This article explains how to use Hipshipper to ship international orders from U.S.-based suppliers in your dropshipping business. Hipshipper is a third-party logistics provider for eBay and Shopify stores that use U.S.-based suppliers. Your U.S.-based supplier ships each international order to the Hipshipper U.S. facility (warehouse), and Hipshipper delivers the package to your international buyer. You will learn how to create an active Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, add funds to your Hipshipper account balance, enable Hipshipper in AutoDS, follow Hipshipper tracking, and check your Hipshipper setup if you already activated Hipshipper.
Key points
Account first: you need to create your Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, and add funds to your Hipshipper account balance before you check the “Hipshipper” box in AutoDS.
Packages before account activation: Hipshipper does not support packages that arrive at the Hipshipper U.S. facility (warehouse) before your Hipshipper account is active.
Setup time: the Hipshipper setup can take up to 24 hours after you create your Hipshipper account and link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard.
Who can use Hipshipper: eBay and Shopify stores that sell products from U.S.-based suppliers to buyers outside the U.S.
AutoDS plan: Hipshipper is available on all AutoDS subscription plans, including Import plans, so you do not need to upgrade your plan to use Hipshipper.
Destinations: Hipshipper delivers to buyers in nearly 200 countries, with tracking and customs clearance. Hipshipper rates vary by destination country, and you can check the rate for each destination with the Hipshipper shipping calculator after you sign up. Learn more in the Hipshipper FAQ.
Order automation: Hipshipper works only with Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) and Auto-Order, not with manual orders. Learn more about Hipshipper requirements.
Hipshipper support: Hipshipper is a third-party service, so questions about your Hipshipper account or a package at the Hipshipper U.S. facility go to Hipshipper’s support.
Hipshipper requirements: AutoDS plan, Auto-Order, and Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA)
Hipshipper is available on all AutoDS subscription plans, so you do not need to upgrade your plan to use Hipshipper. Hipshipper works only with order automation, so each U.S.-based supplier that uses Hipshipper needs Auto-Order or Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) set up first. Hipshipper is not supported for manual orders. For both order automation methods, you also need an active Hipshipper account, linked to your eBay account or Shopify store, with funds in your Hipshipper account balance. AutoDS cannot confirm whether you have an active Hipshipper account or funds in your Hipshipper account balance, so the “Hipshipper” box can be checked before your Hipshipper setup is complete.
Stores, suppliers, and orders that work with Hipshipper
AutoDS checks each order when the order comes into AutoDS, and sends the order through Hipshipper when all of these conditions are true:
Your store is an eBay store or a Shopify store.
The supplier is a U.S.-based supplier in the U.S. region, such as Amazon US.
The “Hipshipper” box is checked for the supplier of the order, in that store. The “Hipshipper” box is set separately for each supplier and for each store.
The order ships to a buyer address outside the U.S.
Orders from suppliers that ship from outside the U.S., such as suppliers in China, are not eligible for Hipshipper.
Requirements for Hipshipper with Auto-Order
To use Hipshipper with Auto-Order, you need:
Orders Processor add-on: the Orders Processor add-on is active on your AutoDS account.
Buyer account: a buyer account connected for the U.S.-based supplier, such as your own Amazon US buyer account.
Auto-Order Credits: Auto-Order Credits on your AutoDS account.
Automatic orders box: the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box checked in “Settings” → “Supplier Settings” → “Orders” for the supplier.
Requirements for Hipshipper with Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA)
To use Hipshipper with Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA), you need:
Orders Processor add-on: the Orders Processor add-on is active on your AutoDS account.
Auto-Order Credits: Auto-Order Credits on your AutoDS account.
FBA Managed Balance: funds in your FBA Managed Balance, which pays for the supplier orders that Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) places. Your FBA Managed Balance is separate from your Hipshipper account balance, which pays for international shipping.
Both Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) boxes: the “Process orders using the ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ service” box and the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box both checked in “Settings” → “Supplier Settings” → “Orders” for the supplier.
