How to set up international shipping rates for Italian homewares?

[Maniwares_24]

I’m a new business based in Florida, selling homewares from Italy. Our products are shipping directly from the artisan in Italy to USA. How do we setup shipping correctly with rates and origin?

[Cart-Critique]

You probably won't be able to get them exact, but using carrier rates generated by API integration will be your best bet.

But the real problem is your shipping costs are going to be very high and will sticker-shock customers out of purchasing, so it may be better for your CVR to factor shipping costs into your product prices and not charge shipping rates at all.

However, even when you get that figured out, you'll have to make sure your shoppers know that their shipping times will be longer than normal, and make absolutely sure you know what's going on with duties and taxes. There's a chance your customers will receive a separate duties and taxes invoice for extra charges if you're not on top of that.

Another thing to think about is how to handle returns. Folks won't want to pay for shipping back to Italy, so you'll have to make sure you have a system in place to elegantly handle that possibility.

[Maniwares_24]

Thank you Jon for your help! How do i integrate the API? When i try to do a “fake checkout” its says shipping not avaiable to this address?

[YOD_Solutions]

Did you set you shipping rates? The following might help you with this: Shopify Help Center | Shipping rates

As pointed out in the previous comment, it would be easier offering a flat rate or free shipping to your customers.

[Cart-Critique]

Well, setting up flat/table rates and integrating carrier rates using an API are technically different processes. But in any case, since you're not seeing delivery options, my guess is you don't have rates created for the locations you're trying to ship to. That means you need to create a zone and add some locations, as discussed here.

[dave_shipperhq]

Hi there - Hope you are well. International shipping can become tricky. You can download our app from app store and configure your carrier to rate accurately. 

ShipperHQ is free to install and comes with a free 15-day trial period.