Possible Canada Postal strike this summer 2016 CBC reports contract dispute, brace for interuption

[wkndshop]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-post-warns-key-customers-of-looming-contract-dispute-1.360190...

If there is a postal strike, i would pretty much have to close shop, its too pricey to send my items via courier.

[pjcdn2005]

You use tracking for many of your items and so are a different position than those that normally pay just a few dollars for lettermail or light packet. It's entirely possible that you will be able to get some decent deals from a courier service if you talk to them directly about pricing rather than paying over the counter prices. There's nothing wrong with checking out options.

The last time there were CP disputes I believe that there rotating strikes and I kept my store open without any problems during that time.  It seems to me that eventually the workers were locked out altogether and I ended up having to close just for a few days. I did have some mail stuck in the system but not for long and in the end..everything worked out.  I haven't decided what I'll do this time but I'm sure that different strategies will work for different sellers.

[recped]

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@vintagenorth wrote:

Anyone know if Chit Chats accepts LetterPost items? It's a 45 min drive for me each way so I only use them for buying envelopes but thinking I could do a weekly drive to them.

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Yes but you'll have to buy some US Postage stamps (or maybe you can print online via a Stamps.com (paid) account (The free version doesn't do lettermail).

[recped]

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@lukey9 wrote:

I already decided a long time ago that  items ending on June 22 was going to be my closing down day even if CP does not strike it has been so slow. I am going to take some time off and enjoy the summer for a change. Since I closed the store down I have not been listing very much just enough that customers know I'm still around.

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ChitChat just opened in Richmond, regardless of a strike you should probably be using them.

[reallynicestamps]

Richmond ON or Richmond BC?

In any case, any other service would have to add in the cost of a ferryride to Port Angeles (~$40 walkon)  or Vancouver (more) for those of us on Vancouver Island.

[funfunlego1]

New Chit Chat Express location is in Richmond, BC. They were suppose to open last year, but ran into some problems with the lease or something like that.

Chit Chat has a international no tracking service, prices starting at $3.92. I've wondered who the final carrier is, as this would be a very viable option during the strike. I'll report back when I find out, as others might find this service useful as well.

[recped]

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@funfunlego1 wrote:

New Chit Chat Express location is in Richmond, BC. They were suppose to open last year, but ran into some problems with the lease or something like that.

Chit Chat has a international no tracking service, prices starting at $3.92. I've wondered who the final carrier is, as this would be a very viable option during the strike. I'll report back when I find out, as others might find this service useful as well.

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It's always the local national postal operator.

[momcqueen]

I've re-opened my UPS account and gained their 20 per cent discount for small business so that I am ready if and when I need it. The closest UPS store is nearer to me than is the Canada Post counter so I am fortunate in that respect.

In the meantime, I called Canada Post Solutions for Small Business to see what light they can shed on the potential upcoming labour disruption. I waited 17 minutes on hold to speak to the first Customer Service Representative who knew nothing, literally, about the question I was asking. He put me back on hold and returned reading a statement that said, "As of right now, there is no information there's going to be a strike" which I agreed may be true but that it was already known to be likely to be labour disruption and I quoted the CBC story from May 27 at him at which point I waited on hold for another ten minutes to speak to a supervisor who was more forthcoming.

Basically, the supervisor with which I spoke said Canada Post management and the union are currently in conciliation and still hopeful they will successfully avoid strike or lockout. "The current state is that they are in conciliation," the supervisor said. When pressed about what happens with authorized dealers (the concern I raised earlier in this thread) he said the employees of the franchisees are not Canada Post employees so they are not affected but, like other ebay members here previously indicated, it is quite possible the authorized dealer postal counters won't accept new mail if there is, in fact, a lockout or strike called. "If there is a strike, the processing system is shut down. That means, not accepting, not delivering, not moving at all." 

When I elaborated on how small business sellers like myself cannot afford to alienate customers who are expecting prompt delivery of their items by allowing those parcels to get stuck mid-stream if labour disruption does occur less than a month from now, he replied. "We go with what we know. Big business, small business, consumers, have to plan accordingly." 

For me, that means Plan B is in place. I don't expect to shut down but I will modify my shipping practises to ensure that if someone really needs what I am selling, they will still be able to get it whether that is via Local Pickup or courier service or even driving-200-km-to-the-USA-to-mail-it service. I don't realistically expect business to be all that brisk because consumers will be avoiding online shopping entirely during that time so I can still use the slowdown to get new listings ready for after any threat of dispute has safely passed. Longer handling time, handling fee added to items to bring postage rates charged up to courier levels etc. 

I do find it somewhat disappointing that UPS doesn't work with Calculated Shipping here. Am I wrong? It seems as if I would have to set a flat-rate amount which would strip my previous preferences from listings whereas it's simpler to undo a temporary handling fee. 

[femmefan1946]

I don't realistically expect business to be all that brisk because consumers will be avoiding online shopping entirely during that time so I can still use the slowdown to get new listings ready for after any threat of dispute has safely passed.

Only our Canadian customers.

The rest of the world will be unaware of the problem.

Look at the annual spate of panic when the Lunar New Year slows down Chinese shipping.

