When would be the right time to start shipping? | Selling | eBay Canada EN

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When would be the right time to start shipping? | Selling | eBay Canada EN

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When would be the right time to start shipping?

Summary: lud-4367 inquired about the resumption of mail and parcel collections and whether operations will return to normal without delays. flipistics mentioned they would monitor the situation and possibly use alternative couriers. mrdutch1001 and intimewithmusic expressed skepticism about immediate improvements, citing potential delays until mid-January. busybeas_books shared their experience of resumed operations with delayed delivery timelines noted by eBay. Concerns about shipping lettermail to the USA were discussed, with chicweb and mrdutch1001 warning against it due to customs issues. Some participants shared their experiences with resumed shipping, mentioning their strategies to communicate delays with buyers. Finally, there were questions and tips about relisting items canceled due to the strike for specific buyers. The ongoing impacts and strategies regarding Canada Post's service resumption remain a key focus for the group.

So, they will start collecting mails and parcels from this friday, right? Does that mean the business will be the same as before without delays? Do you think it's okay to start dropping off mails and parcels from friday? Or maybe I should just wait until january since there are a lot of backlogs and also the people who are eager to ship right away. Furthermore, the news articles say that the union members will appeal the ruling. Does it mean they will start go a strike again? When are you going to start shipping?

lud-4367

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Posted 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

39 comments

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

I met Helen from Weeda Stamps in the post office today. She told me she had been at the PO three times last week shipping from their two Billboards (a kind of auction) during the strike. The day I saw her, Thursday, she had two carts of boxes and envelopes. Today she had a box about two feet on each side, covered in stamps of course, still to go as she finished up shipping all her envelopes.

She also told me that they have had only two requests for FedEx deliveries, and no one seems too worried about delivery dates so far. Weeda also functions as Garden City Auctions and are a very reliable company.

I had a cancellation from Rumania, which I think was a scam prevented by the strike. It had not been mailed and the customer would have thought it had been given the purchase date. I am considering Blocking Rumania, since my last three customers there all have cancelled.

sin-n-dex

·1 year ago

On the subject of mail, I got a bill today that was mailed almost a month ago (during the strike, but I suppose they hadn't put it in the mail until the strike was over). We got a package that was mailed before the strike (maybe a week or two before, it came the first day mail was being delivered again, it was a coin from an eBay seller). Also some banking stuff that was posted during the strike arrived.

I have four packages in transit to places in Canada. One buyer said he'd tell me when he gets it (and hasn't yet, he's in Quebec, I'm in Ontario). Another is going to Manitoba and was mailed three days before the strike, that buyer usually leaves feedback and haven't received any yet.

I'm hoping no INRs at an inopportune time... I'm waiting for surgery which looks like it will happen early next week... I could find myself in hospital before then, so would rather not have any eBay drama during this time. (The store was closed until Jan 5 as a precaution. I don't like being without sales, but no point in selling stuff If I might not be able to ship it).

C.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@sin-n-dex

Home mail delivery has been basically back up and running for 5 days. So far 2 pcs of junk mail on different days. No sign of bills which there should have been at least 2. Got a single email from 1 of the utilities about setting up online but nothing further. Still crossing fingers on an untracked low value item to Spain that was dropped off 1 day before strike happened. For anyone that sent letter type pieces just prior to strike my best hopes and wishes.

USPS I know but still applicable.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@sin-n-dex

A non tracked parcel I sent to Spain 1 day before strike officially happened was received by buyer. 5.5 weeks total time. Fortunately with prompt follow up and multiple requests to "Please be patient" and buyer agreeing to be, item finally arrived. Unfortunately not all customers are as patient. It is still very sad that eBay only has a system in place to credit a customer but NOTHING in place to re-bill items when you are forced to refund when those items do eventually arrive. You are left to fend for yourself and just hope buyer will be cooperative. (Similar to when claims are required and eBay not giving you the info required to process smoothly.Real email addresses)

Best of luck with your and anyone in a similar situation when it comes to INR's. All one can do is hope for best and good outcomes and then dealing with any that don't, as required the best they can.

sin-n-dex

·1 year ago

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
@sin-n-dex

A non tracked parcel I sent to Spain 1 day before strike officially happened was received by buyer. 5.5 weeks total time. Fortunately with prompt follow up and multiple requests to "Please be patient" and buyer agreeing to be, item finally arrived. Unfortunately not all customers are as patient. It is still very sad that eBay only has a system in place to credit a customer but NOTHING in place to re-bill items when you are forced to refund when those items do eventually arrive. You are left to fend for yourself and just hope buyer will be cooperative. (Similar to when claims are required and eBay not giving you the info required to process smoothly.Real email addresses)

Best of luck with your and anyone in a similar situation when it comes to INR's. All one can do is hope for best and good outcomes and then dealing with any that don't, as required the best they can.

