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One of the most frequently asked questions from beginner clothing resellers is “How does Poshmark shipping work?” Poshmark shipping differs from almost every other online reselling platform. That can make it confusing to those that have sold on eBay or Mercari. Honestly, however, it’s pretty simple and straightforward. And because of that, Poshmark is often an excellent place for new sellers to get their feet wet.
How Much Does Poshmark Shipping Cost?
At the time of writing this post, Poshmark offers a flat shipping rate of $7.97. This rate is good for all packages under 5 pounds.
If your package weighs more than 5 pounds once packaged – you have to include the total weight with any box or other shipping materials necessary – you will need to pay for upgraded shipping.
Currently, upgraded shipping charges are:
- 6 pounds – an additional $3.99
- 7 pounds – additional $7.98
- 8 pounds – additional $11.97
- 9 pounds – additional $15.96
- 10 pounds – additional $19.95
That is money on top of the initial $7.45. Shipping upgrades will come out of your earnings, so keep that in mind when pricing larger items. You are also unable to ship packages weighing more than 10 pounds at this time. You will need to find a platform other than Poshmark to sell any of those items.
Who Pays for Poshmark Shipping?
By design, the buyer pays the shipping charges on Poshmark. That being said, Poshmark did start allowing sellers to offer shipping discounts in 2021. When listing an item for sale on the platform, you can now choose:
No discount – the buyer pays the total $7.45.
$5.95 shipping – the buyer pays $5.95, and you pay the other $1.50.
$4.99 shipping – the buyer pays $4.99, and you pay the additional $2.46.
Free shipping – you pay the total $7.45.
This part can be confusing to new Poshmark sellers. While you may feel tempted to always offer free or $4.99 shipping to entice buyers, you have to remember any discounts will come out of your earnings. Poshmark is not eating those discounts, nor do they offer cheaper shipping options like First Class. The cost for standard shipping will always be $7.45. You are simply deciding how that charge will be split up, if at all, between you and your buyer.
How Do I Ship My Poshmark Packages?
At this time, Poshmark only allows shipping via USPS Priority Mail. For most beginner sellers, this is a good thing! With limited shipping options, you can streamline your process. And once your package is boxed or bagged and ready to ship, you can schedule a free home pickup on the USPS website. You don’t even need to make a trip to the post office!
Because shipping options are limited on Poshmark, they will supply you with the label. You don’t need to worry about purchasing it on your own and uploading tracking numbers. Once a purchase is made, a label is emailed to you with all of the necessary information. Print it off, stick it on your package, and ship.
Where Can I Get Shipping Boxes to Mail Things?
USPS offers free shipping supplies on its website, and they will deliver them right to your mailbox. You will want to make sure you are ordering regular Priority Mailing supplies and not Flat Rate Priority. While those are supposed to be accepted under all circumstances by USPS, some sellers run into issues with their local post offices as they typically have higher shipping costs. Play it safe and stick with Priority Mailing. This is also helpful if you will be selling on additional platforms. Keep it simple.
Shipping supply sizes I have found most helpful:
- Priority Mail Shoe Boxes (OSHOEBOX) – these work great for mailing most shoes.
- Priority Mailing Box 1095 – these rectangular boxes will fit most shirts, hoodies, light jackets, handbags, etc.
- Priority Mailing Box 7 is more of a square box that can accommodate many boots or more oversized jackets and coats.
- Priority Mailing Box 4 – this small square box works great for mailing mugs and smaller items.
- TYVEX envelopes EP14 – for smaller items like shirts
Those are the items I most frequently order from USPS. Depending on the things you sell, you may need different sizes. And you are not required to use only these boxes and envelopes. Most of the time, I’m shipping things in boxes I was shipped orders in from Amazon and other online retailers. Reuse whenever possible!
You may also find you like, or need, other shipping supplies. Most can be found on Amazon. A few of my must-have items:
- Clear packing tape
- Clear poly mailers – these can be used to double protect items in case your outer mailer or box gets damaged. I don’t always use them, but I never forget one when shipping delicate or white clothing items.
- Designer poly mailers
- Clear label sleeves – these are great when you are starting out and are not yet ready to make an investment into a label printer.
- DYMO 4XL LabelWriter – when you are ready to get a label printer, this is the one I recommend.
- Mailing Scale – these are really inexpensive and worth the investment to save yourself expected shipping charges
Do I Need to Make It Fancy?
While Poshmark recommends you make your packages feel special with gift paper and a personalized thank you note, it isn’t required. These added expenses can add up. You can reuse packaging materials from things you get in the mail or get inexpensive newsprint sheets or rolls at Staples or other office supply stores. You may even be able to find these things free on Facebook Marketplace or by calling around to businesses to see what items they have headed to the recycling center.
If you do want to include a thank you, I recommend getting a roll of preprinted “thank you” stickers or postcards to save time and money. And your buyer may appreciate a notecard without personalization. They can then reuse the thank you on their next shipment.
Final Word on Poshmark Shipping
As you can see, shipping things you sell on Poshmark isn’t tricky. It is a little different than other platforms, but it’s pretty easy at the end of the day.