[momcqueen]

I was also kinda thinking of adding a note to my listings stating there is a Canadian postal strike underway but that I endeavour to deliver the mail regardless (notwithstanding a longer-than-usual handling time) but that assumes a buyer would read an item listing all the way to the bottom. I anticipate taking my international orders south to mail, whether by car or via courier to wait for me there to mail it through USPS. Has anyone tried to print a USPS shipping label via ebay.com with an American address? I have one. Or will it regect a Canadian paypal account? 

The last three years at Christmas, I added and then removed (by hand) notices about the postal deadlines to the bottom of every listing, so I know it's something that is doable if one overlooks how time-consuming it is. It's easy enough to add text via a Bulk Edit but with the hidden html I've never managed to successfully remove said text when I'm done with it. At least, it's the html that I blame, maybe it's un-removable for another reason. 

I realize I'm swimming against the current on this but I resent the idea I'm supposed to roll over and expose my belly to the forces that be just because Canada Post might stop delivering the mail. They don't run my business, I do. I didn't hide my listings even when I was admit to hospital for a week to deliver my youngest son. I came home to pack orders until 4 am. I'm just that stupid, er, stubborn.

[pierrelebel]

"I resent the idea I'm supposed to roll over and expose my belly to the forces..."

WOW!

Frankly I feel you are over-reacting. 

There may or may not be a postal strike.  It happens from time to time. 

Mail order businesses who have been around for a few decades (well before eBay and the internet) have seen them before and it is not the end of the world.  We take a few weeks off (forced holidays) or use the time to prepare the business for when the strike ends or find alternate (often expensive) shipping methods IF (and only if) the size of the lost business warrants it.

Nobody takes it personally.  At least, they should not.

[momcqueen]

Why would I close my store if I don't have to? It seems to me that closing it two weeks ahead of an unknown disruption would be what could be considered over-reacting if I dared to presume I should tell others what to do. I have a contingency plan. I'm sharing it so that others may find their own which may not involve being forced to take 'holidays' when they cannot afford to do so.

[pierrelebel]

"closing it two weeks ahead of an unknown disruption would be what could be considered over-reacting"

Yes, closing two weeks prior would be over-reacting.  I would never suggest such action.

[mr.elmwood]

No-one wants to see my belly, it is, well, sigh.

[momcqueen]

What date are you closing? The moment a strike or lockout is called? What about the customers whose orders you dispatched 12 hours earlier as if nothing was wrong; what will you tell them?

[mr.elmwood]

I will shut down about five days ahead. Why? Mail on Monday, down to Winnipeg at night. Maybe sorted Tuesday. On a plane to Mississauga on Wed. Re-sorted, clears export Customs, heads for Chicago Thursday. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, parcel loads double with everyone panicking and the system overloads and jams. Sounds like a plan.

[i.am.vivian]

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@recped wrote:

Actually I really can't blame retail counter workers for not wanting to be forced to stand for a complete 8 hour shift. Maybe you never worked retail, standing for a full shift it not much fun and physically challenging for a lot of people even those that are otherwise hard workers.

At my postal outlet they often sit there for half an hour between customers, I see no issue with letting them sit down when they are not actively serving a customer. Personally I don't care if they are sitting on a stool while they are serving me, my clerk can reach the POS terminal, the scale and the bin where the mail goes without leaving their stool.

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Right on!  I can't believe anyone would even consider forcing a low wage earner to stand when there is an alternative.  Who were the people to come up with that as they sit around in their  plush office chairs?  I see nothing wrong with standing employees anywhere having a stool they can quickly get off as it suits.  Employment should be for everyone and not just the young and robust.  They're just asking for a stool, not a 6-motor-massage heated luxury recliner!

[momcqueen]

It's not my intention to insult anyone who decides to close their store and hide their listings in preparation for a postal disruption.

For me, it's not a good fit, and I'd like to think that by sharing my own plans around how to stay open, it might inspire others to do the same in place of assuming they must shutter operations if Canada Post talks go south.

I've used the banner for store vacations plenty of times but only hid my listings once by mistake. I don't like to turn away business; if a customer is looking to me for an item, it's because they need it for their kids.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

I have decided to close only when a strike is confirmed  (July 2nd maybe). Meanwhile if I do get US/international sale anywhere between June 27 to July 1, then I'll drive to CCE and mail them there. If I get domestic sales (rare) I'll let the buyer choose if they prefer a refund or ship when strike is over.

Fingers crossed that a strike doesn't happen 😉

[pierrelebel]

If a postal strike or lockout is imminent and scheduled to start July 1st to 4th, I expect to put my store "on vacation" (and hide all listings as I always do) early Friday June 24th, four full business days before the expected strike date.

If, on June 24th,  it appears that we are looking at rotating strikes (a day or two off here and there across the country) then I will most likely keep the store open.

There is no rush to make a decision.

Historically, when the store reopens after a strike, sales go up for a few days - often making up lost sales.

[triber]

I will be closing my store around the 22nd-24th. I find that packages going to the US usually leave Canada in a couple of days. Buyers of packages that will be for delivery within Canada, will understand about the mail strike, and hopefully will be patient.