Of the four that went Canada Post right before the strike, one buyer responded to me telling me not to worry, he'll be patient. He also said he'd let me know when it arrived, but no message from him or feedback for that transaction yet.

The other three buyers didn't respond, but no one is filing an INR. What I have asked is that they reach out to me before filing an INR, that's my request any time there's delays. I don't have an issue refunding if significant time is passing without delivery, but I don't need to rack up a ton of INRs on my account and be put in eBay jail with higher fees because buyers are impatient. At least half of INRs filed against me are bogus because the item was delivered, or eventually gets delivered, but the INR doesn't come off my account.

I did get a Canada order sometime last night/this morning for a regular buyer in Nova Scotia. I checked shipping with Stallion, but it's $15, and since this buyer is a regular with no problems ever shipping to them, I'm inclined to use lettermail and cross my fingers. They overpaid shipping a bit (paid shipping on two tokens when I would have combined), so I refunded the extra shipping and made an appeal to please be a bit more patient that usual due to the strike. Hopefully this won't come back to bite me.

In all this madness of pre-Christmas sales, Stallion having delays due to the Canada Post Strike and lots of delays with USPS, I have only had to refund on one letter so far (it was an INR and there was no tracking, it was a $3 item). I ended up blocking that buyer because they never contacted me later to say it arrived and offer to repay, and I don't believe as many letters are "not arriving" as buyers are claiming they are. When the INR is filed too quickly I'm feeling that they noticed no tracking and took advantage of the opportunity to get a free item. Most legitimate INRs tend to be filed quite late, and some of those items have tracking which confirms delivery didn't happen yet.

C.

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

There was a poster on dotCOM today worried about a not yet delivered package which USPS had not scanned as received.

A Mentor reminded us that eBay requires Proof of Delivery, not proof of tracking.

That is, it is not important that the shipment was sent with a tracked service, only that it is Delivered by the estimated date.

Proof of Delivery is the seller's protection.

And eBay is usually willing to give some leeway if a formal Dispute has been filed and the seller can supply the tracking number.

Whether or not it has been "accepted".

@marnotom! has a third party link for tracking shipments.

This is also why, if there is a formal Dispute opened, that the seller must must must respond with the tracking number if the shipment was tracked.

And why we must not panic at mere Messages.

Be polite reassuring and professional, but there is no need for refund until that INR claim is filed.

flipistics

·1 year ago

I ordered some boxes today from the eBay shipping supplies store (I hadn't used the coupon yet). I figure that will be a nice test of how things are moving.

Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!

hansatrade

·1 year ago

@flipistics wrote:
Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!

Here is the update you asked for. It seems they are really back to work 😄

I just got a late parcel from the EU (shipped on Nov 12), but still none of the Xmas cards posted by friends.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@hansatrade wrote:
@flipistics wrote:
Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!
Here is the update you asked for. It seems they are really back to work 😄

I just got a late parcel from the EU (shipped on Nov 12), but still none of the Xmas cards posted by friends.

@hansatrade

@doc_scribe

@flipistics

Just got a new update on mine dropped off yesterday tracked from Calgary to the Netherlands.

There was a blurb on news yesterday about the not accepting international until such and such a date. When I checked with clerk she was told that was only for electronics. Mine happened to be a book so no problem.

-Lotz

hansatrade

·1 year ago

Unfortunately, not the same here (Montreal). A TP posted on Thursday (19 Dec) - and it's stuck 4th day, the tracking says "Delivery may be delayed due to labour disruption". And for unknown reason it has been shipped to Ottawa, instead to the local airport. Apparently, I switched from ChitChats to CP too early .... 🙄

I am also waiting for a few letters and parcels from Europe - none arrived. 🙄

jtg204

·1 year ago

My domestic CP parcel heading to St Johns NL shipped Nov 12 got processed in Montreal on Nov 14, tracking hasn't updated since, other than the same delay message that ebay shows as from Ottawa. I think that tracking update is just CP HQ location and not where packages are delayed?

