Weight-Based Shipping

Dynamic Shipping Rates

Introduction

As part of our commitment to improving your selling experience, we've transitioned to a weight-based shipping system.

Previous Shipping Model vs. New Dynamic Model

Old System: Flat-Rate Shipping

Previously, shipping costs were a flat fee ($4 for the first item and an additional $0.50 for each subsequent item).

This often led to overcharges for smaller, lighter, or nearby shipments and could discourage buyers from making smaller purchases.

New System: Dynamic, Weight-Based Shipping

Tailored Costs:

Shipping fees are now calculated based on the actual weight of the items and the distance between your location and the buyer's. Learn more about Zones on the USPS website.

This precision ensures that shipping costs are fair and directly correlated to the physical and logistical aspects of shipping.

Responsive Adjustments:

As buyers add items to their orders or combine multiple purchases, shipping costs adjust in real-time to reflect the changes.

This makes the system fairer and can incentivize larger orders.

How It Works

Calculating Shipping Costs

The shipping cost for each order will now be determined by the weight of the items and the travel distance from your shop to the buyer's address.

Costs are dynamically calculated, so if a buyer adds more items to an existing order, the shipping fee adjusts according to the new total weight.

Scenario 1:
2 items, 6 oz total weight

- A buyer has bought Product A that weighs 4 oz and has paid a shipping cost of $4.
- Then they buy Product B that weights 2 oz.
- Now, the combined weight of both the products is 6 oz.
- So the total shipping cost will be $5 and the buyer has already paid $4. Therefore, for Product B, they would pay $1 as shipping fee.

Scenario 2:
2 items, 3 oz total weight

A buyer has bought Product C that weighs 2 oz and has paid a shipping cost of $4.
Then they buy Product D that weights 1 oz.
Now, the combined weight of both the products is 3 oz.
So the total shipping cost will still be $4 and the buyer has already paid $4.
Therefore, for Product D, they would get free shipping.

Scenario 3:
multiple orders, total weight under 11.5 oz

A buyer had bought multiple products with Dynamic Shipping option from a seller yesterday. The buyer had bought these products both from the live stream and the shop.

- The combined weight of all the orders is 10 oz, for which the buyer has paid a shipping cost of $5.00. The seller has not shipped the products yet.
- Today the buyer decides to buy more products with Dynamic Shipping option from the same seller. The combined weight of all the products bought today is 1.5 oz.
- Now, the total weight is 11.5 oz, for which the shipping cost is still $5.00.
- Therefore, the buyer will pay no additional shipping cost for the products bought today.

Scenario 4:
No weight listed for some products

When a shipment contains both products with weight and products without weight, the shipping fee is calculated as follows:

1st product that a buyer bought that weighs 4 oz. So the buyer pays a shipping fee of, say, $3.79.
2nd product that a buyer bought has no weight. So the buyer pays a shipping fee of $0.50, which is the current fee that a buyer pays for any incremental orders

Benefits for Sellers

Fair Pricing:

More accurate shipping fees mean no overcharges; you charge buyers exactly what should be charged based on weight and distance.

Increased Sales Potential:

Attractive shipping rates can encourage larger orders or repeat purchases as buyers try to maximize the value of their shipping fees.

Simplified Management:

With automatic recalculations, managing orders becomes more straightforward, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

Benefits for Buyers

Cost-Effective:

Buyers pay only for the actual shipping costs, which can lower expenses, especially on smaller orders.

Flexibility:

Adding items to an existing order can potentially reduce or eliminate additional shipping charges, offering more flexibility and savings.

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