Icon credits: Ozza Okuonghae
Why You Should Consider Free Shipping
As a buyer, you likely enjoy encountering free shipping while shopping online — but as a seller, it can be difficult to know when and how to provide the perk to your own customers. Offering free shipping encourages people to complete purchases and add more items to their orders, and can help you stay competitive in the Discogs Marketplace.
In a 2023 survey, two-thirds of collectors on Discogs said shipping costs influence what they buy. Marketplace data also shows that sellers who offer free shipping see higher order values and increased average order sizes. Average order sizes are about 2 times higher on domestic orders and 3.5 times higher on international orders with free shipping.
| Domestic Orders | International Orders |
|---|---|
| 2.1 times higher on domestic orders with free shipping | 3.5 times higher on international orders with free shipping |
In the same survey, nearly 90% of collectors said they would consider buying additional items from a seller to decrease shipping costs. Discogs found that orders with subtotals between $50-$250 USD contain about 50% more items when shipping is free, further indicating buyers’ willingness to purchase more to reach a minimum order value threshold to obtain a free shipping offer.
Consider setting a free shipping threshold on orders in your chosen regions to incentivize buyers to purchase more from your shop. To offer free shipping, update your Shipping Policies.
How to Apply Free Shipping
Go to the Shipping Policy Editor
The Shipping Policy Editor can be accessed from your Seller Settings.
Select a Shipping Policy
Choose the Shipping Policy for the specific country or region where you would like to offer free shipping.
Edit the shipping method
At the top of the shipping method section, next to “In this region offer,” tick the box next to “free shipping on orders above X.” Enter the minimum amount you have selected to qualify for free shipping.
Save your changes
Be sure to save your changes by clicking the green “Save Changes” button on the top right of the page. You can save your changes at any time while editing.
Update your seller terms
Update your Seller Terms to reflect the changes that you’ve made to your shipping policies. You can manage your seller terms from your Seller Settings.
Don’t Forget to Save Changes
Click “Save Changes” more than you think you need to.
This is a good tip for pros, novices, and everyone in between. Make the “Save Changes” button your best friend. Click it often, after changes both big and small. If you’re not sure if you need to save again, do it anyway. While it won’t necessarily optimize your Shipping Policies, it will safeguard against losing your work.
Essential Resources
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Why You Should Consider Free Shipping
Free shipping encourages Discogs customers to complete purchases and add more items to their orders.
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Styles to Sell in Your Country
Insight into the most purchased styles of music around the world can help sellers determine which titles to stock on Discogs.
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Shipping Policies
Shipping Policies allow sellers to manage the shipping guidelines, coverage, and costs for their Discogs store.