Difference between Printful and Shopify shipping

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

A store owner is setting up free shipping for customers in Europe and the USA, with product prices adjusted to absorb shipping, VAT, and sales tax. While checking costs, they found that Printful’s European flat-rate shipping and the amount shown in Shopify do not match.

Key example:

  • 11oz enamel mug: Printful charges £3.15 for European flat-rate shipping.
  • Shopify shows £4.06 at checkout.
  • Difference: £0.91.

The main issue is understanding why the two platforms show different shipping amounts for the same product and destination. The seller wants to confirm whether any extra charge, fee, or tax component is being missed.

The question is important because the final product price includes “free shipping,” so the exact fulfilment and shipping cost affects margin calculations and tax/VAT bookkeeping. No resolution or explanation is provided in the post; the issue remains open.

Summarized with AI on March 11. AI used: gpt-5.4.
1

Morning.

I’m in the process of setting up our online store, and I want to offer free shipping for customers in Europe and the USA.

I’ve set up the pricing of the retail product to reflect that, and have worked out all the VAT and sales tax implications etc etc.

Whilst in the process of doing this, I noticed that there is a difference in the price of the European flat rate that Printful charges me to what Shopify put on the cart to the customer.

For example, an 11oz enamel mug will cost £3.15 European flat rate to me (as charged by Printful), but on the Shopify checkout to my customers, is quoted as £4.06. A £0.91 difference.

What’s going on here?

The customers on my Shopify site would pay retail price, which includes free shipping.

I get charged the product, printing, fulfilment, £3.15 shipping and tax by Printful.

Am I missing out on anything here?

Why do Shopify and Printful charge different European flat rate costs?

Obviously, I need to work out an exact cost of the producta and shipping, as that will be reflected in the sales tax/VAT price which I need to account for in the books.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Nick