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04Channels & organization

Shipping and listing type on Mercado Libre

Two things Mercado Libre asks for that Koalab can't assume.

Mercado Libre asks for two things Koalab can't work out: which system you ship with and which listing type you use. Both are set on the channel, and each product can have its own: the product's wins over the channel's.

  1. The shipping system is in the “Stock” tab

    In Channels, click “Configure” on your Mercado Libre channel and open “Stock”. Towards the end is “Shipping system”: “Not chosen”, “Mercado Envíos” (Mercado Libre's logistics), “Own shipping” (you handle it) and “Unspecified” (you agree it with the buyer). You'll only see the ones your account allows. Pick one and click “Save”, which lights up if you changed something.

    Mock-up: the “Shipping system” card with Mercado Envíos chosen

  2. What happens if you leave it on “Not chosen”

    It's the starting point and it isn't an error: Koalab doesn't tell Mercado Libre how you ship. Some categories accept that; others reject the listing because your account requires Mercado Envíos. “Validate”, in the product's “Publish” tab, warns you beforehand, with “Choose the shipping system”, which brings you to this card. Koalab doesn't pick one for you because none works in every category.

  3. A product can ship another way

    If a product doesn't ship like the rest, open it and go to the “Shipping” tab: it has its own “Shipping system” and “Local pick-up”. Empty, it says which one it uses, for example “From the channel: Mercado Envíos”. What you choose there wins over the channel's, also when publishing in bulk. “Free shipping”, in the same tab, belongs to the product: it also applies on Tiendanube if it's published there. WooCommerce and Shopify don't receive it: there it's set in the store.

  4. The channel's listing type

    In the same “Stock” tab, below shipping, is “Listing type”, with your account's types. It's the one new listings use for products without their own type. It starts on “Not chosen”: Koalab doesn't choose for you, and you're asked for one when publishing. If you choose “Free”, it warns you that it has no featured exposure and expires. Changing it doesn't touch what's already published.

    Mock-up: the channel's “Listing type” card with Classic chosen

  5. A product's listing type

    In the product page, “General” tab, is “Listing type (Mercado Libre)”. Empty, it says which one it uses: “From the channel: Classic”, or that the channel has none either. If you choose one, it wins over the channel's. Unlike the channel's type, if the product is already published, saving makes Koalab change the listing on Mercado Libre, and with it the fee. If Mercado Libre doesn't accept it (it won't let you go down to “Free”), it tells you on saving and the reason stays in “Status on each channel”.

Details worth knowing

  • When publishing in bulk, the type starts with the channel's; if the channel has none, “Publish” waits for you to choose one. The one you choose there becomes the channel's type for the next new listings, even if it already had another. Products with their own type use theirs.
  • The types and their names come from Mercado Libre according to your account. If they can't be read, the channel's card says so with “Try again” and the product page warns: “Couldn't read the listing types for your account.”.
  • The channel's shipping system and listing type can be saved by any member; with the viewer role you see the cards, but can't change them.
Shipping and listing type on Mercado Libre | Koalab