Should You Offer Free Shipping on Etsy? Pros & Cons
Discover if free shipping on Etsy fits your handmade shop, weighing search boost, conversion rates, profit margins, product pricing, and buyer expectations.
I opened a new Etsy shop about a month ago and I’ve made a couple of sales so far. Right now I’m offering free shipping because I know I’m more likely to purchase when shipping is included, but I didn’t realize how much the shipping label and Etsy fees would reduce my profit.
I’m considering either raising my item prices to build shipping into the cost or switching to charging shipping separately, but I’m worried either change could hurt conversions for a newer shop with limited sales history. What’s the best approach for a new Etsy shop—keep free shipping and adjust pricing, or charge shipping? How do buyers typically respond?
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