Canada Post introducing new computer system at Post Offices...and surprise, it doesn't work right

[fergua3]

My PO was closed last Wednesday while Canada Post installed a whole new computer system.  Today was the first day i had to go to the PO with a package (slow month) since then.

Package was for the US.  I had my QR code all filled out and ready to go like i've been doing all year.  The lady at the PO scans the code, it scans propely and.......nothing.  All infor on her computer screen is blank.  After 3 more tries she concluded that it wasn't working and she had to fill in all the info manually.

That took a couple of minutes (big line behind me by this time) and after correcting 2 mistakes she made with the address, she printed the label.  Great almost done.  Nope.

Some of the information she typed in did not get printed on the label.  My name was missing from the return address and part of the zip code was missing.  I had to write the missing info in with a ball point pen .  It all got smeared beyond legibility when she put the label on the package (there are no more plastic envelopes anymore, just a big sticker with all of the information on it.. 

So we had to put white-out over the smudged info and after it dried i re-wrote the info.  Pretty professional stuff.

Surprisingly, there was one good thing about the new system.   My package was small packet,  thus untracked but the UR code was on the receipt now.  No more needing to take pics of the label.

I'm sure all the problems will get sorted out in a few months.  Hope it's before Christmas.  One package took over 20 minutes.

[pjcdn2005]

Hopefully they do get it sorted out quickly but it might be easier to print it yourself at home.  

[teenytrinkets]

Good God! Great timing, too - just before free shipping Tuesdays in Oct, which usually busy and riddled with systems issues. Should be fun next week!

[msau4301]

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up. I've not gone to post office for a few days either. I usually print my labels here with eBay or Shippo....that might explain why I had so many problems printing labels last week!

[ypdc_dennis]

This does not seem to be a system wide problem. Perhaps only at locations getting new equipment upgrades.

No problems sending parcels (using lots of stamps) at my old equipment location.

-;-

[dinomitesales]

I mentioned this in another thread, but didn't see this specific topic. Note: I work at a Canada Post retail outlet.

Canada Post is currently in the (long and slow) process of upgrading their hardware/software nationally. This is a MASSIVE upgrade since everything has been the same for nearly a decade now. They're definitely behind schedule, and it will continue into the new year. The location I work at (a busy post office in Winnipeg) was told 4 months ago that we'd be getting our upgrade in August; that never happened and the current upgrade date we've been given is "Unknown".

Like any new software system there WILL be problems and delays. For this reason I think they'll be pushing a lot of the upgrades that were scheduled for September/October into the new year to avoid major issues during the holidays. But the locations that already have the switchover will probably continue to see glitches and problems until all the bugs are settled.

To OP: I urge you to print your postage at home. It's cheaper, looks more professional, and will save you a lot of frustration when things like this arise.

[ricarmic]

My PM says our wee POs "upgrade date" is in November......ugghhh (both of us are saying!)

[byto253]

Ours went in a about a week ago, and it is working though some kinks are being ironed out.  Talking to the Manager, who is VERY good, it is very, very different from the old system so it will be a big adjustment for the follks working there.   I expect a number of problems will be from the clerks, particularly the part-time ones.  No serious delays though. 

One specific glitch is that there is a screen on the consumer side, and a survey pops up at the end of the transaction.   There is a lag between inputting and it registering, so folks are re-tapping their choices and that is crashing the system and requiring a reboot.   I would just skip the survey. 

One thing I am happy to see is that the big plastic envelopes for customs documents are GONE, and replaced by much smaller stick on labels.   That is great.

The downside about the new system is that they have the survey, AND they are going to have the postal clerks ask for donations now.  I was at the desk when a system guy was there and he asked the Manager if the donation page was active - I let out an involuntary groan that he heard.   Maybe I am getting old and grumpy but I am tired of getting hit up for donations at every 2nd store.

[ricarmic]

Wow the smaller labels will be awesome, I'm having to use oversized envelopes right now so the blasted monster plastic pouches can fit!!!

[byto253]

One other thing with the new system, your reciept no longer provides a bar code for the tracking number, it is now a QR code.   If you scan in tracking numbers with your phone, you need to do a 2 step now.  1) Use a QR code ap to scan in the tracking number and copy, then 2) in the Ebay ap paste in the copied tracking number.  

