Shipping profile
A reusable shipping configuration - origin, processing time, destinations, and rates - that you attach to listings.
- Where it lives: Shop Manager > Settings > Shipping settings
- Reusable across listings: Yes
- Per-listing override: No (you change the profile or apply a different one)
- Pricing models: calculated, fixed, or free
- International: opt-in per profile
A shipping profile bundles every shipping decision - origin ZIP, handling/processing time, supported destinations, and per-zone rates - into a named template you attach to listings. Most shops have between 3 and 10 profiles covering different weight brackets or fragility tiers.
Pricing models
- Calculated shipping: Etsy calls USPS/UPS APIs and shows the buyer real-time rates based on package weight + destination.
- Fixed shipping: you set a flat rate per zone.
- Free shipping: you absorb the cost into the item price. (Etsy still takes 6.5% on the higher item price, so this isn’t a fee dodge.)
Why profiles instead of per-listing rates
Updating shipping costs across 200 listings is a nightmare without profiles. With profiles, you change one profile and every attached listing inherits the update. With per-listing shipping, you’d be editing 200 listings.
When to make a new profile
- New weight bracket (e.g. you started selling sets that ship USPS Priority instead of First Class).
- New origin (you opened a second studio with a different ZIP).
- Different processing time (a small line of made-to-order items needs 14 days vs. your usual 3).
Common profile bugs
- Origin ZIP wrong → calculated shipping returns wildly off rates.
- Handling time set to 1 business day when you actually need 3 → Star Seller ding.
- Free shipping on heavy items → you absorb $20 of postage on a $30 item.
- One profile per listing. You'll have 200 profiles in a year and no idea what changed where.
- Forgetting to add international zones, then losing every overseas buyer to "no shipping available."
Other glossary entries that connect to this one
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