Running an successful Etsy shop means having a lot of happy customers buying your creative products. But fulfilling all those orders can get complicated, especially when it comes to properly packaging and shipping each item out.
Printing shipping labels directly within your Etsy Shop Manager is the best way to simplify and speed up that process. This prevents you from wasting time purchasing postage elsewhere.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to access Etsy‘s built-in label printer to seamlessly ship your handmade goods in just 5 quick steps.
Why Print Shipping Labels on Etsy?
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, let me highlight the key reasons savvy Etsy sellers use Etsy‘s label printing:
Save Up to 30% on Postage
Etsy partners directly with USPS and other shipping carriers to provide discounted rates, saving you up to 30% compared to typical postage pricing. That adds up to major savings, especially for high volume sellers.
Average Shipping Rate Comparison
| Shipping Carrier | Etsy Rates | Direct Carrier Rates |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail | $7.10 | $9.99 |
| USPS Priority Mail Express | $26.40 | $37.62 |
Built-In Tracking for All Packages
Etsy‘s automated process generates a unique tracking number with every shipping label printed. This makes it easy to closely track each package‘s transit status right from your Shop Manager.
No more manually entering or looking up tracking numbers! It‘s all recorded and linked directly to the associated orders in your management dashboard.
Seamless Integration
Purchasing postage and printing shipping labels externally can be complex with clunky carrier website flows. But Etsy neatly integrates the entire label printing process into your existing Shop Manager.
That means fewer websites to toggle between and direct compatibility with your orders for faster processing.
Now that you know the benefits, let‘s walk through setting up label printing in just 5 quick steps.
Step 1: Log Into Your Etsy Seller Account
Start by logging into your Etsy seller account at www.etsy.com.
Click the circular "Sign In" icon located at the top right corner of the page.
Next, enter the email address associated with your Etsy shop along with your account password.
Finally, click the blue "Sign In" button to complete logging in.
This will securely access your seller dashboard tools.
Step 2: Access Your Shop Manager
Upon logging in, you will land on your Shop Manager homepage. This is the backend hub where all configuration and order management takes place for your Etsy storefront.
Look for the left hand navigation bar with menu links like "Dashboard", "Orders & Shipping", "Finances", and more.
We specifically need access to “Orders and Shipping” to retrieve order details and print labels.
But feel free to explore all sections to understand the full functionality at your fingertips as an Etsy seller.
Step 3: Select the Orders Requiring Postage
From the Shop Manager sidebar menu, click the "Orders & Shipping" link to navigate into that section.
You will now see an overview of all your recent orders and their statuses from customers.
Scan for any orders marked as "Awaiting shipment." These are all pending packages needing shipping labels printed by you.
Check the boxes next to all orders ready to ship out. This selects them for label printing in the next step.
Once all set, click the bright blue "Get shipping labels" button above the order table.
Step 4: Purchase and Print Postage Labels
After selecting your pending orders, you‘ll be taken to Etsy‘s label purchase page.
Here you can configure shipping specifics like package type, weight, delivery speed and other details.
Enter the characteristics matching what you plan to ship for each recipient. This ensures you get an accurate postage cost estimate.
With details entered, click "Review" to verify the label details before purchasing.
Etsy will summarize the variable shipping rates along with the total postage cost due from your payment method on file.
If all looks accurate, complete the checkout process by clicking the green "Purchase" button.
You will then see downloadable PDF files containing the shipping labels ready for printing!
Be sure to use properly formatted label sheets designed specifically for your printer type when generating hard copies. This way barcodes and text print cleanly.
Step 5: Attach the Shipping Labels
Finally, take those freshly printed labels for each pending order and carefully affix them to the corresponding packages.
Be cautious not to accidentally cover up critical details like addresses and tracking barcodes that delivery carriers depend on.
Use clear tape over the entire label to fully secure it to boxes and padded mailers. This protects it against rips or moisture during shipment.
Once your beautiful handmade products have shipping labels tightly secured, drop off the packages at your nearest carrier and you’re all done!
Help! My Shipping Labels Won’t Print
Despite the general convenience of integrated label printing, you may occasionally run into technical hiccups.
Here are quick troubleshooting tips to address common label printing issues:
Try Using Another Web Browser
Incompatible browser extensions or outdated caches can sometimes disrupt label formatting and printing.
Attempt accessing your Etsy Shop Manager from an alternate web browser like Chrome, Firefox or Safari to rule out software conflicts.
Verify Label Sheet Size Matches Printer
Double check that the label sheet size (typically 4×6 inches) inserted in your printer matches what’s defined in your device print settings.
Mismatching paper formatting can shift element positioning and cut off key details.
Request Refunds for Errors
Accidentally printed the wrong postage due to incorrect weights or shipping speed entered?
No worries – you can request a full refund on unused Etsy shipping labels within 10 days of original purchase.
Key Takeaways
And there you have it – an easy 5-step guide to quickly printing discounted shipping labels integrated with your Etsy orders.
In summary:
- Sign into your Etsy seller account
- Go to Shop ManagerOrders & Shipping
- Select all orders awaiting shipment
- Buy and print postage labels
- Affix labels to packages
Leveraging Etsy’s built-in tools saves both money and time while fulfilling orders.
Now you can focus your efforts on dreaming up the next hot-selling item instead of struggling with shipping logistics!
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments. Happy selling!
