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Setting Package Preference via the Products import CSV

  • Jun 12, 2025 1:47 PM UTC
  • 2 replies
  • 1 view

We see that we can set product dimensions via CSV import.

We need to be able to set the Package Preference value as well.

We have over 180,000 products in ShipStation, and now need to start telling pack table workers which packaging (poly bag or box, plus which size) they should use on single-item orders, taking the guesswork out of it for them.

Right now, the only way to set the Package Preference value is to manually go in to each product's record in the web interface and make a selection from our list of available packaging types.

This is not a workable method for our product catalog size.

Is there a way to set the Package Preference field on the Shipping tab under Products via a CSV import? I know the product dimensions can be imported, but we have over 180K products in the system, and manually going in to update that field on every one through the web interface is not practical

t also appears there is no way to use automation rules to apply packaging based on product dims, even for single-SKU orders.
That Package Preference in the product Shipping tab really needs to be an importable field. We can have hundreds or in some cases thousands of like-style/size items, and setting the preferred package when initially importing the Product lists would make sense.

    2 replies

    CaraAdmin
    • CaraAdmin
    • Community Manager
    • Jun 17, 2025 7:42 PM UTC

    Hello @BrianRoden

     

    Thank you for your post in the community! We appreciate you sharing this fantastic idea—your input plays a significant role in helping us grow and improve.

    Let’s see if we can gather more feedback from the community to highlight how valuable this feature would be. If you’d like to see this feature become a reality, don’t forget to give it a thumbs up to show your support!

     

    Happy Shipping!

     

    -Cara


     

    • sadmouse
    • Jun 17, 2025 10:11 PM UTC

    You could accomplish something like this via automation rules.

    You would need to have your in house software assign a custom code to the order based on the items in it and how you want them shipped. That code is then imported into one of the custom fields in shipstation then the automation will assign the package type, carrier, tag, etc. based on your settings.

    You can set individual package dimension or use one of your custom saved packages. We do something similar already.

    You could do this using product skus, but it wouldn't be practical unless you carry a large uniform amount of items. Then you could potentially get away with using some sort of item prefix as the trigger. Maybe just do the lowest hanging fruit. If you do the packing slips through shipstation, maybe even have a custom packing slip per package or shipment type.

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