What to check after you activate Hipshipper in AutoDS
If you already activated Hipshipper for a U.S.-based supplier, such as Amazon US, on your eBay or Shopify store, check that the rest of the Hipshipper setup is complete. Activating Hipshipper in AutoDS, enabling Hipshipper, or checking the “Hipshipper” box in your supplier settings is the last step of the Hipshipper setup, not the only step. You also need to create your Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, add funds to your Hipshipper account balance, and set up Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) or Auto-Order for the supplier. Activating Hipshipper is different from activating Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) or Auto-Order for Amazon US: Hipshipper handles international shipping, and Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) or Auto-Order places the supplier order. Hipshipper does not support packages that arrive at the Hipshipper U.S. facility before your Hipshipper account is active, so complete each step below before your supplier ships an international order.
Confirm that you completed each step of the Hipshipper setup:
You created your Hipshipper account on the Hipshipper registration page.
You linked your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard.
You added funds to your Hipshipper account balance in “Billing” → “Add to Balance” in your Hipshipper account.
The Hipshipper setup finished. The Hipshipper setup can take up to 24 hours after you link your eBay account or Shopify store.
The Orders Processor add-on is active on your AutoDS account, and you have Auto-Order Credits on your AutoDS account.
You set up order automation for the U.S.-based supplier in “Settings” → “Supplier Settings” → “Orders”:
Auto-Order: you connected a buyer account for the supplier, and you checked the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box.
Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA): you checked both the “Process orders using the ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ service” box and the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box, and you have funds in your FBA Managed Balance.
You checked the “Hipshipper” box in “Settings” → “Supplier Settings” → “Orders” for each store and each U.S.-based supplier, and clicked “Save”.
Orders for products imported before you activated Hipshipper
Orders for products you imported before you activated Hipshipper also go through Hipshipper. AutoDS checks each order when the order comes into AutoDS, not the date you imported the product, so an order goes through Hipshipper when the order meets the conditions in Hipshipper requirements. Your existing products stay as they are, and the Hipshipper setup still applies to orders for your existing products: your Hipshipper account must be active, linked to your eBay account or Shopify store, and funded before those orders ship. An order that was already pending in AutoDS before you checked the “Hipshipper” box can also switch to Hipshipper the next time the order syncs. Hipshipper does not support packages that arrive at the Hipshipper U.S. facility before your Hipshipper account is active, so complete the Hipshipper setup before you check the “Hipshipper” box.
Hipshipper box checked before the Hipshipper setup was complete
If you checked the “Hipshipper” box before you completed steps 1 to 4:
Uncheck the “Hipshipper” box in “Settings” → “Supplier Settings” → “Orders”, and click “Save”.
Create your Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, and add funds to your Hipshipper account balance.
Wait for the Hipshipper setup to finish.
Check the “Hipshipper” box again, and click “Save”.
For a package that already reached the Hipshipper U.S. facility before your Hipshipper account was active, please let Hipshipper’s support know. Everything handled at the Hipshipper U.S. facility is the responsibility of Hipshipper.
Hipshipper and how Hipshipper works with AutoDS
Hipshipper is a third-party logistics provider that ships international orders from U.S.-based suppliers in your dropshipping store to buyers outside the U.S.
When Hipshipper is enabled in AutoDS, each international order from a U.S.-based supplier goes through these stages:
A buyer outside the U.S. places an order in your eBay or Shopify store.
AutoDS places the order with your U.S.-based supplier through Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) or Auto-Order, and sends the Hipshipper U.S. facility address as the shipping address.
Your U.S.-based supplier ships the item to the Hipshipper U.S. facility (warehouse).
Hipshipper ships the package to your international buyer, with tracking and customs clearance.
Orders shipped to addresses inside the U.S. are not part of the Hipshipper integration.
Shipping address and order name on Hipshipper orders
AutoDS changes the shipping address on the supplier order automatically for Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA) and Auto-Order. When AutoDS places an international order with your U.S.-based supplier, AutoDS sends the Hipshipper U.S. facility address as the shipping address on the supplier order, instead of your buyer’s address. You do not need to change the shipping address, and your buyer’s real address stays on the order in AutoDS.
Hipshipper matches each package to your order by the name on the supplier order:
eBay orders: HS {buyer username}-{sales record number}.
Shopify orders: HS AutoDS {order number}.
