eBay

chicweb · ‎10-08-2024

As sellers, we must be prepare to everything that can happen.

What if there's a Canada Post strike?

Personnally, I already created a business policy without Canada Post (That would be UPS and Fedex in calculated shipping). But that is way more expensive for some of my items. At least, we would still be able to operate... maybe sell less but still...

What do you guys plan to do if a strike happen? Just trying to brainstorm, here. 😉

mrdutch1001 · ‎10-08-2024

"What do you guys plan to do if a strike happens?"

No point in speculation or the "what ifs"...

I do not sell as a source of income so there is nothing that I "need" to prepare for that can't wait until things get sorted...

I will continue to list right up to the point of no return and then my selling will be put on hold>plain and simple...

I use "Time Away" on a regular basis for holiday or vacation time/family time whatever I so choose, so any possible disruption with CP equates to "Time Away" for me...

byto253 · ‎10-09-2024

Not full time either, so listings would go on hold, then take the time to catch up on processing stuff that is on the shelf right now. That would be checking them out, testing and fixing up where required, then doing photos and prepping listings. There are is a good amount of stuff waiting for attention, the break would be fine.

The big impact will be on full time sellers where eBay is core income. If you have Stallion, Chitchats or other options that may be ok but a lot of places don't.

ricarmic · ‎10-09-2024

Whilst at the moment I've migrated to "sort of full time" in moving toward some form of retirement, the "old timers" like me around here will recall that we've survived 2 or maybe 3 postal strikes (keeping in mind that I'm "medium old" and have been ebaying for 25 years).

During those I was full time, I recall watching closely the timing/type of things (will it be a full strike/lockout, rolling strike etc), providing extra and pointed communication to buyers advising of the situation and potential longer delivery times (I've always sent a note to all buyers at time of mailing, and I include extra stuff in those notes when there might be things like strikes, COVID, or nature impacts).

I don't recall any higher item loss rate, more communication was required with impatient buyers, and sales volumes were down at bit depending on the type and timing of strike.

Nowadays, I'd do like the other responders, simply put my store on time away, I have easily over 1,000 items prepped that need to be pictured before I can list them, that would take me 10 to 20 days.....

marnotom! · ‎10-09-2024

The last couple of times there have been strikes at Canada Post, the union employed a rotating strike strategy that affect some locations for a day or few but not others. I can’t see the union doing anything different this time.

What you’ll want to watch out for is a lockout initiated by Canada Post management.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-09-2024

@ricarmic wrote:
Whilst at the moment I've migrated to "sort of full time" in moving toward some form of retirement, the "old timers" like me around here will recall that we've survived 2 or maybe 3 postal strikes (keeping in mind that I'm "medium old" and have been ebaying for 25 years).

During those I was full time, I recall watching closely the timing/type of things (will it be a full strike/lockout, rolling strike etc), providing extra and pointed communication to buyers advising of the situation and potential longer delivery times (I've always sent a note to all buyers at time of mailing, and I include extra stuff in those notes when there might be things like strikes, COVID, or nature impacts).

I don't recall any higher item loss rate, more communication was required with impatient buyers, and sales volumes were down at bit depending on the type and timing of strike.

Nowadays, I'd do like the other responders, simply put my store on time away, I have easily over 1,000 items prepped that need to be pictured before I can list them, that would take me 10 to 20 days.....

@ricarmic

Re: "Medium old"

Ummm sadly I can relate to that!! I, from time to time will even listen to a physical 📻!!!

Testing your memory here? Do you recall if eBay gave you reduced rent for your store during those times? It's been a weird day and had to ask!!! 🙄

I can see the signs....eBay Canada...Closed for the season!! Reason, instead of freezin'...Anotherrrr strike!!! Sorry, management...staff disagreement!!!

-Lotz

ricarmic · ‎10-09-2024

@lotzofuniquegoodies since stores were invented, there's never been a reduced rent situation (at least for me), the closest thing we've got to that are the "coupons", and if I recall in the really olden days we also got things like a certain amount of $$ to use for the current version of "promoted" listings on a monthly basis too....

mrdutch1001 · ‎10-09-2024

Yes, there was a time when my online presence here was a little more than just "casual listing/selling", so I would put a message in each and every listing about the postal status and relation to shipping as well as a note to the buyer for any sales that occurred during postal disruption; but I no longer need to do that now that we can do the "time Away" thingy

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-09-2024

@ricarmic wrote:
@lotzofuniquegoodies since stores were invented, there's never been a reduced rent situation (at least for me), the closest thing we've got to that are the "coupons", and if I recall in the really olden days we also got things like a certain amount of $$ to use for the current version of "promoted" listings on a monthly basis too....

