How to Handle the Shipping Rate Increase for Shipping Wreaths
Are you struggling with how to handle the shipping rate increase for shipping your wreaths? In this video, we’re talking about what you can do to make sure you are getting the best rate. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Freaking out about the cost for shipping your wreaths? Let’s discuss how to combat it and get you the best rate.
If you use Etsy to calculate your shipping and print labels, it uses the USPS Parcel Select Ground option. Remember, the price is based on the box size, not the weight! This is called DIM. For example, I entered a box in Etsy for shipping and it calculated at $63 shipping. I entered the same info on USPS directly and was able to get shipping for $23! For that price, you will need to take it into a USPS facility so this may be a good solution if you sell just a couple of items a week but if you are shipping a lot more this may be too cumbersome.
So let’s look at other options. To ship the same box via FedEx it would be $35. For that they will pick it up at your home.
Changing your box size obviously changes the price but you won’t always find that USPS is cheaper than FedEx etc. You will want to play with it and check various sizes and prices via different shipping companies.
You can also pass along the shipping cost as a part of the wreath price – this way a $35 shipping price doesn’t scare off your customers! For instance, instead of charging $60 for a wreath and $35 shipping you might want to charge $80 for the wreath and $15 shipping.
Check out the video below for more information.
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Video How to Handle the Shipping Rate Increase for Shipping Wreaths
If you enjoyed this and want to learn to wreath the professional way, join me in our exclusive Wreath Making of the Month Club!
Happy Wreathing,
Julie
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I started selling on Etsy a few months ago, and have shipped 4 wreaths, 2 within the state (Texas). The third wreath I shipped went from SA to Rockville, Md. and cost $22 to ship via USPS retail ground. Two weeks ago, I mailed a wreath, same size box as the others (24 x24x6) to Florida, and my cost for retail ground was $47 + $2 Insurance. I had taken it to FedEx to use my new account and the charge would have been $49, not much different. The post office clerk measured the circumference of the box, something none of the other clerks had done prior. I was so disappointed because of the cost. The only saving grace was the email I received from the customer letting me know that she was thrilled with the wreath. I know Etsy has been encouraging sellers to offer free shipping, but those of us who are not volume sellers have a tough time. I may need to rethink this Free Shipping offer.
So add $25-$30 onto the price of the wreath. State you have free shipping. One wreath might cost $40 to ship and others $20. It averages out.
Really enjoyed your video on shipping, you have so many good videos! One question, don’t most sellers on Etsy ship Priority Shipping? If I ship Ground, will it discourage buyers?
Not if it’s clear to the buyer when they will receive the item.
I can not find the boxes help please
Did you try Amazon?
That is my problem too! Very expensive – what is the size you brand cut done…. and what is the tool you use to cutdown? Thanks so much as always !
UPS just tried to charge me $70 to ship a 30”x24” wreath that weighs less than 2 lbs! I can’t see charging my customers more money because at some point it gets ridiculous to ask that much. It’s a shame that my business will no longer be given to someone in another state. I simply can’t afford it.
Do you think I pay $70 to ship? No. And when you make a wreath and struggle with the bow, do you give up? No.
There is a creative solution to your business problem. Don’t stop trying to make it work for you. Get a business account with all the carriers and check to see which is cheaper. Keep the box under 24 inches wide (more if possible) and under 8 inches deep (more if possible).
Most cost $30 range to ship. You charge your customer $15 to ship it and increase the price of your wreath by $15.
You can do this.
To ship a wreath from VA to OR is about $100. There has to be a better way. I can’t give my work away for a loss
This can’t be correct. I can ship from SC to CA for much less than that. Make sure to follow all my tips regarding, size, pricing, and shipping as a business.
My wife just started making wreaths and she is doing great locally. We want to expand but shipping looks to be a deal killer. She’s making larger 24″ wreaths and the boxes are 30x30x10 (to make room for padding and the wreaths are very “full”) but the shipping came out to $160 from Texas to California. She’s charging only $120 per wreath so more than double for the shipping doesn’t make sense.
Sure its easy to say you can ship for cheap but then yous making a small wreath. Looks like to get even reasonable prices, you need the boxes under 24″ but that’s not what we’re doing.
How do you ship larger wreaths that still only weigh a few pounds and be profitable?
She’s not charging enough for that size wreath IMO. Also, she can create a business account with fedex or UPS for a better rate. I make 24″ wreaths and still fit my wreaths in a box of 24″ but if she wants to use 30″ box, she needs to charge approximately $40-50 to ship. We discuss this inside the wreath of the month club group and Success circle group.
Has USPS increased since you made this video? I entered all the same information (zip code, dimensions, etc) and it comes out to $65! Are you still currently using USPS or have you switched to a different and better carrier?
I’ve only just opened an etsy shop and the shipping is the most difficult to figure out.
Thank you for all your tips!
I’ve only used Fedex business account. Never USPS. Set up a business account and use the information given in this post.
I can’t thank you enough! This information is so helpful!
Hi Julie I am getting started will all this thanks you you, you are amazing! Also I have a lot of questions but to start with the very first one; how do I know if I am in the wreath of the month club ??
Thanks a lot,
Yaara Lopez
The post available to our WOTMC members have this in the title of the blog post [WOTMC]. If you need assistance with payment or to verify payment, contact us http://www.southerncharmwreaths.com/contact/
Ok. I am just getting into looking at Wreath Making as a business. If you sell these on Amazon and they deliver the product. What am I looking at here? I guess you would have to keep the product in stock at their warehouse and then they would ship. This would require producing mass production of one item at a time. Amazon probably would be an expensive way of distributing. I haven’t looked to see if you sell your wreaths on Amazon. I am guessing it would be way too expensive. Correct?
I don’t know. I don’t sell there.
Hey Julie , This was great, informative information on shipping our wreaths. We’re going to opt for the increase in the wreath price and add on the $14.95 for shipping. Will be hooking up to the FED-EX business account.. ASAP. We live in small town Texas, USA… LOL… So actually packing the boxes into the back of our Subaru and taking them over to the local Post Office can be an okay thing too. Thank YOU so much for sharing all your brilliant, wonderful ideas. Keep On Wreathing!!!
I just tried to ship two wreaths ( two boxes ) yesterday and the lady tried to offer the express mail rate first I guess because she started out at 137.00 per box ?. I think I didn’t know how to respond . In my mind it’s plain dumb to have to be charged 137.00 to mail a 60.00 wreath . Lol . The lowest rate for both wreaths ( I had two different size boxes) was 40.00 and I have no idea how long that would take to get to my customer but I simply said no thanks and went to the post office rather than UPS. I ended up paying 20.00 shipping for one box and 38.00 for the other. I know now to keep my boxes small. I just hope the small box doesn’t smash my wreath . They Should be ok ?? but I worry because I want my customer to love what they see when they open the box.
I shipped my first wreath yesterday, UPS Ground, thinking it would be the cheapest way to go. It was a 30x30x10 wreath box. It cost me $102 to ship that one wreath. I agree with Tina, I want my customer to love the wreath when she opens the box. The wreath should cost $80 but I’m wondering if I should just recoup the costs on this first wreath and cross my fingers about the shipping cost. Any ideas or suggestions?
Hey LaQuita – This is something we teach in our Success Circle group. If you are interested in learning more, please go to:
http://www.howtosellhandmade.com