All guidesShipping · 5 min
Shipping costs sellers forget to include
The quiet fulfilment costs that can turn a decent-looking listing into a thin-margin product.
Postage is only one part
Shipping cost should include postage, packaging, labels, tape, inserts and any fulfilment service charges.
Each item may feel tiny. Together they can decide whether a low-margin listing works.
Returns and replacements need a buffer
Not every order completes cleanly. Damaged parcels, lost shipments and goodwill replacements are part of real selling.
You do not need to overcomplicate the first model, but you should leave a margin buffer for fulfilment problems.
Measure the packed product
A product's packed size can be more important than its unpacked size.
Before committing to price, pack the product as the customer will receive it and check the actual shipping band.