That question was totally tongue in cheek. The chances of Canadian sellers seeing any kind of new perks/features/addressing Canadian specific issues in the forseeable future are slim to null!! eBay addresses weather situations promptly in the States. Crickets for similar to Canadians.

Like Ross P used to say..."Isn't gonna happen!!"

msmaggie060 · ‎10-10-2024

Kind of off topic but darn! I forgot about the Canada Post free Tuesdays and could have saved myself some money this week! Going through a home renovation and confined to using only the basement family room and can't use my PC in my office. Mostly using my iPad and forgot about free Tuesday! (I've set reminders for next 3 Tuesdays and now probably jinxed my sales.)

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-10-2024

@msmaggie060 wrote:
Kind of off topic but darn! I forgot about the Canada Post free Tuesdays and could have saved myself some money this week! Going through a home renovation and confined to using only the basement family room and can't use my PC in my office. Mostly using my iPad and forgot about free Tuesday! (I've set reminders for next 3 Tuesdays and now probably jinxed my sales.)

@msmaggie060

I think that happens to most of us. Lost a good one last Tuesday when I was having issues with CP. By the time I figured out I needed to clear ALL history for anything CP to get mine to work it was too late and was forced to print using eBay labels. Lost out on a 28.00 shipment. Win some, lose some!! Reminders most important to have set for this promo. It's all about timing and some luck!!! 🍀

-Lotz

byto253 · ‎10-11-2024

Also good to remember that you only need to print these sometime on Tuesday, not actually get them into the system on Tuesday. So if you get a sale after the post office is closed, just be sure to print the label on Tuesday and drop it off the next day.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-11-2024

@chicweb wrote:
As sellers, we must be prepare to everything that can happen.

What if there's a Canada Post strike?

Personnally, I already created a business policy without Canada Post (That would be UPS and Fedex in calculated shipping). But that is way more expensive for some of my items. At least, we would still be able to operate... maybe sell less but still...

What do you guys plan to do if a strike happen? Just trying to brainstorm, here. 😉

@chicweb

@byto253

For giggles did a rate quote using Canpar as a backup for Canadian deliveries. Example 500 gram very small package Calgary to E. Ontario.

Unfortunately for many Canadian sellers there really aren't back ups like chit chats etc especially for anyone in small town Canada. Even for anyone in big town that can be challenging due to limited drop off locations. Note the extra charge for residential/fuel/carbon services and final total. Pretty sure that kind of upcharge in shipping would not be an option for majority of potential buyers. The only other real alternative "might be" UPS. For me, any kind of extended shut down would mean not being able to fully pay my rent.

-Lotz

flipistics · ‎10-11-2024

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

Unfortunately for many Canadian sellers there really aren't back ups like chit chats etc especially for anyone in small town Canada. Even for anyone in big town that can be challenging due to limited drop off locations. Note the extra charge for residential/fuel/carbon services and final total. Pretty sure that kind of upcharge in shipping would not be an option for majority of potential buyers. The only other real alternative "might be" UPS. For me, any kind of extended shut down would mean not being able to fully pay my rent.

-Lotz

For me, the nearest UPS drop point is an hour away. If the strike happens (and I think it will, but it likely won't last too long), I've been considering changing things to shipping 2 days a week and just make the trips in. In reality, I'll probably just put the stores on vacation mode and focus hard on listing.

byto253 · ‎10-11-2024

Sendle is a better alternative and it includes pick up in most places in Canada. They use ICS courier, so basically wherever they pick up Sendle works. These are the rates for basic accounts, if you do more volume there are better prices.

US - if you are sending 20 packages a month or more, there is a cheaper tier as well.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-11-2024

@byto253 wrote:
Sendle is a better alternative and it includes pick up in most places in Canada. They use ICS courier, so basically wherever they pick up Sendle works. These are the rates for basic accounts, if you do more volume there are better prices.

US - if you are sending 20 packages a month or more, there is a cheaper tier as well.

@byto253

Rates are decent. Main issue being you can't use calculated shipping. Flat rate would be a hope and prayer something didn't sell remotely.

zee-chan-jpn-books · ‎10-12-2024

Darn it, I also forgot!! I could've mailed the US sale I got yesterday on next Tuesday instead, but I mailed it today because I had some free time... Oh well... (I put 5 days handing because work has been hectic but usually mail sooner than that).