintage with CS.