Buying shipping through Etsy- is this cheaper than USPS?

[LaBelleGifts]

I do have DC- haven't shipped anything yet, and wondering when buying a lable through Etsy, (after entering shpg info) if they use USPS rates, or if a discounted rate is applied?

[justByou]

They are the same rates as through paypal, using usps online shipping rates for merchants. I LOVE printing my labels through DC, especially the international option. =0)

[LaBelleGifts]

o.k., someone said on another post that Etsy gave a slight discount, thanks :)

[Former_Member]

Yes, Etsy labels are at a slightly discounted commercial USPS rate. It's lower than what you would spend if you took the package up to the PO counter.

I buy all my labels through Etsy. For the first international shipment I did (to Canada), I didn't know about the built-in Customs Declaration on the label. My PO worker told me about it. Saves me from having to wait in line. I can now put all my packages on the corner counter at the PO with other pre-paid outgoing packages, and I never have to wait in line.

Does anybody use package pick-up?

I have never called for package pick-up. My local PO is only a mile away. Given the woes of the Post Office, that seemed excessive. Don't know what I will do if my local PO stops Sat hours. I have read that the PO will still deliver packages on Sat. Haven't read anything about pickups. Does anybody know?

I decided that I would even use Etsy for PayPal purchases because that would simplify bookkeeping. All my labels are purchased from the same source.

[ohmama]

You can get a free scheduled pick up if you ship via priority or above, not first class.

I just drop my packages in any big blue mail box.... even first class international. No need to go to the post office. Love printing the labels through etsy. Customs forms all filled out for you, just date and sign and you're good to go.

[LaGlasSea]

Hello,

I am new to Etsy and I have not purchased a shipping lable through them. How does it work? Do I need a really expensive scale to weigh the package? Is it sheaper? My husband is getting tired of running to the post office.

[OriginalsbyLauren]

I usually do what Mary does, drop it in the box, but if I happen to be around when my mailman delivers, I hand the packages over to him

[TreasuresOfGrace]

Linda, yes you will need a scale. I just bought one at a Meijer store (like a super Walmart). It is a digital kitchen scale that goes up to 11 lbs and only cost me about $20.00. The heaviest item I have shipped so far was 4 lbs. I find shipping on Etsy very easy, but it was scary the first time :-). I use the adhesive labels because I prefer it to cutting and pasting paper.

[SewWriteCreations]

I use both etsy and PayPal, the biggest difference right now is that etsy has an option for Standard (formerly Parcel) rate. PayPal doesn't have that tier in place yet, so you have to go First Class Parcel (max 13 oz) or Priority, no weight limit, or Flat Rate Priority, 70 lb limit. Oh, they do have the media rate, but that's only good for printed docs, Cd's or recorded stuff..not items like we sell. So if you have something over 13 oz, use etsy to get your best rate.

Our PO has a drop box on the inside & a little kiosk where you can actually purchase postage on your credit card. The bin pickup is 5 pm, M-Sat, so I print my postage labels at home, and either give 'em directly to my carrier, or if I'm going out and have a lot, we just swing by the PO & drop 'em directly in the bin. Easy-peasy!

International labels on etsy are the bomb!! Best improvement EVER.

[justByou]

Package pick-up is great also. Our mail carrier usually comes around the same time every day, so I can schedule a pick up and have all packages ready to go by the time the carrier gets here! =0)
The great thing about package pick up, is that the carrier scans your packages when he/she picks them up (makes for quick tracking online for the buyer).

When I don't do the scheduled pickup, I drop at the PO with either the drop box, or if there's no line, I'll check them in and get a receipt (when you check them in, they scan the barcode - again, it makes for quick online tracking for the buyer).


And I agree that Etsy's international labels are AWESOME! =0)

[LakesideQuiltsMaine]

I really like using Etsy for shipping but I wish I knew how to use it to figure out postage on new items.I did one package on USPS for a custom order got a price knowing it would a little less on Etsy and it was $3.00 more when I printed the label. How does that happen? I lost that money. IS there something I am missing?
Thank you for any help
Brenda

[LaGlasSea]

Thank you for your help. I will have to invest in a kitchen scale. Does anyone know where to buy the sticky labels at a resonable price?

[LakesideQuiltsMaine]

Linda I bought mine on Ebay shhhh it was the best price... 100 sheets with two on each sheet.. good deal. I bought a scale on ebay , it doesn't have to be a kitchen scale.

[Former_Member]

I love printing my postage labels on etsy or through Paypal.

I highly recommend having a small postage scale if you're going to sell online. I use a postage scale. It's a DYMO by Pelouze, model SP5. Didn't cost much. Got at an office store, Staples, I think. Mine goes up to 5 lbs. My things don't weigh much. Patterns, books.
I weigh product, with envelope and a piece of paper to represent the sold invoice. Then I go to USPS. com to calculate postage to put in my listing. When sells, I print postage on etsy or PayPal. EASY! Then walk out to my mailbox.

