Offering free shipping on Etsy is something every seller thinks about, but many aren’t sure if it’s the right move for their shop. Etsy has been pushing free shipping by giving priority in search results to shops that offer it, especially for U.S. buyers who spend $35 or more. This means if you offer free shipping, your listings can show up higher in search, which can lead to more sales. So, if you’re looking to sell on Etsy and boost visibility, free shipping might be the right move.

But many sellers wonder, Should I offer free shipping on Etsy? After all, shipping costs can add up, and you might worry it will hurt your profits. In this blog, we’ll explain why offering free shipping is a good idea, how to set it up, and if it’s worth it for your shop. We’ll also go over how to combine shipping on Etsy, how to turn off free shipping if it’s not working for you, and how to get free shipping on Etsy without losing money. Let’s dive in!

Why Is Etsy Pushing Free Shipping?

Etsy wants to stay competitive with big stores like Amazon, which offer free shipping to attract more buyers. Research shows that customers are more likely to buy something when they don’t have to pay extra for shipping.

Etsy believes that by encouraging sellers to offer free shipping, more people will buy from them. When buyers see free shipping, they’re also more likely to add extra items to their cart to meet the minimum for free shipping.

Plus, free shipping can help your shop show up higher in search results, making it easier for customers to find your products. Even though it might seem tough at first, free shipping is a great way to boost your sales and grow your shop.

Why should I offer free shipping on Etsy?

Offering free shipping on Etsy can help you get more sales on etsy, but it’s important to think about the pros and cons first. Here’s why it might be a good idea for your shop.

The Benefits of Free Shipping

1. It Attracts More Buyers
   People love free shipping. When you offer it, your listing gets a “Free Shipping” label, which makes it stand out. This helps grab the attention of potential buyers and makes them more likely to click on your item.
2. It Helps Your Shop Rank Higher
   Etsy gives priority to listings that offer free shipping on orders over $35. This means your item could show up higher in search results. The higher your item ranks, the more likely it is to get noticed and bought.
3. It Makes Shopping Simpler
   When you offer free shipping, there are no surprises for the buyer. They know the total price upfront, and they don’t have to worry about extra shipping costs at checkout. It makes the buying process easier and more straightforward.

The Challenges of Free Shipping

1. Pricing Can Be Hard
   Figuring out the right price for your product with free shipping can be tricky. Shipping costs can change based on where your customers live. If you don’t price correctly, you might lose money on shipping. Make sure to research shipping costs so you know what to expect.
2. Returns Could Be Expensive
   Returns don’t happen often, but they can be expensive. If you offer free returns, you’ll need to cover the cost of shipping the item back. You can either add this cost to your product price or ask customers to pay for return shipping.

How to set up free shipping on Etsy?

Offering free shipping on Etsy can make your shop more attractive to buyers. Here’s a simple way to set up free shipping for both domestic and international orders.

For Domestic Orders:

To make things easy for your customers, you can include the cost of shipping in the price of your product. For example, if your product costs $20 and shipping is $5, you can adjust the price to $25. This way, your customers will see a single price and won’t be surprised by extra shipping fees at checkout.

Example:

• Before:
  • Product Price: $20
  • Shipping: $5
  • Total: $25
• After:
  • Product Price: $25 (shipping included)
  • Shipping: $0
  • Total: $25

By adjusting your price, you cover your shipping costs and keep things simple for your customers.

For International Orders:

If you’re shipping internationally, you can do the same thing. For instance, if your item costs $20, shipping is $5 domestically, and $10 internationally, you can set the product price to $25. Your domestic customers get free shipping, and international customers only pay a smaller shipping fee.

Example:

• Before:
  • Product Price: $20
  • Domestic Shipping: $5
  • International Shipping: $10
  • Total (for international buyer): $30
• After:
  • Product Price: $25 (shipping included)
  • Domestic Shipping: $0
  • International Shipping: $5
  • Total (for international buyer): $30

By raising the price slightly, you can give your international customers a discount on shipping.