byto253

·1 year ago

That's the norm for CP. It will just be in transit until it gets to NL as there is not normally any interim tracking update.

jtg204

·1 year ago

Update on mine too, the next update was processed at DIEPPE, NB Dec 22 and then departed about 30hrs later Dec 23. So my one strike parcel has moved now.

postit4me

·1 year ago

I have found NO Delay on any of the items I have posted since postal workers wentback. All my Canadian Christmas cards have been delivered and same with my parcels. I would assume there is no backlog of product with such great service. Thank you posties for your great service. As for USPS is another story there is delays.

sin-n-dex

·1 year ago

@postit4me wrote:
I have found NO Delay on any of the items I have posted since postal workers wentback. All my Canadian Christmas cards have been delivered and same with my parcels. I would assume there is no backlog of product with such great service. Thank you posties for your great service. As for USPS is another story there is delays.

One reason there might not be a delay... at my work the day they went back to work and started getting mail again, our work processed all letters from that day immediately to go out, meanwhile buckets from Nov 15 to Dec 17 are in a storage room waiting for postage and processing... it will take us a few weeks to process that back volume, but if you mail it at my work today, we'll send it out today. It's only the stuff that we did during the strike that's messed up for delays.

Just a thought.

C.

reallynicestamps

·1 year ago

I dropped (untracked) lettermail into the post box on Tuesday and Wednesday, went into the Post Office with tracked USA packets on Thursday (Helen from Weeda Stamps was there with two carts filled with packages from their Bid Board and eBay sales), and dropped more lettermail into the post box on Friday.

And on Thursday we got mail!

Two bills, one overdue.

doc_scribe

·1 year ago

Sidebar question: "How do I convert a sale that I cancelled Day 1 of the lockdown into a relist targeting that original Buyer only?

After 2 decades of selling, I should at least have some clue how to do this, but never needing to do so...well...I...just...um...don't.

Cue Homer Simpson "D'oh."

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@doc_scribe

You're probably going to get several assorted responses on this. I just advise customer that you will be doing specifically for them. Wait for them to respond. Use relist and custom with anything you've modified like shipping or best offer. List adding Custom to title. Then send buyer listing id link to let them know. It can take 5 to 60 mins for listing to show but with id they should be able to immediately access.

doc_scribe

·1 year ago

I thought of that Lotz, but since this is a one-off collectible, I want to lock it in for this particular Buyer. I mean, he was exceptionally understanding about my reason for the cancellation, and even left glowing feedback.

Possible wrinkle: this Buyer is in in the U.K. and my reason for cancellation was "something wrong with address."* (the closest match, but could that alone prevent him from re-purchasing using the same address?)

* The $90.00 plus courier costs to the UK!

ricarmic

·1 year ago

@doc_scribe

I do this all the time (when my store is open).

I create a special lot with the title of "Special lot for PARTOFTHE BUYERSID" and a generic picture, not of what they are buying (usually the back of a stamp).

Note that I put in the description "If youre not PARTOF THE BUYERSID, check out the 1000s of other items running in my store. (It is surprising how many views these get as opposed to my normal listings so I figure cross polination is possible!)

Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/205021322471

As far as I know the "something wrong with address" shouldn't cause future purchase issue as theoretically, even from bots perspective buyer may have fixed their address....

doc_scribe

·1 year ago

@ricarmic wrote:
@doc_scribe
I do this all the time (when my store is open).

I create a special lot with the title of "Special lot for PARTOFTHE BUYERSID" and a generic picture, not of what they are buying (usually the back of a stamp).

Note that I put in the description "If youre not PARTOF THE BUYERSID, check out the 1000s of other items running in my store. (It is surprising how many views these get as opposed to my normal listings so I figure cross polination is possible!)

Here's an example:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/205021322471

As far as I know the "something wrong with address" shouldn't cause future purchase issue as theoretically, even from bots perspective buyer may have fixed their address....

FTR, a combination of @ricarmic and @lotzofuniquegoodies recommendations worked just fine, so thanks to both for helping me over this once-in-two-decades hurdle.

And yes, your theory appears to be correct about any lingering impact from selecting "something wrong with address" as the reason for cancellation. No restrictions here whatsoever...30 days later, same buyer, same addy...completed as smoothly as original sale.

ilikehockeyjerseys

·1 year ago

If you're shipping tracked, and you don't have an alternative courier, you should start back up right away. eBay is extending protections to buyers using tracked shipping. So even if an item is delayed, there is no downside. You may want to communicate to your buyer that Canada Post might face delays, just in case they are living under a rock.

