Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, the USPS shipping rates increase will take effect. As I ship with First Class mail through the post office, the shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

However, like before, Etsy will automatically calculate the cheapest shipping option a seller is offering. When viewing an item, buyers can enter their country or a U.S. ZIP code to show shipping costs.

If you have any questions, please contact me either here or through Playfully Grownup Home at Etsy.

Happy weekend!

What Brexit Means for Playfully Grownup Home Customers

Ahem Ahem!

I’ve been following with increasing alarm Britain’s exit negotiations with the European Union simply because of the massive, unprecendented uncertainty they have created. No-one has been able to say what aftereffects there will be, either for businesses or private citizens and residents.

No-one is even able to say exactly when Brexit happens. April 12, 2019, used to be a deadline, but obviously that never happened. At least it will give me a chance to address the issue here.

Tief im Brexit-Dschungel by Twitter Trends 2019 on Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

At the moment, Playfully Grownup Home customers in the UK can submit orders as normal. I will not make any immediate changes.

I will continue to fulfill my seller obligations as before, but any post-Brexit duties or changes to the customs process when packages enter the UK will remain the buyers’ responsibility.

However, I will be keeping an eye on the situation. Should the shipping be slowed down or otherwise encumbered too much by the new processes in place after Brexit, I reserve the option to end shipping to UK. I hope it won’t be necessary.

P.S. I do also think it’s incredibly shortsighted of Britain to leave EU, but whether they do or not is really not for me to decide. For the sake of UK friends and others, I hope the effects are minimal and manageable.

Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!

On Sunday, January 27, 2019, the USPS shipping rates increase will take effect. As I ship with First Class mail through the post office, the shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

New this year is that the First-Class Package Service will move to zone-based pricing. However, like before, Etsy will automatically calculate the cheapest shipping option a seller is offering.

When viewing an item, buyers can enter their country or a U.S. ZIP code on the Shipping & Policies tab to show shipping costs.

Etsy Shipping Cost Screencap

My shipping fees will also continue to include the postage itself and a handling fee (= packing materials, paper and ink).

If you have any questions, please contact me either here or through Playfully Grownup Home at Etsy.

Happy weekend!

Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!

A short note: Starting on Sunday, January 21, 2018, the USPS will increase its shipping rates. As I ship with First Class mail through the post office, the shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

The good news is that Etsy will automatically calculate the cheapest shipping option a seller is offering. When viewing an item, buyers can enter their country or a U.S. ZIP code on the Shipping & Policies tab to show shipping costs.

Etsy Shipping Cost Screencap

As before, I will continue to pass onto buyers the discount I get by purchasing shipping labels through Etsy, and I’m glad I can do that – as a customer, I appreciate it when sellers try to keep costs reasonable, and want to return the favor.

Happy weekend!

Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!

Next Sunday, January 22, 2017, new USPS shipping rates will take effect. I ship with First Class mail through the post office, which means that shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

The good news is that Etsy will automatically calculate the cheapest shipping option eligible for the total weight and dimensions of the item(s). When viewing an item, buyers enter a U.S. ZIP code or their country on the Shipping & Policies tab to generate shipping costs.

My shipping fees include the postage itself and a handling fee (= packing materials, paper and ink).

As before, I will continue to pass onto buyers the savings I get by buying my shipping labels through Etsy, and I’m glad I can do that – as a customer, I appreciate it when sellers try to keep costs reasonable, and want to return the favor.

Happy weekend!

New Forever Stamps

Design & Designers, Geek out!

I’m not a philatelist, but I like having special stamps now and then.

National Parks, Star Trek and Views of Our Planets. Love ’em. 🙂

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!

Next Sunday, January 17, 2016, new USPS shipping rates will take effect. I ship with First Class mail through the post office, which means that shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

The price includes the postage and a handling fee (= packing materials, paper and ink). I will continue to pass onto buyers the savings I get by buying my shipping labels through Etsy, and I’m glad I can do that – as a customer, I appreciate it when sellers try to keep costs reasonable, and want to return the favor.

I’m going to be entirely honest here: I’m not happy that the largest rate increases affect packages under 1 lb / 0.5 kgs. At the moment, though, USPS is the best option for my small light-weight shipments, but I will continue to monitor the situation.

Happy weekend!

Increase in USPS Rates & New Shipping System in Place

Ahem Ahem!, Behind the Scenes

USPS is raising their rates on Sunday, May 31, 2015. I ship through the post office, which means shipping and handling costs for my Etsy shop are also affected.

Since I was going to have to modify my shipping charges in any case, I decided to join Etsy’s new calculated shipping program for U.S. sellers. It means that shipping charges are automatically calculated based on 1) a buyer’s actual location, 2) the seller’s actual location, and 3) the size and weight of the item(s) being shipped.

Changes for buyers are minimal. When viewing an item, buyers enter a U.S. ZIP code (or a non-US country) on the Shipping & Policies tab to generate shipping costs. The price shown will be for the least expensive shipping method offered by the seller that is eligible for the total weight and dimensions of the item(s).

For me, calculated shipping means I’m both able to give shoppers more accurate shipping costs and save time myself with the new back end settings. Previously, it took a lot of work for me to to determine shipping costs.

I spent last weekend weighing and measuring every item in my inventory, creating new shipping profiles, entering the figures into my shop interface on Etsy, and making sure all t:s were crossed and i:s dotted.

The new settings are now in effect. I have checked my data entry, and everything should be in order, but if you see anything odd, please don’t hesitate to drop me a note.

Happy weekend!

Increase in USPS Rates

Ahem Ahem!, Behind the Scenes

Next Sunday, January 26, 2014, new USPS shipping rates will take effect. At the moment, I ship exclusively through the post office, so I took the opportunity to look at my Etsy shipping fees and made adjustments.

I’m glad to say the adjustments were minimal. As a customer, I appreciate it when Etsy sellers are trying to keep costs reasonable, and want to return the favor. I was even able to bring the shipping costs down for four types of items. That was possible because I invested in additional bulk supplies, which brought the per-item price down.

Happy weekend, and stay warm!