How to Select Seller Shipping on TikTok Shop

Ready to take full control over your TikTok Shop shipping process? You're in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up and managing Shipped by Seller, turning what seems complicated into a simple, manageable part of your business. We'll cover how to select this option, create shipping templates, and successfully manage your orders from start to finish.

What Exactly Is 'Shipped by Seller' on TikTok Shop?

On TikTok Shop, you have two primary ways to get products to your customers: "Shipped by TikTok" or "Shipped by Seller."

• Shipped by TikTok: With this option, TikTok provides the shipping label (usually for USPS Ground Advantage or UPS). You just print the label they give you, stick it on the package, and drop it off. It's straightforward but offers less flexibility.
• Shipped by Seller: This option puts you in the driver's seat. You are responsible for buying and printing your own shipping labels from the carrier of your choice, packing the order, and uploading the tracking information to the TikTok Seller Center.

Choosing "Shipped by Seller" essentially means you're handling the entire fulfillment process yourself, from the moment an order comes in until it's in the hands of the postal service. While it’s more hands-on, it opens up a world of control, branding opportunities, and potential cost savings if you know how to leverage it.

Why Choose 'Shipped by Seller'? The Pros and Cons

Deciding between TikTok’s shipping service and your own isn't just a logistical choice, it's a strategic one for your brand. Let's break down the advantages and disadvantages to help you figure out if it's the right move for your business.

The Advantages of Seller Shipping

• Full Control Over Carriers: Are you a fan of a specific shipping service that isn't offered by TikTok? With seller shipping, you can use any carrier you prefer, whether it's because they offer better rates for your product types, faster service in your area, or more reliable pickups.
• Potential Cost Savings: If you ship in high volumes, you may have negotiated custom rates with carriers like UPS or FedEx. Using your own account allows you to take advantage of these discounted rates, which could be significantly cheaper than the standard rates provided by TikTok.
• Branding Opportunities: Fulfillment is a huge part of the customer experience. When you handle shipping, you control the entire unboxing moment. You can use custom branded boxes, mailers, thank-you notes, or marketing inserts - small touches that make a big impression and build brand loyalty.
• Consolidated Fulfillment: If you sell on multiple platforms (like Shopify, Etsy, and TikTok Shop), managing fulfillment from one central place is a lifesaver. Using your own shipping system allows you to pack and ship all your orders - regardless of where they came from - in one unified workflow. This is especially helpful if you use a third-party logistics (3PL) service.
• More Packaging Options: TikTok’s generated labels are based on specific package dimensions. If you use non-standard packaging or have uniquely shaped items, creating your own labels gives you the freedom to choose packing materials that best protect your products without being constrained by system limitations.

The Drawbacks of Seller Shipping

• Increased Responsibility: The buck stops with you. You're solely responsible for buying labels, entering tracking numbers accurately and on time, and handling all shipping-related customer inquiries. If a package is late or lost, you're the one managing the claim with the carrier.
• Strict Fulfillment Timelines: TikTok Shop has Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that you must meet. Generally, you need to ship orders and upload tracking numbers within a few business days. Failure to do so can lead to penalties, including order cancellations, negative seller ratings, and even shop suspension.
• Potential for Higher Costs: If you’re a small seller without high shipping volumes, the commercial rates you get on your own might be more expensive than the rates TikTok offers through its platform. It's important to compare costs before making the switch.
• Manual Workload: Without automation or shipping software, the process can be time-consuming. You'll be manually entering tracking information for every single order, which can become overwhelming as your sales grow.

How to Set Up 'Shipped by Seller': A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to make the change? Here’s exactly how to set up "Shipped by Seller" in your TikTok Seller Center and create the shipping templates that power it all.

Step 1: Navigate to Your Shipping Settings

1. Log in to your TikTok Seller Center.
2. On the left-hand menu, find and click on "Shipping".
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Shipping Options".

Here, you'll see the choice between "Shipped by TikTok" and "Shipped by Seller." Go ahead and select "Shipped by Seller". It's really that simple to make the initial switch. But you're not done yet - the next step is to tell TikTok how you're going to ship your items by creating a template.

