Date: September 17, 2024
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Recently, Etsy announced that it is changing how shipping prices may affect visibility for United States (US) sellers. Among the other important information laid out in their August Seller Handbook article, Etsy stated that “starting October 1, US listings with domestic shipping prices lower than $6 will be prioritized in search (with some exceptions…).”
What does this mean for your Etsy shop specifically? Let’s dive into these changes and learn ways to adjust your item listings, if necessary, to accommodate the shipping visibility change.
Summary (TLDR)
- As of October 1st, US-based Etsy shops with domestic shipping prices less than $6 will be prioritized in search.
- US-based Etsy shops with shipping prices of $6 or greater need to review their listings prior to October 1st.
- To prevent reduced visibility of your Etsy listings, it is suggested to reduce your shipping prices within the US to under $6.
- The following item listing types are currently exempt for the new shipping visibility change:
- Digital items
- Items shipped to non-US destinations
- Items listed by non-US sellers
- Items priced over $35 (if shop has over $35 free shipping option)
- Items with calculated shipping
Why the Change?
When shopping on Etsy, shipping is one of the top factors that buyers consider when making a purchase. In the same August Seller Handbook article, Etsy shared that a first quarter 2024 survey of over 6,000 shoppers revealed that “expensive shipping is a top 10 barrier to purchase on Etsy.” Free shipping has long been touted by Etsy as a way to entice shoppers and compete with larger platforms such as Amazon. Etsy’s own data shows that “free shipping leads to a higher purchase rate.”
The price for shipping often influences not only first-time shoppers but repeat customers as well. According to eRank’s 2023 Buyer Survey, free shipping was the second highest factor overall as to whether a shopper became a repeat customer for a particular shop. Of those surveyed, 43.5% indicated that free shipping was their most important consideration for repeat business.
Which Listings Are Affected?
US-based Etsy shops with item listings that have a shipping price of $6 or more are affected by Etsy’s shipping visibility change. However, the new $6 shipping threshold does not apply to all item listings. The following types of listings are exempt (as of the publishing of this article) from Etsy’s new shipping standards:
- Digital listings
- Listings shipped from US sellers to non-US destinations
- Listings shipped by sellers from outside the US
- Listing items priced over $35 from shops that offer free shipping guarantee
- Listings that use calculated shipping
Note that the list of exceptions may change. However, Etsy ensures sellers that any changes will be quickly communicated.
How Can You Adapt?
Along with these new announcements, Etsy rolled out a new Search Visibility Page for eligible sellers, which includes a tool to assist sellers in adjusting their shipping prices in bulk. The tool is available for US profiles with fixed prices, making it easier for you to move a few dollars from your shipping fee to the item listing price instead. With this change, the customer pays the same total amount, and you (the seller) are charged the same amount in fees. According to Etsy’s new guidelines, after changing the shipping price to less than $6, the item listing should have higher visibility in search, barring no other issues with the shop or listed items.
If you don’t have access to the new tool, adjust your shipping and handling prices manually via your Shop Manager. In your Etsy Shop Manager, click on Settings → Shipping Settings for a full list of your shop’s shipping profiles and then edit the ones necessary individually by clicking the pencil icon. When using this method, the list of active item listings using each shipping profile is available by clicking the number under the Active Listings column. When you click the number, a separate tab opens with all affected item listings, allowing you the opportunity to update any pricing, if needed.
Why Should You Change?
Etsy’s new shipping visibility changes are aimed at enhancing the customer shopping experience by prioritizing listings with more affordable shipping options. If you are a US-based seller, it’s crucial to review and adjust your shipping prices to under $6 prior by October 1st in order to maintain or boost your shop’s visibility in search results. Utilizing Etsy’s new Search Visibility Page or manually adjusting your shipping settings helps ensure that your listings remain competitive. By adapting to these changes, you can attract more buyers and potentially increase your sales, aligning with Etsy’s data that shows lower shipping costs significantly impact purchase decisions and repeat business.
For more information about Etsy and their shipping policy, check out Etsy’s The Ultimate Guide to Shipping. In addition, check out eRank’s recent blog article on Mastering the Art of Packaging and Shipping to help you prepare for the upcoming busy holiday shopping season.
