International shipping with priority mail flate rate?

[MagickPatchworks]

Anyone offer this and can give a step by step "this is what you do"? I know there are different boxes, but they look the same as far as I can tell, so can I use the usual boxes? Also, customs forms? I have no idea where to start with international shipping, and I feel that It may be preventing me from getting sales as almost a fifth of my views come from outside the US

[Former_Member]

Go to your shipping profiles and study how to add countries there. Etsy makes international shipping very easy.

[Former_Member]

Hi there,
You could use regular boxes for priority shipping if you want to. I order the Flat Rate Priority Boxes directly from USPS. They will drop the boxes off right at your doorstep - all for free!

https://store.usps.com/store/browse/subcategory.jsp?categoryId=free-shipping-supplies&categoryNavIds...

The link will allow you to order Flat Rate Shipping boxes and also will tell you the sizes of the boxes so you will know which is which.

If you buy shipping through Etsy customs forms are generated automatically. Its really cool and easy. Usually it will be a half page label like you normally print on, but depending on the country it could be up to four pages. (There are free customs Form Envelopes in the link I sent you can order for the four page ones).

Good Luck! :D

[Former_Member]

And by the way...You'll either have to sign the customs form - or you can go to
"shipping labels"
then
"options"
and scroll down. It will give you a place to type your name and fill out a customs description that will automatically put on your customs form.

[MagickPatchworks]

Deanna, your second answer was kindof helpful. I already know about shipping profiles, but I am confused if there is a different flat rate box for international shipping.
And what exactly is a customs form? I know its something you need to get your package through customs so it will go overseas, but is it something you tape onto the box? or just give to the post office?

[Former_Member]

The Flat Rate boxes will ship domestic and internationally. (It says right on the box or envelope)

Just be aware there are some boxes that look like they're flat rate but they say "Regional A" or "Regional B" on them. I'm not sure if those will ship overseas.

If you pay your postage though Etsy your customs form and your label will be the same thing. It will have the customer's address, your return address, etc. You tape it to the box and it goes with the package overseas.

[Former_Member]

Reading this article might help you out:

https://www.etsy.com/shipping/us/help/international-customs-forms

[Former_Member]

I don't use flat rate priority unless the items are extremely heavy.

I would strongly suggest that you read the help section on International shipping
https://www.etsy.com/shipping/us/help/international-shipping-overview


Basically for international shipping you package the items as you normally would. If the package weighs less than 4lbs, you can ship USPS 1st Class International. Anything 4lbs or over must go USPS Priority International.

If you use online shipping labels, you simply complete the information just as you would for a US label except there is an extra line where you have to enter the contents and value of the package.

[maydaylabels]

Priority International is such a waste of $ in my experience that we don't even offer it as an option - we just do first class and then International Express for people who are in a hurry.

First class is not hard once you figure out how much your various items, packaged, weigh, give or take. For crochet I definitely see no reason for priority.

If you do priority International, though, look into the flat rate envelopes, easier to use imo.

[SageNThymeDesigns]

I almost always use first class international. The one time I used first class priority to Canada it took LONGER than most first class packages do to Canada (and even Australia). The Canada Post doesn't rush on their end so it doesn't get there any faster. Very disappointing for me and my customer.

International Priority Express IS actually faster, but it's very pricey.

You can use the same Flat Rate Priority envelopes and boxes for domestic and international. It will say Priority Flat Rate on the box or envelope.

[LeedsRadio]

Within the US and to destinations abroad, Priority Mail is on average much faster than First Class. Looking a few packages to Canada doesn't prove a trend. The package could have been held up in customs or had some small problem with the address. And unlike most postal systems in the western world the Canadian Post, in my experience cannot deal with any variations/errors in addresses.
That being said, the last thing I shipped to Canada (by Priority Mail) left on a Monday and was in the customers hands on Wednesday.

Priority Mail also has real tracking and you can purchase insurance. If what you're shipping is inexpensive (<$25) it may not seem to matter, but remember if something gets lost and the customer files with PayPal and there's no proof of delivery, the money is coming out of YOUR account. So you will be out the article and the money.

Some countries do not reliably scan 1st Class Mail, which can open you up to the joys of being in a situation where the customer is saying they didn't get it, you're sure they did but cannot prove it. To avoid insomnia producing situations like this I use Priority Mail & Priority Express Mail exclusively.

The medium and large flat rate boxes take a 3 part, not 4 part customs form. The 4th page is your receipt that you should keep in case you have to make a claim because believe or not for foreign, the USPS not have online access to addressee information.
The 3 forms go in PS Form 2976-E (Customs Declaration Envelope)
BTW - Don't EVER use the one you fill out with a pen even if you are buying the postage at a window.
It's the small flat rate box that takes the adhesive (or taped on if you insist) one part label.

For international to most destination, the items in a flat rate box have to weigh 5-6 pounds for a medium flat rate box to make sense.

[maydaylabels]

We self-insure; it's cheaper and cuts out the middle man.

In general, I've found that our packages with first class get to Canada in 7-10 business days; I don't have enough experience with International Priority or Express to promise any faster shipping than the USPS states, which is 6-10 for Priority and 3-5 for Express. (probably I've shipped 20-30 packages with each method, nothing got there much faster than the USPS stated but not any slower either).

[LeedsRadio]

Self insuring + First Class is great for items where the opportunity cost for filing a claim exceed the item's value. For most of the items I sell that is not the case. Priority Mail insurance up to $50 is automatic and free (On Click-n-Ship at least). And if the declared value is greater, customers pay as part of the shipping cost so there is no savings if I self-insure.

As far as promising customers faster delivery, I don't. I always tell them the maximum and then they're happy when most of the time packages arrive sooner.

Of the 10,000-12,000 things I've shipped Priority Mail I'd say half have arrived before the estimated date. Over the last two years that has improved to 75% or better

Over the last year or so Express Mail to some destinations has become crazy fast: Last week I shipped an order to Japan on the 2nd and it arrived on the 5th.

When things go wrong customers don't blame my shipper, they blame me for choosing my shipper. I learned that in the dark days of the mid-1990's when I was using UPS.

When things go right they thank me.

[maydaylabels]

You're still talking about Priority International still, right? I find that Priority domestic pretty much does what it says, but I'm willing to be talked into adding Priority International back in as an option if it's faster than it says it is.

I self-insure for people who say they didn't get it although I am sure they did as well (it's still pennies per transaction, as the vast majority of people are not crooks).

Part of it is a price point issue: our average sale is $30 or so, and our median sale is probably somewhat lower. We make the things we sell, so if a package is lost or significantly delayed we're not out the profit, just the labor + materials + shipping - we generally ship a new item. So far it has been a very very small cost.

On occasion I purchase insurance for a particularly large order, or one I would really not want to produce again for free - I know that's counter-intuitive to the self-insuring process, though.