NEED ADVICE ON PACKAGING AND SHIPPING LABELS - AUSTRALIAN SHOPIFY STORE

Shopify Discussion
,

Topic summary

An Australian entrepreneur preparing to launch a journal business seeks guidance on two key operational questions:

Packaging Strategy:
Bulk purchasing custom packaging from manufacturers can be more cost-effective than Australia Post prepaid satchels, particularly for consistent product sizes. Custom packaging also enables branded unboxing experiences, though sellers must ensure dimensions comply with Australia Post’s standard shipping rate requirements.

Shipping Label Integration:

  • Shopify’s native Australian shipping currently supports Sendle by default
  • Australia Post integration requires third-party apps (Shippit, Starshipit, ReadyToShip)
  • No Shopify plan upgrade necessary to use these apps, though apps may charge separately based on volume
  • Label costs reflect standard Australia Post Business Account rates with no Shopify markup
  • Advanced Shopify plan may be needed for carrier-calculated rates, though exceptions exist

Additional Recommendation:
Post-purchase tracking tools like ParcelPanel were suggested to enhance customer experience through branded tracking pages supporting major Australian carriers (Australia Post, Sendle, Aramex, CouriersPlease, Toll).

The discussion concluded with the original poster expressing satisfaction with the guidance received.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi All,

I am about a month or so out from launching my journal business located in Australia and just had a few questions if anyone could possibly answer for me or give me advice?

First question, could it work out cheaper to have my own packaging where I buy it in bulk from a manufacturer instead of buying the Australia Post pre paid parcels?

Second question, how much does it cost to print shipping labels through shopify if you have an Australian Post business account and do you have to upgrade your shopify account as I see ‘Sendle’ is the only option (I’m currently on the basic shopify account).

Thank you! :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
2

Hi @deardreamlife ,

Thanks for your questions, and congratulations on your upcoming journal business launch!

Packaging Options:

Yes, using your own custom packaging can often be more cost-effective—especially when bought in bulk directly from manufacturers. It also gives you the freedom to design branding-focused packaging that enhances your unboxing experience. However, do keep in mind that if you move away from Australia Post prepaid satchels, you’ll need to ensure your packaging meets their weight and size limits for standard shipping rates.

Shipping Labels via Australia Post on Shopify:

At the moment, Shopify Shipping in Australia supports Sendle by default. To use Australia Post, you’ll need to set it up through a third-party app such as Shippit, Starshipit, or ReadyToShip—all of which integrate directly with Shopify. These apps allow you to connect your Australia Post Business account and print labels.

You do not need to upgrade from the Basic Shopify plan to use these apps, though the app itself might have a separate cost depending on your volume and features needed.

1 Like
3

Thank you so so much, this is very helpful!!!

1 Like
4

Hello @deardreamlife
Thank you for your response. It’s good to know that it’s worked for you. Kindly feel free to get back to me if you need any further assistance. If helpful, please like all posts.

1 Like
5

Hi @deardreamlife ,

I’m happy to share a few thoughts that might help:

  1. Custom packaging vs. prepaid satchels
    Yes, buying your own packaging in bulk can absolutely work out cheaper in the long run, especially if you’re shipping similar-sized products like journals. Prepaid Australia Post satchels are convenient, but custom boxes or padded mailers give you more flexibility with branding and cost. Just make sure your packaging still fits within AusPost’s pricing tiers to avoid surprises.

  2. Shipping label costs through Shopify
    If you’re using Australia Post and have a Business Credit Account, you can connect it to Shopify using third-party shipping apps. However, to do this within Shopify’s native system, you’ll typically need the Advanced plan or contact Shopify support to enable third-party carrier-calculated rates on a lower-tier plan. The labels you print through the integration will charge directly to your AusPost account, no extra markup by Shopify.
    The label cost itself is simply what AusPost charges your account, there’s no extra Shopify fee for printing.

As you grow, keep in mind that post-purchase experience is just as important. Tools like ParcelPanel Order Tracking can help improve customer satisfaction by offering branded tracking pages, real-time updates, and support for major Australian carriers like:

  • Australia Post

  • Sendle

  • Aramex Australia

  • CouriersPlease

  • Toll
    …and others.

Hope this helps, and wishing you all the best with your launch!

If this answered your question, feel free to mark it as a solution so others can find it too.