Step 2: Create a Custom Shipping Template

A shipping template is a set of rules that calculates shipping costs for your customers based on factors like their location and the weight of the items in their cart. You'll need at least one template to use "Shipped by Seller."

1. In the Seller Center, go to "Shipping" >, "Shipping Templates".
2. Click the "+ Create template" button.

Inside the Template Settings:

Now, you’ll configure the rules for this specific template. Let’s go through each part:

1. Template Name: Give your template a clear, descriptive name. This is for your reference only. Good examples are "Standard Shipping - Lower 48" or "Heavy Items - Flat Rate." This helps you stay organized if you create multiple templates for different products or regions.

2. Ship from: Select your shipping warehouse address. This is the location your packages will be sent from and is used to estimate delivery times.

3. Shipping Regions: Here, you define where you're willing to ship to. You can select entire countries or get granular by selecting specific states or regions. If you only want to ship within a certain area to keep costs down, this is where you set that boundary.

4. Shipping Rules: This is the core of the template, where you set your pricing. TikTok Shop gives you a few options:

• Free Shipping: Simple enough. Your customers pay nothing for shipping. This is a great marketing tool but be sure you’ve factored the average shipping cost into your product price.
• Flat Rate: You charge the same shipping fee for every order, regardless of weight or size. For example, a $5 flat fee for all orders. This is easy for customers to understand but can be risky if someone buys a very heavy item.
• By Weight/Quantity: This is the most accurate method. You can set shipping fees based on the total weight of the order or the number of items. For example:
  • Items weighing 0-1 lb cost $5 to ship.
  • Items weighing 1.1-3 lbs cost $8 to ship.
  This method protects your margins by ensuring shipping costs scale with the size of the order.

5. Set Delivery Time: Estimate how long it will take for your packages to arrive after you ship them. Be realistic here! It's better to provide a slightly longer estimate and beat expectations than to promise fast shipping and have packages arrive late. A typical estimate for domestic standard shipping is 3-7 business days.

Once you’ve configured everything, hit "Submit" to save your template.

Step 3: Apply the Template to Your Products

Your new template won't do anything until you assign it to your products.

1. Go to "Products" >, "Manage Products" in your Seller Center.
2. Either edit an existing product or add a new one.
3. Scroll down to the "Shipping &, Warranty" section.
4. In the "Shipping Template" dropdown, select the template you just created.
5. Save your changes.

Repeat this for all products you want to manage with your new seller shipping rules. Now, when a customer buys one of those products, the settings from your template will be applied at checkout.

Managing Orders with 'Shipped by Seller'

Once the orders start rolling in, your job has just begun. Here’s a typical workflow for managing orders using your own shipping method.

1. An Order Appears: You’ll get a notification for a new order. Head to "Orders" >, "Manage Orders" in the Seller Center. Find the order in the "To Ship" tab.
2. Pack the Item: Prepare your product for shipment. This is your chance to add that branded touch - maybe a sticker or a handwritten note.
3. Buy and Print Your Label: Go to your preferred shipping carrier's website (like USPS.com, Pirate Ship, etc.) or use your shipping software to create and purchase a label for the customer's address. Remember to buy a service that includes tracking!
4. Mark as Shipped and Enter Tracking: This is the most important step. Return to the "Manage Orders" page.
   • Find the order and click "Arrange Shipment".
   • Since you are shipping yourself, select the option to manually enter tracking info.
   • Select the carrier you used from the dropdown menu.
   • Carefully type or paste the tracking number into the designated field. Double-check for accuracy!
   • Click "Confirm" to finalize the shipment.

Once you complete this step, the order status will be updated for both you and the customer, and they'll be able to track their package's journey.

Final Thoughts

Switching to "Shipped by Seller" on TikTok Shop can feel like a big step, but it's a powerful way to gain more control over your brand's fulfillment experience. By creating smart shipping templates and establishing an efficient workflow, you can offer a professional-level service that builds customer trust and protects your profit margins on every sale.

With your shipping process dialed in, you can pour more energy into what truly drives your shop's success: creating amazing, shoppable content. Keeping a social media calendar full, especially with video, is demanding. We built Postbase to make that part easier by giving you one beautiful calendar to plan, schedule, and analyze your content across all your platforms, so you can focus more on selling and less on juggling apps.

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