How Sportlots Box Shipping Works (In-Depth Guide)

Overview

Sportlots Box Shipping is a flexible and cost-saving shipping option for buyers purchasing from multiple sellers. Instead of paying individual shipping costs per seller, buyers can have sellers ship orders to Sportlots, where they’re stored and later consolidated into a single shipment to the buyer.

Step 1: Sellers Accumulate Orders

Once a buyer selects Box Shipping and checks out, sellers are notified to fulfill the order. However, sellers are encouraged to wait 7–10 days to accumulate multiple orders before shipping them all together to Sportlots. This batch shipping method reduces postage costs and enables savings to be passed on to buyers.

Step 2: Sportlots Processes Shipments

When Sportlots receives a shipment from a seller, each customer’s order inside the package is weighed and logged. The order is then assigned to the appropriate buyer’s box. If it’s the buyer’s first box order, a new box is created for them in our system. Both sellers and buyers are notified of the processing update.

Step 3: Buyer Monitors Box and Requests Shipment

Buyers can monitor the status of their Box Shipping orders from their Sportlots account dashboard. When they feel they’ve accumulated enough items—or when all items from a given order have arrived—they can request shipment. To maximize value, many buyers wait until several seller shipments have arrived across multiple orders before requesting one consolidated delivery.

Step 4: Sportlots Ships the Box

Once a buyer pays for shipping, the request enters our processing queue. It typically takes 3–4 business days after payment is made to prepare and ship the box. Buyers receive a tracking number once their box has been packed up and will ship shortly after that. If the final shipping cost is significantly lower than the paid amount, Sportlots will provide a partial credit into the buyer’s account.

Tips & Best Practices

• Use Box Shipping when ordering from multiple sellers to maximize savings.
• Use the "Box Shipping" filter on the left side of the search results to find sellers who offer the deepest discounts.
• Consolidate multiple orders into one shipment by holding requests until all items arrive.
• Check your Sportlots account regularly for updates on incoming items.

Note: Box Shipping is best for non-urgent orders. If you need cards quickly or by a specific deadline, consider a direct shipping option instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine multiple orders from different sellers?

Yes! That’s the primary benefit of Box Shipping. Sellers ship your orders to us, and we combine them in your box for one convenient shipment.

How will I know when something arrives in my box?

You’ll receive a notification in your Sportlots Message Center each time a seller’s shipment containing your order is processed at Sportlots. Also, go to "My Orders/Box Orders tab" and click on each of the subtabs to see what status each of your orders are in.

What happens if I don’t request shipment for a long time?

We ask that buyers do not let their box sit idle (with no new orders or shipment request) for more than six months. If the six month period has exceeded and we need to free up boxes for others to use, we will provide the buyer with a warning message. After the warning period expires, we will then remove all items from eligible boxes to auction off as a "Mystery Auction".

Can I request partial shipments?

No. When you go to "My Orders/Box Orders Tab/In Box Subtab" to request shipment, all of the items currently in the "In Box" subtab is what will be shipped to you at that time. Even if new items from your "En Route" tab arrive later that day, they will not be combined into your shipment request.

Is there any cost to have a Sportlots Box?

No. When your first item arrives, we’ll allocate a new box to you at no cost. The only cost you’ll incur is when you request shipment of your box. Please note that Sportlots charges slightly more than actual postage to cover packaging materials, postal insurance/signature confirmation (when appropriate), and payment processing fees (PayPal or credit card).

I have some Sportlots credit, can I apply that to pay for my Box Shipment?

Currently, the Sportlots system is not equipped to do this. However, if you have enough money in your credit account to fully pay for Box Shipping, we can do this manually for you. Just click on the "Check" payment option and then send us a message through Sportlots that you would like to use your Sportlots credit to fully pay for the Box Shipment. We will then manually process this for you. At this time, we cannot do this for you if you can only partially pay for Box Shipment through Sportots credit.