Shipping

[McCraeCoMakery]

How do you estimate shipping costs so that you don't lose money on a sale? First few sales have either been under or over. Used the estimate tool but varies widely depending on area. Words of expertise?!

[EchidnaArtandCards]

I have a digital scale at home and I weigh the item with packaging and whatever else you normally would include (business card) etc. and then use Australia Post's online parcel post calculator to get shipping costs.

In my policies page, I also state that any overage of over $1 will be refunded, in case I overestimate, which is better than underestimating!

[SpangGangDesigns]

I, too, use a digital scale. You can pick them up on amazon inexpensively.

[Former_Member]

I also have a digital scale and then weigh everything I make. I put a package together just like I would if I were shipping, then I put the weight into the USPS shipping calculator. I do the calculations for a far away zip code here in the US as well as other countries. It has worked well for me.

[SCLadyDiJewelry]

Here's an Etsy shop that sells digital scales at a great price :

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176383553/accuteck-dream-86-lbs-digital-postal?ref=shop_home_feat_2

[Former_Member]

I know the exact weight of everything that I'm selling so I can estimate the shipping costs fairly well.

I also know the approximate weight of all of my packaging materials, except for my super large boxes. Those I estimate at being approx 1 lb each.

The only time I'm really off on my shipping is when someone purchases a number of items and the weight is between 15 and 20 oz. The way my shipping is set up on most items, I don't quite charge enough in the combination to cover all the postage costs on that range. But I do make up for it on other sales so I don't really worry about it.