Direct Checkout & shiipping~

[rabbitwhiskers]

I am brand new to dc & just got my first credit card sale. This is probably a stupid question, but I really don't know~ do I have to use Etsy shipping labels or can I continue to make my own label & ship it that way? How does Etsy know when I have shipped the item so that I can get my funds? Any help will be much appreciated as I'm finding it scary to suddenly have a sale & not know what to do! Thanks so much!

[Former_Member]

Not a direct answer, but always use delivery conformation on your packages to protect yourself. Once you do that, mark the item ship and enter that delivery conformation on the shipment notice.

[rabbitwhiskers]

Thank-you Linda. I usually buy insurance- which I guess would work too. I'm really confused the more I read. It seems like, though I haven't actually seen it said, you have to use Etsy shipping labels, but you need to enter the shipping cost to make the label. I never know my shipping cost until I take it to the post office & they weigh it and tell me. I'm really not understanding how this works at all~

[AlaiynaBSoaps]

You do not need to you Etsy's integrated shipping - it is just an option/tool to use. Just be sure to mark the order as shipped in order to release the funds from it. FYI - you do not need to know the shipping cost to purchase a label though Etsy, you DO need to know the weight of your package though. You enter in the service (first class, priority, express, etc) and the package weight and it will calculate the rate for you.

You may want to look into online shipping through Etsy, Paypal or another service as you get discounted shipping rates and free delivery confirmation by doing so. If you are taking your packages to the PO counter you are paying retail rates for both shipping and delivery confirmation (what is it about .80 now for delivery confirmation). If you ship a lot, you will save quite a bit of money

[rabbitwhiskers]

Thank-you so much Alalyna!! I am so relieved!! I really appreciate your taking the time to respond. So I can do it the way I always do, if I want to- I just need to mark the order as shipped- and that's how Etsy knows to release the funds~Great!! Thank-you also for the information about paying less for services other than the P.O. I'll have to check into those, I've just always used the post office. That's really good to know about. Thanks again! Now I can sleep tonight! Whew!!

[Former_Member]

Rabbitwhiskers I hope you are still here. This is totally off topic, but I have to tell you how awesome your work is! Your shop is just lovely.

[KitchenCrafts]

Buy a postal scale, you can get one for around 25 dollars. If you ship much, you will save that money from buying labels on Etsy instead of the post office. It is cheaper on Etsy becasue you get free delivery confirmation and a discount on retail postal rates.