CANADA POST STRIKE DILEMMA

[silverpinups]

I have a Canada Post Strike dilemma. I sold a item last Thursday, Nov.14/24. I messaged the buyer to hold off paying until I knew what kind of strike action CUPW was going to take on Friday morning. 

On Friday morning I messaged the buyer  to hold off on paying until I messaged him back. I let him know that it could be 7 to 10 days before any resolution was found. The buyer agreed and all was well until he paid on Sunday, Nov.17/24. Now I have to ship by Nov.22/24 (I have 5 days handling time).

I messaged him back on Sunday and asked why he paid when I asked him to hold off until he heard back from me. He said eBay keep sending him reminders to pay and he was getting nervous about it. 

My dilemma is what if the strike is still going still on Friday, Nov.22/24? I don't want to use a different shipping method as I have solely used Canada Post for 18 years. 

Can I just mark the item as shipped on Friday then mail it out at a future date? If I don't ship until Canada Post is up and running and I get a late shipping defect, will I be able to have it removed because of the strike? 

If the buyer just waited to pay when I messaged him all would be well. 

[intimewithmusic]

Same experience here. So far no customer backlash. Knock on wood.

[snoopwiz]

To me, it is a no-brainer. The buyer has given you his/her money, why give them an easy "out" of their decision to buy? Do as RECPED does, offer to hold it for them until it is safe to put it  into the mail. I've done the same and have only had one buyer ask for their money back. Others have been just fine with me holding on to it.

[reallynicestamps]

We might find by the end of the strike that our Global TRS badge is no longer valid.

What are the benefits of TRS again?

[recped]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

We might find by the end of the strike that our Global TRS badge is no longer valid.

What are the benefits of TRS again?

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For Canadian sellers the benefit is the FVF discount without needing any tracking or 1 day shipping or seller paid 30 day returns.

For those concerned about late shipping dings to your Seller metrics, mark as shippied within your handling time and do not upload tracking info to eBay when you do ship. eBay will have no idea that you actually shipped late, if the buyer leaves feedback they will be asked if it was delivered on time, it's up to the buyer to indicate yes or no. If the buyer does not leave feedback eBay assumes it was delivered on time, if the buyer leaves feedback and answers yes you get no ding, if the buyer answers no then you get a ding.

Of course in order to prevent eBay seeing the actual ship date you need to print the label off eBay and if you use a third-party like Stallion or ChitChats you need to ensure that they don't upload the tracking to eBay.

[silverpinups]

I've extended my time away from Monday, Nov.25/24 to Saturday, Nov.30/24.

I hope the strike ends before Black Friday.....  

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@silverpinups wrote:

I've extended my time away from Monday, Nov.25/24 to Saturday, Nov.30/24.

I hope the strike ends before Black Friday.....  

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I extended my away to Dec 14th. Right now it is a no one knows scenario. I've never needed to before but if in worst case scenario and strike were still going on you would be able to extend another 30 days. If strike suddenly ends you end your hiatus. Hey so much for having TSR discount!!! Will take forever to regain it at this rate. 

[silverpinups]

Yes, I think everyone is starting to get frustrated with Canada Post and CUPW.

[fergua3]

There needs to be repercussions this time.  Two Christmas strikes in a row is not acceptable.  Taking advantage of vulnerable Canadians  for leverage is not acceptable.

[mrdutch1001]

I have done likewise (Time Away extended to Nov.30th) and my handling time is now set for the 15 business days, as I am no longer actively looking for sales before Christmas...I also let most of my listings end and opted not to re-list...

Hopefully January will be good for everyone!

[silverpinups]

There needs to be repercussions this time.  Two Christmas strikes in a row is not acceptable.  Taking advantage of vulnerable Canadians  for leverage is not acceptable.

I agree. The CUPW is in no position for their hefy demands when Canada Post is losing millions of dollars a year.  How much of those losses are mis-managed, I don't know.

Canadians and businesses are being held hostage every time there is a contract negotiation.  

[silverpinups]

hefty demands... lol!

[ricarmic]

I ddnt evn notce its intrstng hw our brns cn hndl mssng lttrs....

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

FYI for anyone using UPS from another seller that used to use NetParcel before eBay labels came around.

Net Parcel  is more expensive within Canada when compared to eBay labels.

UPS is cheaper to the USA when compared to Net Parcel. 

Smaller package approx. 3.00 difference.

Your results may vary. Anyone with their own results please add here. Thanks.

-Lotz

[poppyseeds123]

Just popping in to say thanks for making this thread. I took some advice myself from the replies to your question. I just sold a small item for about $10 + shipping and uyer had chosen Canada Post for delivery. 

Here is the message I sent to my buyer;

"Thank you for your purchase! I am writing you to let you know that our postal service Canada Post is currently on strike! Sorry for the delay in message, I was hoping they would be back to work now. They may be back to work later this week or next week. I am not able to ship your item at this time. I am not able to ship your item with another carrier, because the cost to ship this item with UPS or Fed-EX or Purolator is much higher than the Canada Post shipping method that you chose.Would you like me to hold your item until the strike is over? Expect longer than usual wait time once it is mailed.Would you like m to cancel the order and you can purchase it with a different shipping method?You may also cancel your order all together. I believe you should ask me to cancel it since I still have one more day to ship under contract."

My buyer replied immediatly to lt me know they would wait. 

[silverpinups]

Seller/buyer communication will be key until the strike is over. I just hope the strike ends this week.

[silverpinups]

Contract negotiations on hold between Canada Post and CUPW.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-post-negotiations-talks-break-down-1.7394535

[pj-007]

Hi
I had the same issue last week
I just canceld the order and refunded him
I clicked on item out of stock
I also send the buyer a explaination
Just a  situation now
Hope that helps you

[musicyouneed]

I used your email note with a few changes, thank you.  I currently have 2 CD's that were just purchased in the past 2 days.  I am on time away until Dec 9.  This is what I sent to them and the response I got from one of them.  I can ship out the mail to the US as I use Chit Chats.  I hate being held hostage by Canada Post.  This would be my busiest  time, like for most of us.  

"Thank you for your purchase! I am so sorry, but as you are aware our postal service Canada Post is currently on strike! It doesn’t even look close to being over. I am not able to ship your item at this time, as they are not even accepting mail. Would you like me to hold your item until the strike is over? Or, would you like me to cancel the order?"

"Hi! Yes, I understand! I don't mind waiting, so if you could hold it for me until the strike has resolved, and then ship it out, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!"

[musicyouneed]

Well Canadians are still purchasing items from me and because of that I am putting myself on vacation for 30 days.  I don't have any sympathy or support for CUPW.  IMO, they have just gone to far this time.  

[mrdutch1001]

I considered UPS, which can be made doable for major centre to major centre(Large city to large city ) but otherwise their shipping costs can get ridiculous so am now checking out Purolator through netParcel and if necessary may revive an old PayPal account to do so If the Strike continues with no end in sight...