Tracking numbers and tracking updates for Hipshipper orders
Tracking numbers and tracking updates for Hipshipper orders come from Hipshipper. Hipshipper creates the international tracking number for each Hipshipper order and adds the international tracking number to your eBay or Shopify order automatically. You do not need to copy the Hipshipper tracking number to the “Orders” page in AutoDS to update your eBay or Shopify store. AutoDS does not upload the U.S. domestic tracking number (from your supplier to the Hipshipper U.S. facility) to eBay or Shopify for Hipshipper orders.
Hipshipper creates the international tracking number after these two conditions are met:
The domestic tracking number from your U.S.-based supplier is on the Hipshipper order.
Your Hipshipper account balance covers the international shipping cost. To add funds, go to “Billing” in your Hipshipper account and click “Add to Balance”.
You can follow each package with the “Intl Tracking” link on the order in your Hipshipper account. Learn more in the Hipshipper guide to package tracking.
Hipshipper cost and international shipping rates
Hipshipper charges your Hipshipper account for the international shipping of each order. Hipshipper adds the international shipping cost to your listings, so your buyer pays the international shipping cost at checkout, and you pay the same amount to Hipshipper when Hipshipper ships the order. Hipshipper charges the international shipping cost from your Hipshipper account balance, so keep enough funds in your Hipshipper account balance to cover each order.
For eBay stores, Hipshipper uploads the Hipshipper rate table to your eBay store and adds Hipshipper international shipping options to your eBay listings, so the international shipping cost on your eBay listings comes from Hipshipper. The Hipshipper setup can take up to 24 hours to add the Hipshipper international shipping options to your eBay listings. Learn more in the Hipshipper guide for AutoDS users.
Hipshipper rates vary by destination country. You can check the rate for each destination with the Hipshipper shipping calculator after you sign up. Learn more in the Hipshipper FAQ.
How to set up Hipshipper and enable Hipshipper in AutoDS
You need to create your Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, add funds to your Hipshipper account balance, and set up order automation before you enable Hipshipper in AutoDS. With Hipshipper enabled, your U.S.-based supplier ships each international order to the Hipshipper U.S. facility (warehouse), and Hipshipper forwards each package to your buyer.
Important: Before you check the “Hipshipper” box in AutoDS, open your Hipshipper account, link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard, and add funds to your Hipshipper account balance. Hipshipper does not support packages that arrive at the Hipshipper U.S. facility before your Hipshipper account is active. Hipshipper keeps packages that Hipshipper cannot identify on a shelf for 30 days, and then discards them. Learn more in the Hipshipper full guide.
To set up Hipshipper and enable Hipshipper in AutoDS:
Create your Hipshipper account on the Hipshipper registration page.
Link your eBay account or Shopify store to the Hipshipper dashboard. For eBay stores, follow the Hipshipper guide for AutoDS users or the Hipshipper eBay connection video.
Add funds to your Hipshipper account balance. In your Hipshipper account, go to “Billing” and click “Add to Balance”.
Wait for the Hipshipper setup to finish. The Hipshipper setup can take up to 24 hours. If the Hipshipper setup is not finished after 24 hours, please let Hipshipper’s support know before you continue.
Activate the Orders Processor add-on on your AutoDS account, and make sure you have Auto-Order Credits on your AutoDS account.
On AutoDS, click “Settings” in the left menu.
Open the “Supplier Settings” tab.
Under “Select Store”, select your eBay or Shopify store.
Select the U.S.-based supplier where you want to enable Hipshipper.
Open the “Orders” tab.
Set up order automation for the supplier:
Auto-Order: connect a buyer account for the supplier, and check the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box. Learn more about Auto-Order.
Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA): check both the “Process orders using the ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ service” box and the “Automatic orders (Requires buy account or ‘Fulfilled by AutoDS’ orders management)” box, and load funds to your FBA Managed Balance. Learn more about Fulfilled by AutoDS (FBA).
In the “Orders Settings” section, check the box to enable Hipshipper.
Click “Save”.
Repeat steps 8 to 13 for each store and each U.S.-based supplier where you want to use Hipshipper. The “Hipshipper” box is set separately for each supplier and for each store.
After you save, AutoDS applies Hipshipper to orders from U.S.-based suppliers that ship from the U.S. to a buyer address outside the U.S. Orders shipped to buyer addresses inside the U.S. continue to ship directly to your buyer. Learn more about Hipshipper requirements.