If you're shipping untracked, I would not worry too much because eBay extended the window for lettermail by a very large amount. It appears that with 1 day handling, a buyer sees a shipping window that is 54 days long. That means, they cannot open an INR for almost 2 month. You still need to manage the expectations of buyers, but INRs should not be an issue.

One thing to consider for everybody who ships Lettermail, you should revise your shipping policies. A lot of people here normally use the "Economy Shipping" designation, because the shipping window is more realistic for Lettermail. With eBay extending the shipping window for Canada Post products, Lettermail now offers a longer shipping window.

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

@ilikehockeyjerseys wrote:
If you're shipping tracked, and you don't have an alternative courier, you should start back up right away. eBay is extending protections to buyers using tracked shipping. So even if an item is delayed, there is no downside. You may want to communicate to your buyer that Canada Post might face delays, just in case they are living under a rock.

If you're shipping untracked, I would not worry too much because eBay extended the window for lettermail by a very large amount. It appears that with 1 day handling, a buyer sees a shipping window that is 54 days long. That means, they cannot open an INR for almost 2 month. You still need to manage the expectations of buyers, but INRs should not be an issue.

One thing to consider for everybody who ships Lettermail, you should revise your shipping policies. A lot of people here normally use the "Economy Shipping" designation, because the shipping window is more realistic for Lettermail. With eBay extending the shipping window for Canada Post products, Lettermail now offers a longer shipping window.

@ilikehockeyjerseys

In checking a sale I had today....Calgary to Toronto by letter mail Economy shipping is showing delivery window as Dec 23 to Jan 14. 1 day handling time. Same delivery estimate even if you modify the to postal code. In practice/principle the estimate should vary depending on distance. Except not according to ebay. System uses the same methodology for parcels. City to City vs Rural to Rural only varies slightly when not always the case.

darak10

·1 year ago

yesterday. lol

this is comical and didnt surprise me at all, this is how Canada Post runs their shop.

I went in to see yesterday (Tuesday) if they were open to buy some supplies and there was this lady there will like 50 xmas cards. she did her thing and got out of the way. I asked the clerk if they were accepting new mail. She looked at me like I was from planet Xenon. "Yes", was her basic confused kid answer.

I shared the information online and the news that new mail wasnt being accepted until Thursday.

She again looked at me like I was stupid, saying nothing.

The lady with the hundred xmas cards was still standing there, turns to me and says "guess you shouldnt believe everything you read", followed by a ridiculously overblown bellow like she was just named comedian of the year somewhere.

I asked the clerk if Canada Post were picking up new mail today (tuesday), she said yes they were.

(and yes, they are in a strike position again at the end of May.)

darak10

·1 year ago

oh yes and when I took everything in today to mail there were no lineups either time I went in.

sin-n-dex

·1 year ago

@darak10 wrote:
yesterday. lol

this is comical and didnt surprise me at all, this is how Canada Post runs their shop.

I went in to see yesterday (Tuesday) if they were open to buy some supplies and there was this lady there will like 50 xmas cards. she did her thing and got out of the way. I asked the clerk if they were accepting new mail. She looked at me like I was from planet Xenon. "Yes", was her basic confused kid answer.

I shared the information online and the news that new mail wasnt being accepted until Thursday.

She again looked at me like I was stupid, saying nothing.

The lady with the hundred xmas cards was still standing there, turns to me and says "guess you shouldnt believe everything you read", followed by a ridiculously overblown bellow like she was just named comedian of the year somewhere.

I asked the clerk if Canada Post were picking up new mail today (tuesday), she said yes they were.

(and yes, they are in a strike position again at the end of May.)

I went to a Rexall to mail my one letter and made a comment about them not doing packages until Thursday and the clerk looked at me kind of the same way... Maybe the packages thing means they won't be picking up packages from businesses until Thursday. A small business in my neighbourhood that does mail order told me they have 800 unshipped orders that have to go Canada Post, they said they used Purolator for everything they could ship as soon as possible.

I did believe that they would be in a strike position at the end of May, but was trying to not get too excited about that. Canada Post is sending updates on their negotiations so I'll just pay attention to see what's going on. (And this forum which I found a few days after the strike started turned out to be very helpful... over on the US forum not many people there care that Canada Post was on strike).

