Just lost money on an order

[HausofAriella]

I've had a couple of orders where I made hardly any profit because I miscalculated shipping before, but this is the first where I lost money. One of the record bowls I sent arrived damaged and the customer needed it for a bridal shower this weekend. I made another and shipped it today (after driving all over SC looking for a freaking post office that was open after 1 - we were visiting my fiance's family). It was too heavy to ship first class and if I shipped it parcel post it wouldn't have made it in time. I figured out what the records, first batch of shipping, and the priority shipping added up to, and I lost about $8 not including my time. I know it's just the cost of doing business and I'm much rather lose a few bucks than lose a customer who might potentially do business with me in the future, but it's still a bit of a bummer. Driving around all afternoon in the rain didn't really help my mood either. I just needed to vent. Have any of you lost money on orders before?

[Former_Member]

I just lost money on an order shipped to Australia. And before I could fix the shipping I got another order and sold another item to Australia and lost $$ again...Tonight I will be fixing shipping charges.

[Former_Member]

I've lost money on a few orders and I really hate that. It's a good reminder, though, that your prices need to be enough to make up for those unfortunate situations where you just can't break even... 'cause it does happen.

[Former_Member]

Yep, I've done it, too. I think we all have and it's as frustrating as can be! I'm sure the buyers are thrilled with the great deal they got, though.

[Former_Member]

I just lost money today sending books out, didn't even factor in the weight! That won't happen again (hopefully!)

[Former_Member]

Oh yeah. I lost a bundle shipping to Australia. Just one of those things. And I know the customer, so I'm sure that I could have recovered some of it, but I'd rather have the customer and colleague. I just chalked it up to learning.

[XKawaiiCutieX]

I have just lost money today on postage it keeps going up here in the U.K don't know what its like in other places.

[Former_Member]

Lost money on my first order. Price of the item was cheap, and I didn't really account for my time, then I paid to send it priority (I was excited, it was my first sale and I wanted to get it there quick), and my shipping envelopes and boxes had not arrived yet, so I had to go and buy each of those items, and when all was said and done, I had lost $3. Live and learn :-)

[NinniesHangers]

Same in Australia, I find myself having to adjust the cost of shipping almost every time i need to renew an item after a sale.

[Former_Member]

Sherri, you know to send books as media mail, right? I believe it is cheaper.

I've lost money on sales before - it's very frustrating.

[Former_Member]

I've lost money mainly due to USPS flubs, which is even more frustrating to me because it's not my fault at all! Learned along the way though and I just won't do certain things now (like ship ooak/custom items without insurance or issue refunds before giving lost items a reasonable amount of time to show up).

[wildwomanbeads]

Yep. Australia again. I finally posted in my policies an average international shipping rate of $8 but FIRST contact me to discuss a best shipping method and cost. I thought $8 seemed high until Australia, and then, YIKES!

It's a bummer, for sure.

[IstriaDesign]

It happened to me more than once. I lost money on shipping (especially internationally), shipping supplies and under pricing my products. It is depressing, but it happens to everyone.

Hope you feel better soon. Hugs!

[Former_Member]

I lost money on a lot of orders.

[Former_Member]

Lost money shipping to Italy once when I first got started. I would have been okay but added every type of insurance and tracking known to man. Now I generally don't insure packages as most items could be remade and that saves a ton, especially internationally.

[Former_Member]

Recently I have just lost money on a pakage is damaged due to USPS shipping. It's very frustrating at situation where you have no control over.

[SewWriteCreations]

Gosh, yes....I made an item exactly to the customer's specs, shipped it, and waited for feedback....none came, so I thought, ok, everything's fine. Several weeks later, I get, "this didn't fit, can we fix it?" Of course, I hopped right on it, made a new one (totally my choice, I know) to her NEW specs, and sent it out. I spent more money on making it than I'd even charged her in the first place, then there's shipping. PO says it was delivered almost 2 weeks ago, and I still have no idea if it fits or not...if not, she can have a refund when I get my (two) items back. Definitely in the hole on that puppy!

[Former_Member]

Australia is an odd place to ship. Some areas the shipping is reasonable. Other areas through the roof for the same kind of item. I guess the more remote the location the higher the cost. Makes it very difficult to gauge shipping prices so easy to loose money!

Ariella perhaps you can recoup some of your loss by filing a damaged good claim with the post office?

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

I don't think I've FOUND any money yet, i'm still in the whole on my Etsy shop venture, Though not by as much as a I was at the end of last year which is a plus.

Also, it may be a good idea to insure your items. I insure all of my jewelry when I ship it out. Granted some times I feel like it's a waste 'cause I haven't lost anything yet and i should be saving it for my own kind of "insurance" but i don't mind helping to PO out a bit with all the talk of them closing...

[NinniesHangers]

I am in Australia, and you are right. It is the remote areas. I sent an item out last week at a cost of $35.00 for shipping to one location, and $79.00 today for exactly the same item to a different location.

[CSavelsCollectibles]

If you weigh your items and packaging using simple digital kitchen scales, you can do an online calculation. Most postal services have a website with this feature. That way you will never be out of pocket on shipping again as you will be able to list precise shipping costs for each of your items. It does take a little time but it's worth it if you don't lose money.

[Former_Member]

absolutely Eureka. As someone said, UK postage went up recently but the new prices were available online beforehand so mine got changed the same day.

if I lose money, it's because I don't charge enough for my time. I keep planning to sit with a stopwatch and make something from beginning to end, but I always seem to get up and make a cuppa in the middle and forget I was timing!

[NinniesHangers]

The problem is that when we list on Etsy, we do not know where our items are going to end up, so we can undercharge or overcharge on postage. As I mentioned earlier a difference of around $43 to ship the same item to different part of the country.

[PaperDotCo]

In the beginning I was losing money on shipping & packaging costs.

Now, I still lose money on some of the custom orders. I still can't get myself to price according to the time or hours it takes to make things. I charge just $1 or $2/hour :)

[Former_Member]

I am fortunate that I haven't lost any money so far through sales. I have only lost money when I make something as a gift to a friend or family member. But I had to re -ig my prices as I was hardly making any money at all!