How to Update Shipping for International Orders:

If you want to update your shipping costs for international orders, just follow these steps:

1. Go to your Shop Manager.
2. Click on Settings, then choose Shipping Settings.
3. Next to your shipping profile, click Edit.
4. Adjust your pricing to account for the domestic and international shipping difference.
5. Save your changes.

That’s it! You’re all set to offer free shipping while making sure you’re covering your costs.

How to set up a free shipping guarantee?

The Free Shipping Guarantee on Etsy helps you offer free shipping to U.S. buyers when they meet certain conditions. It’s an easy way to attract more customers. Here’s how it works and how you can set it up:

What Does the Free Shipping Guarantee Cover?

• Individual items that cost $35 USD or more.
• Orders that total $35 USD or more.

Once you set it up, the guarantee will apply to new items over $35, no matter what currency your shop uses. This only affects U.S. orders. International shipping prices won’t change.

Important: If a buyer wants faster shipping, they will pay for it, even if the order qualifies for free shipping.

Steps to Set Up the Free Shipping Guarantee

Follow these simple steps to set up the Free Shipping Guarantee in your shop:

1. Go to Shop Manager on Etsy.
2. Click Settings.
3. Choose Shipping Settings.
4. Click on the Free Shipping Guarantee tab and select Get Started.
5. Click Next, then choose Set Free Shipping.

Once set up, all new listings priced over $35 will get free shipping. You can turn off the guarantee anytime if you change your mind.

How to Cover Shipping Costs

If you want to cover the shipping costs, you can adjust your item prices. Etsy has a smart pricing tool that lets you change prices for items priced $35 or more. This will help you recover your shipping costs without losing money.

How to turn off free shipping on Etsy?

To turn off free shipping on Etsy, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to your Etsy Shop Manager.
2. Click on Settings on the left side.
3. Select Shipping settings.
4. Click on the US Free Shipping Guarantee tab.
5. Scroll down and hit Yes, turn off guarantee.
6. Confirm by clicking Turn off my guarantee.

If you just want to remove free shipping from certain items, follow these steps:

1. In your Shop Manager, go to Listings.
2. Choose the item you want to edit.
3. Scroll to the Delivery section.
4. Select I’ll enter fixed prices manually.
5. Add the shipping cost you want for the item.

This will help you turn off free shipping easily!

Summary

Offering free shipping on Etsy can help attract more customers and increase sales. By including shipping costs in your prices or using Etsy’s tools like the Free Shipping Guarantee, you can make free shipping work for your shop without losing money.

Before you make it permanent, it’s a good idea to test free shipping on a few products first. This way, you can see if it helps your sales before applying it to everything.

If free shipping doesn’t fit your shop, you can easily turn it off. But if it works well, it could really help your business grow.

So, why not give it a try and see how it works for you?

FAQ : Offer Free Shipping on Etsy

1. Does Etsy cover shipping?

No, Etsy doesn’t pay for shipping. As a seller, you’re responsible for setting the shipping prices for your products.

2. Does Etsy prioritize listings with free shipping?

Yes, Etsy tends to show listings with free shipping higher in search results. This can help your products get more visibility and sales.

3. How can I offer free shipping on my Etsy shop?

You can offer free shipping by adding the shipping cost to your product price or by setting up a free shipping guarantee for orders over $35.

4. What is a Free Shipping Guarantee on Etsy?

The Free Shipping Guarantee lets you offer free shipping to U.S. buyers on orders that cost $35 or more. It’s an easy way to attract more buyers.

5. How do I adjust item prices with Etsy’s smart pricing tool?

The smart pricing tool helps you automatically adjust your prices to cover shipping costs. You just enter your shipping cost, and Etsy will adjust the item price for you.

6. How to offer free shipping on Etsy without losing money?

You can add the shipping cost to your item’s price. This helps cover the shipping fees while keeping your profits. Use Etsy’s smart pricing tool or set shipping profiles that allow you to balance the cost of free shipping while maintaining a good profit margin.