C.

byto253

·1 year ago

LOL. Is she expecting her Christmas cards to make it before Christmas?

sin-n-dex

·1 year ago

@lud-4367 wrote:
So, they will start collecting mails and parcels from this friday, right? Does that mean the business will be the same as before without delays? Do you think it's okay to start dropping off mails and parcels from friday? Or maybe I should just wait until january since there are a lot of backlogs and also the people who are eager to ship right away. Furthermore, the news articles say that the union members will appeal the ruling. Does it mean they will start go a strike again? When are you going to start shipping?

I'm waiting to start shipping within Canada, but I did have an oversized letter going to New Zealand that I dropped off today (with postage on it, before the mad rush tomorrow at the post office).

I think I might wait until Christmas, so another week, then I'll allow shipping in Canada again. If I get an international order that normally goes with Canada Post, I'm still sending those and advising the international buyer of the strike (because they probably don't know).

C.

busybeas_books

·1 year ago

I re-started up my store Monday. I just checked a few of my lisings, the larger items going as a package via Canada Post, not the ads/articles that go as lettermail. eBay has put a first-to-second week in February estimated delivery time on them.

intimewithmusic

·1 year ago

Hi @busybeas_books

Wow! Kudos. You were first out of the starting gate!

Do you mind me asking if your items are mostly domestic?

Mine are pretty much all international.

Thanks

busybeas_books

·1 year ago

My lettermail sales (advert pages and articles) are about 70% USA, 20% Canada and 10% other international. The bigger stuff sales are about 90% USA, 10% Canada. I don't offer other international on them.

intimewithmusic

·1 year ago

Thanks.

I'm close to that ratio too. I use Exp Lite-Canada/Trk Pkt-USA instead of lettermail for those sizes. The rates are above USPS media mail but it keeps me in the ballgame for my HTF items. If eBay labels go up versus USPS I'll likely switch to lettermail for the lower priced widgets.

chicweb

·1 year ago

Lettermail to the States? I thought it wasn't allowed? A lot of sellers complained that their items did not go through the custom because of it.

I wouldn't send items lettermail to the States, too risky.

mrdutch1001

·1 year ago

It isn't allowed...any goods/merchandise sent outside of Canada must have declarations of contents & value as per Canada Post policy ...

There are many sellers who still defy that policy and send their goods/merchandise disguised as lettermail so that they can use the cheaper lettermail postal rates. However, with the increases coming for lettermail, those sellers are not going to find lettermail as cheap anymore, but they will continue to defy the policy...until they find those lettermail items being returned by the postal systems...

intimewithmusic

·1 year ago

I see. Hopefully the price of Tracked Packet USA won't increase too much!

intimewithmusic

·1 year ago

Thanks @chicweb . I had no idea never having used it. I assumed, from @busybea_books comment that it must be an option... Possibly I misunderstood it. Much appreciated!

("My lettermail sales (advert pages and articles) are about 70% USA, 20% Canada and 10% other international. ")

intimewithmusic

·1 year ago

Hi @lud-4367 Happy Holidays!

Speaking for myself some processing centres that my items travel through such as Richmond BC still have "agitated" workers. To avoid funnelling prescious packages through workplace conflicts I'm waiting until Santa arrives.

With respect to the "appeal" to seek compensation for their percieved infringement of rights the regular negotiations will resume regardlessly in May 2025. It's my understanding, if they file a rights appeal, it won't be heard by the courts for at least a year making it a moot attempt unless they win some financial compenstaion with it. That doesn't move the mail.

Will there be a postal disruption this coming May? My personal feeling is a resounding YES and @mrdutch1001 is wise by continuing to use his alternative carrier. After this long hard burn that lesson has been learned by many.

Cheers!

mrdutch1001

·1 year ago

"Does that mean the business will be the same as before without delays? "

You're kidding,right??!

I suspect there will be delays well into mid-January...

I for one will not be activating any listings before the end of December and I will continue using Purolator if, when,as needed until mid-January. In the meantime, I shall be making adjustments to my listings to accommodate the postal increases that are forthcoming mid-January...

flipistics

·1 year ago

It's likely there will be delays well into the new year. How long those delays are, your guess is as good as anyone else's.

I'm planning on evaluating how things look on the 24th, both for Canada Post and other couriers. I may open up a few higher priced items that I can send off with other couriers then, and fully open in the new year. I'll definitely be waiting a good while for lettermail items since there's no tracking or protections on those

I doubt the appeal will go anywhere.