International post

[EmmaJanesGifts]

Hello,
Until I've had a chance to work out international postage costs, can I add to my listing description something along the lines of - Happy to post world wide, please message me first for postage cost before purchasing? But I don't know how the Etsy invoices work, not having had a sale. Am I able to add postage cost to an invoice for an international customer?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Former_Member]

I'm not sure if they've updated it, but it used to be that you'd have to set up a custom listing to get the costs entered correctly.

Keep in mind- if you don't go through the trouble to list shipping for individual countries, your items won't come up via Etsy search. They would have to stumble upon you through outside links.

[weekendjewelry1]

In theory it works - be sure you don't say you'll ship internationally or 'everywhere' or whatever - and then leave it blank (as in, "contact me for rates"). Because then they'll think shipping is free - and Etsy will back them up.

As for "contact me for rates to your location" - the problem is that most people don't bother. If someone is determined to get your item, they'll send you a note and you can figure it out - but figure 10 or 20 people just left your shop rather than convo-ing. People want it to be easier than that. I don't blame them, I do too - but anyway, that's kinda the way it is.

[Former_Member]

As others have said, if you don't list that you ship to a particular country or haven't listed the price then you will miss out on customers or have to pay for their shipping (which isn't worth it).

I'm in Australia so I have a challenge ahead of me as I get more views from the USA etc but the cost of shipping probably puts people off but is necessary for me to do business.

From what I have read around the Etsy world, you are better to set up Shipping Profiles as it will make changing and adding costs to items easier. Based on the items in your store I would say your shipping styles to be similar to mine as I sell prints.
I'll give you an example;
I sell prints from 5x7in to 8x12in and ship them via a C5 Mailer, the cost of this I put into my items for shipping australia-wide as well as the mailing cost. This keeps me "up-front" cheaper so that aussies dont get another cost of shipping later at checkout.
For international costs on the C5 mailer I have a shipping profile set up, this of course includes the Aust cost of $0 but I have then done the research on AusPost to find the major countries costings and listed them within the profile (minus the Australia shipping cost of course).
For shipping larger prints that require a tube, I have a separate listing accompanied by a different shipping profile for larger prints which again incl an Aussie price of $0 but then has the higher shipping price for international locations.

I hope that gives some insight into shipping options and opening things up for more customers. I made an effort to work on International shipping because I found I get A LOT more views from overseas. The same goes for buyers, here in Australia and I guess a lot of other countries we don't have access to some things within our own country but If it is on offer overseas direct to us we will be more likely to buy it.

If someone else has a better way to go about this I would LOVE to know as I am constantly learning more and wanting to improve where I can.

[EmmaJanesGifts]

Thanks for your replies. You've all been very helpful. I'm now in the process of getting the main two different size packets I'd use, with packing etc, ready to weigh and measure, then hopefully work prices out from there. Just not very confident with the technical side of things. Plus, I try to make my prices as competitive as possible, so can't afford get it wrong, especially with low value items. Thanks again.

[Former_Member]

Use Etsy labels and International 1st class costs $6.16 for up to 2 oz.

[Former_Member]

I try to calculate the highest price (usually Japan or Australia) and use that for "Everywhere Else".

I ask buyers in my listings to request a custom shipping quote in case they're closer to me than that, but no one ever does.

Finally, I refund shipping overcharges if necessary.

Hopefully Etsy will get its calculated shipping up and running soon, to make this problem go away!