Still worth it to lose the, as @ricarmic calls them " the blasted monster plastic pouches". 😁

[teenytrinkets]

I've noticed some online features have been recently upgraded, too - like the postal code lookup... and that's a little glitchy. Hope they're not messing with Snap Ship...

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@byto253 

That's why CP has size minimums!! So pouch will cover top of box with no wraparound. Only almost rational explanation that makes some kind of sense. Or with cubing more profit for the CP coffers on postage? Things to make one say hmmm!!

-Lotz

[ricarmic]

@byto253  Is the actual number printed below where the bar code used to be and the QR code is now??

I manually put in the numbers anyway, as long as the number is physically printed there all is ok by me.....

[byto253]

It is there.  Here is a picture.  It also prints out the recipient name - I have blocked out specifics though.  It is a strip so it looks like a bar code, but is a QR code. 

[dinomitesales]

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@byto253 wrote:

The downside about the new system is that they have the survey, AND they are going to have the postal clerks ask for donations now.  I was at the desk when a system guy was there and he asked the Manager if the donation page was active - I let out an involuntary groan that he heard.   Maybe I am getting old and grumpy but I am tired of getting hit up for donations at every 2nd store.

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The donations are asked for at this time every year as part of their "Canada Post Community Foundation" children's charity. It's just for a month. They release a special stamp at the same time that costs an extra dollar for a book of 10 (but the $1 goes towards the charity... and technically the stamps are worth $1.02 each instead of the normal $0.92).

[byto253]

Thanks, I was afraid it would be a perma-feature.  I hope it does not.

[ricarmic]

Just a note that while the donation (they're called semi-postals by philatelic folks) stamps are worth $1.02, if you are adding them on packages etc, they only count as 92c  (You'll see the value is P+10 which means the postal value is still only the current "P" value, the + values do not count towards actual postage totals)

[ricarmic]

@byto253  AWESOME thank you for the info!!!!!

[fergua3]

the situation has gone from bad to very bad.   The new computer system at my local PO has not worked since Tuesday,.  At all.  All they can do is sell stamps if you pay cash.  No letters, packages or  anything else can be sent.  For 3 days and counting.  Canada Post has told them they are aware of the problem and hope to look into it soon.  My PO is a very busy PO located in a major mall.

I've finally got a few sales the last couple of days after having the worst month i've ever had on Ebay and i can't ship them.  

i'm currently trying to find another PO that is somewhat close that has a functional computer system; apparently the old system still works, so anyone that hasn't been switched over should be able to process packages.  But nobody at the other PO's answers their phone so i can't find out who has a working computer.

Canada Post customer service is not able to tell me either......they don't have that information.  

My eyesight is no longer good enough to drive so i walk everywhere.  The next closest PO to me is about a 1/2 hour walk each way.  I don't mind the walk but i don't want to get there only to discover they can't process parcels either.

Needless to say i have a very low opinion of Canada Post's professionalism..

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@fergua3 wrote:

the situation has gone from bad to very bad.   The new computer system at my local PO has not worked since Tuesday,.  At all.  All they can do is sell stamps if you pay cash.  No letters, packages or  anything else can be sent.  For 3 days and counting.  Canada Post has told them they are aware of the problem and hope to look into it soon.  My PO is a very busy PO located in a major mall.

I've finally got a few sales the last couple of days after having the worst month i've ever had on Ebay and i can't ship them.  

i'm currently trying to find another PO that is somewhat close that has a functional computer system; apparently the old system still works, so anyone that hasn't been switched over should be able to process packages.  But nobody at the other PO's answers their phone so i can't find out who has a working computer.

Canada Post customer service is not able to tell me either......they don't have that information.  

My eyesight is no longer good enough to drive so i walk everywhere.  The next closest PO to me is about a 1/2 hour walk each way.  I don't mind the walk but i don't want to get there only to discover they can't process parcels either.

Needless to say i have a very low opinion of Canada Post's professionalism..

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According to the CP status page the only current issue is printing US Xprespost labels. (Performance Problems).

System status dashboard / Tableau de bord de l’état du système - Homepage (canadapost.ca)

Business is still a trickle so haven't been to my local stop in a bit.

-Lotz