The essentials
- Measure the sealed outer parcel and weigh the goods with all packaging.
- Confirm the route’s charging method, rounding and applicable surcharges.
- Put import responsibilities, duties and taxes in the written quote.
- Etsy requires DDP for US-bound orders. Confirm a suitable duties-paid route and its full scope before accepting the shipping arrangement.
The parcel and the route
Give packed weight and dimensions when available. Ask what charging method and surcharges apply to the chosen route; a light but large package may cost differently from a compact one.
Before and after transport
Check each included and excluded item.
- Receiving, checks and packing
- Storage and pick-and-pack
- Transport and applicable surcharges
- Customs responsibility, taxes and destination charges
- Returns or exception handling
An estimate is not a promise
Product acceptance, a final quote and delivery estimates depend on actual parcel details and route conditions. Start with what you know; a postcode is useful for a specific delivery quote but optional in an initial conversation.
Why a light parcel can cost more
Volumetric weight reflects the space a parcel occupies. Some services compare it with scale weight to determine chargeable weight. The divisor, rounding and conditions vary by service, so use the rule in the selected route’s quote rather than a universal formula.
Clarify who pays at the border
DAP and DDP are Incoterms used to allocate delivery and import responsibilities in sale arrangements. In broad terms, DAP assigns import clearance to the buyer and DDP to the seller. A carrier’s “duties paid” label alone does not settle every contract obligation. Confirm the named destination, importer arrangement, duties, taxes, handling fees and exclusions; DDP is not available automatically for every destination.
Etsy’s US-bound DDP requirement
Etsy’s Shipping Policy, effective 9 July 2026, requires US-bound orders to use Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), so buyers do not face extra import duties, taxes or fees after purchase. Confirm the goods, importer arrangement and included charges before agreeing a route. Etsy may recognise rare exceptions where DDP is genuinely unavailable; these require explicit buyer confirmation through Etsy Messages and an accurate estimate of additional charges. Treat this as an exceptional policy process, not a routine DAP option.
Compare the complete journey
Separate supplier preparation, warehouse processing, carrier transport and customs or delivery exceptions. Ask which stages an estimate covers and what changes the quote. This makes it easier to compare two offers and explain the plan to your buyer.
Questions sellers ask
Do you need a postcode before we can have a first conversation?
No. Start with the product and destination country. A postcode can help when the team reviews a specific delivery quote.
Does “shipping included” mean all import charges are covered?
Ask for the included and excluded charges in writing. Transport, import duties, taxes, clearance handling and exception work may be separate items.
Sources behind this guide
Public carrier and industry resources inform these preparation notes. The team confirms the requirements for your product and route.
- DHL Express: weight and dimensions
DHL Express explains dimensional weight for a particular service; its calculation is not adopted as a rule for all routes.
- ICC Academy: DAP and DDP explained
ICC Academy’s educational DAP/DDP comparison explains import responsibilities and practical constraints. Your written arrangement still needs confirmation.
- Etsy Shipping Policy
Current US-bound DDP obligation, limited exception conditions and accurate dispatch responsibilities.