Updated on 12/1/22, effective 12/15/22
Mable has two policies for addressing shipping costs on the marketplace; the standard shipping policy (also referred to as the 25% Max Guarantee), and the Free Shipping Program. Read on for the most up to date information on these policies. Note: Enterprise customers (retailers) may have separate shipping policies in place, specific to their accounts.
Standard shipping policy [25% Max Guarantee]
Retailers pay up to 25% of the Purchase Order total in shipping costs on orders that aren't eligible for Free Shipping. In the event the brand’s shipping cost exceeds 25% of the Purchase Order total, the brand is responsible for covering the remaining shipping cost by way of a remittance from their payout.
Example: A retailer places an order for $100 worth of product that costs $30 to ship, and the order does not qualify for free shipping. The retailer pays $25 in shipping, and the brand pays $5.
The shipping cost breakdown is reflected in your order detail page. See example below.
Free Shipping Program [by invitation or application]
The Free Shipping Program allows efficient shippers to offer Free Shipping to retailers, with a portion of the shipping costs funded by Mable. Brands accepted into the program self-select their order minimum that qualifies for free shipping, and are able to modify their order minimum at any time within the seller portal.
What’s the cost for brands to participate? There’s no subscription or fee to join this program, aside from participating in the cost of shipping.
Who pays for the shipping cost when your brand is enrolled in the Free Shipping Program?
Retailer orders from your brand | Who pays for shipping? |
Buyer’s order is less than your free shipping order min |
-Retailer, up to 25% of the PO -Brand, any shipping costs above 25% of PO |
Buyer’s order is equal to or greater than the seller’s free shipping order minimum |
-Retailer pays $0 -Brand pays 50% -Mable pays 50%* |
*see program acceptable and requirements below.
Free Shipping Program acceptance and requirements
Applications for the Free Shipping program are approved on a case by case basis. Generally, brands with lighter products are approved and given the opportunity to participate.
To stay in the program, brands must regularly fulfill orders with shipping cost of 20% of the PO value or less. If Mable’s portion of the shipping cost routinely exceeds 10% of the PO total, we reserve the right to remove your brand from the Free Shipping program. Brands will be notified by a member of the Mable team if they are at risk of being removed from the program.
In the rare event of an extremely expensive to ship order, Mable's portion of the shipping costs are capped at 100% of the PO.
Free Shipping Program FAQs
What is the Free Shipping Order Minimum?
You’ve probably seen “free shipping on orders over $50” on many retailers’ sites. This minimum allows you to do just that.
By setting a Free Shipping Order Minimum, you’re telling Mable “I’ll split the actual shipping cost with Mable on orders over $X. Instead of passing that cost onto the retailer.” You can choose whatever amount makes sense for your business. If a buyer spends less than the designated amount (the free shipping minimum), the buyer pays for the shipping cost of that order.
How should I calculate the Free Shipping Order Minimum?
To keep things simple, brands can set their Free Shipping Order Minimum as equal to their overall Order Minimum. That's the most straightforward way to tell retailers "when you order from my brand, you won't pay for shipping!" Both of those amounts can be $0.
If you need a larger order to qualify for free shipping, try setting your Free Shipping Order Minimum to 10% above your current order minimum, or 10% above your current average order value. Example: If your current order minimum is $100, consider setting a free shipping minimum of $110.
What if a buyer spends less than the brand's free shipping minimum?
If a buyer spends less than the free shipping minimum, the buyer pays for shipping. We cap the amount a retailer pays in shipping costs at 25% of the PO, and the brand pays the difference.
Brands set an overall Order Minimum for their Mable catalogs. Buyers will never be able to spend less than that order minimum.
How can I opt-out, or change my minimum?
Once you're enrolled in the program, you'll be able to change your minimums or leave the program via the seller portal.
If you've just applied, give us ten business days to enroll you. Then you'll be able to make changes.
Do all brands qualify for the program?
Many brands qualify for this program. The Mable team reviews each application and monitors a brand’s shipping practices while in the program.
We strive to partner with brands whose shipping costs are on average below 20% of the PO total, and we reserve the right to consult with you on your shipping costs routinely throughout your partnership with Mable. We may remove a brand from the program at any time, for any reason.
Do I have to buy shipping through Mable?
No. All brands still have the option to Ship with Mable and use our discounted shipping rates or ship on their own. Opting in or out of the Free Shipping Program doesn't change how you'll ship a Mable order.
Ship confidently with Mable
The Mable team works with USPS, UPS, and FedEx to negotiate discounted rates and help brands get the best price no matter the package.
When working with Mable you agree to ship sensibly. Meaning, you won't include the cost of shipping materials in your shipping cost that's sent to Mable.
More shipping resources:
Tips for improving your shipping efficiency