When scheduling a pick up around my place means the earliest they'll pick if in the following day, so I just put in in my outgoing mail. If it's too big, I drive to the post office big blue mailbox.

[ElisVintageFinds]

Great tips everyone! Thank you!

[BestDressedBaby]

I've never printed postage before, but I just made a trial run through it (up to the point of actually buying it). It is so much cheaper! My question is--do I need to get special labels to print on, or can I print on paper? If I print on paper, is it an entire address and return address along with the postage, or is it just the postage? I can't wait to do this.

[ohmama]

Judy Rinkor from BestDressedBaby says

I've never printed postage before, but I just made a trial run through it (up to the point of actually buying it). It is so much cheaper! My question is--do I need to get special labels to print on, or can I print on paper? If I print on paper, is it an entire address and return address along with the postage, or is it just the postage? I can't wait to do this.
_________________________________________________
You can print on paper and just tape it to the package. The label you get is complete....entire address, return address, bar code tracking number, and the postage shown as paid. It does not print out the amount you paid for it, only that it is paid. You can also insure it and that doesn't show on the label. For insurance just check the box that you want insurance and fill in the amount of coverage you want. It will be added to the cost of the label.

[BestDressedBaby]

Thanks Mary! I'm going to start doing this immediately. Not only will I save money, but I'll save time waiting in line at the post office.

[LaGlasSea]

Judy Thanks for all the info. I have to say I love your shop. I can't wait to have a grandbaby so I can buy cute little baby items. It is funny I just found baby clip art that looks similar to your on line and was going to make it out of glass. Very adorable!

Are all of the shipping labels standard?

[Former_Member]

You usually get the option to print a sample. I need to remember to do that because when I print from Firefox (not Internet Explorer) I need to enlarge it. If I don't, the print is extremely small.

I bought a package of Avery labels that can go through my printer. I got them really cheap only $1, but that was lucky. But you can print on paper and glue it down on the envelope and tape the edges. A postal worker told me to not get any tape on the bar code or top right square coding.

[CarolBroadleyPottery]

I like DC...but...Etsy---when will you make it possible to print more than one label on an order???

When I sell multiple pieces to one customer the pieces may not fit in one box. It takes up so much time to have to go to another site for additional labels

I hope this is being worked on, and if so, can you post something to let us know when this option can be expected? It would be a convenience in DC that would make it appealing to more shops~~

[Former_Member]

Carol Broadley from CarolBroadleyPottery says:

I like DC...but...Etsy---when will you make it possible to print more than one label on an order???

When I sell multiple pieces to one customer the pieces may not fit in one box. It takes up so much time to have to go to another site for additional labels

I hope this is being worked on, and if so, can you post something to let us know when this option can be expected? It would be a convenience in DC that would make it appealing to more shops~~

****

Hi Carol --

Great feedback! It's definitely something our Shipping team has in mind. I think it would be especially great for orders that require multiple packages, return labels, etc.

Any updates to Shipping Labels are announced here: https://www.etsy.com/teams/13659/shipping-labels-improvements

Thanks again, Carol!

-Ev

[Former_Member]

So far I have stayed away from etsy shipping for this one reason. When it gets that I can print multiple labels for a single order, I will give it a try.

[janeeroberti]

Its also way better to have Upic Insurance (thru DC) than USPS insurance. Lots of threads here warn about trying to get USPS to pay on a claim. Prior to DC for every Paypal shipping label I had to go to UPic site and order insurance too, and it took a lot of time.

[AtHomeWithLolly]

I used PayPal for 3/4 of my shipping until Etsy gave us the option. The first time I did it, I checked the online price with USPS and then did my label with Etsy. I had the same experience as an earlier post, the price came up much higher.

That was the one and only time it happened, and I have gone almost totally over to Etsy Shipping now. The International Shipping is a HUGE PLUS !

Way to go Etsy on that....what a big sigh of relief!

~ Once in a blue moon, you have an item ship out to a country that requires PS FORM 2976E, the plastic envelope that requires 3 copies. The PO gave me a handful of the envelopes.

I find that Postal Scales are more accurate than food scales, just my opinion. I bought mine from the USPS, paid about $25, only to find out much later my hubby had one in his office!

When printing labels I now keep a stack of "used printed sheets" and just turned them over and print labels on the other side. No sense shredding or adding to the landfill! I tape them on with the same packing tape used to close up the parcel being shipped. I used the adhesive labels one time, and said NOPE...they are nice, but no need to add more cost to me!

I put all my outgoing pkgs. in a big plastic bag and hang it on my mailbox!