Canada Post workers stay on job

[lotsa.luck]

Only to refuse overtime as contract talks fall short

Someone at Ebay has assumed that the strike starts today and removed Canada Post shipping options.

That decision was premature. They did not know that job action or rotating strikes were an option for the union,

Canada Post shipping options should be returned until a National Strike begins or Canada Post locks them out.

[lotsa.luck]

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is refusing overtime as contract talks fall short. Members are being told to refuse any work beyond eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. Canada Post is accusing the union of showing "little meaningful movement" during mediated negotiations.

This could go on for a few days or a week. Meanwhile, the mail continues to move (for a little longer) but Canada Post shipping options have been removed before that was needed.

Please correct this mistake and reinstate the ability to ship with Canada Post XpressPost and Light Packet and Small Packet etc.

[lotsa.luck]

The next most likely course of action is that Canada Post locks out its union. This will probably happen next week as mail volumes dry up rapidly.

However, it is a battle for public opinion. Union in is a legal position to strike, but does not want to make the first move. Canada Post losing more money by the day, but does not want to make the first move.

This could go on longer than one would think, so Ebay should not have made their decision to remove Canada Post shipping options, before they had all the information.

I would hope the it is reinstated and as quickly as it was removed. But being Friday, (a long weekend in USA) they may not be in today.

[john_koenig99]

---

@lotsa.luck wrote:

This could go on longer than one would think, so Ebay should not have made their decision to remove Canada Post shipping options, before they had all the information.

---

I think they did the right thing (but they should've given more warning; they stopped suddenly).

Like you said, the situation is too volatile, and there is a lot of uncertainty. 

One wouldn't like to risk getting labels and ship orders, only to be stuck in limbo for who knows how long.

Having said that, I would like eBay to offer more saving options, with non traditional shipping partners, to show some deegre of appreciation to Canadian sellers (one could only dream...). 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@lotsa.luck wrote:

The next most likely course of action is that Canada Post locks out its union. This will probably happen next week as mail volumes dry up rapidly.

However, it is a battle for public opinion. Union in is a legal position to strike, but does not want to make the first move. Canada Post losing more money by the day, but does not want to make the first move.

This could go on longer than one would think, so Ebay should not have made their decision to remove Canada Post shipping options, before they had all the information.

I would hope the it is reinstated and as quickly as it was removed. But being Friday, (a long weekend in USA) they may not be in today.

---

devon@ebay 

@lotsa.luck 

It appears eBay was premature in turning off CP options for sellers to ship but is still letting buyers pay using CP options. Using UPS is approx 2 times more expensive and Fedex is 3 times more. CP is STILL in a business as usual position. Only difference is employees are refusing to work overtime.

Can we get CP turned on so Canadian sellers can continue selling at their discretion please?

-Lotzofuniquegoodies

Posted 9 hours ago as of this writing

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-post-workers-to-refuse-overtime-work-as-cont...

Canada Post workers stay on job, refuse overtime as contract talks fall short

[ecgt]

devon@ebay 

@lotsa.luck

We can't run a business if we can't purchase shipping labels. Please address this as soon as possible. Canada Post is still open, but we will not reopen our eBay store until the shipping labels are reactivated.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@ecgt wrote:

devon@ebay 

@lotsa.luck

We can't run a business if we can't purchase shipping labels. Please address this as soon as possible. Canada Post is still open, but we will not reopen our eBay store until the shipping labels are reactivated.

---

devon@ebay 

If we do have no choice but to start cancelling orders we need a 4th reason to do so. The current 3 are NOT applicable

4. Mutually agreed upon cancellation. - No fault to either party.

[devon@ebay]

---

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

---

@lotsa.luck wrote:

The next most likely course of action is that Canada Post locks out its union. This will probably happen next week as mail volumes dry up rapidly.

However, it is a battle for public opinion. Union in is a legal position to strike, but does not want to make the first move. Canada Post losing more money by the day, but does not want to make the first move.

This could go on longer than one would think, so Ebay should not have made their decision to remove Canada Post shipping options, before they had all the information.

I would hope the it is reinstated and as quickly as it was removed. But being Friday, (a long weekend in USA) they may not be in today.

---

devon@ebay 

@lotsa.luck 

It appears eBay was premature in turning off CP options for sellers to ship but is still letting buyers pay using CP options. Using UPS is approx 2 times more expensive and Fedex is 3 times more. CP is STILL in a business as usual position. Only difference is employees are refusing to work overtime.

Can we get CP turned on so Canadian sellers can continue selling at their discretion please?

-Lotzofuniquegoodies

Posted 9 hours ago as of this writing

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-post-workers-to-refuse-overtime-work-as-cont...

Canada Post workers stay on job, refuse overtime as contract talks fall short

---

Hi @lotzofuniquegoodies! The Shipping team is aware of the latest change and are looking into all the possible adjustments. In the mean time we still encourage sellers to look into other shipping carriers for shipping label needs. 

[byto253]

Rock and a hard place for eBay.  Allow CP as an option until the strike starts and they catch holy heck for the parcels stuck in limbo in processing plants.  Do what they did and catch heck for suspending CP.  I actually am on eBay's side for this decision, after a previous 1 month strike, a strike announcement and basically no negotiating going on it did not look good.

As it is, who know when the union will switch to full strike mode.   Canada Post labels can be printed elsewhere, eBay labels is not the only option.  The price may not be as good but it will not be double.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@byto253 wrote:

Rock and a hard place for eBay.  Allow CP as an option until the strike starts and they catch holy heck for the parcels stuck in limbo in processing plants.  Do what they did and catch heck for suspending CP.  I actually am on eBay's side for this decision, after a previous 1 month strike, a strike announcement and basically no negotiating going on it did not look good.

As it is, who know when the union will switch to full strike mode.   Canada Post labels can be printed elsewhere, eBay labels is not the only option.  The price may not be as good but it will not be double.

---

@byto253 

devon@ebay 

The side issue would be if the customer paid for expedited lite in Canada. That is not available elsewhere. Bumping up to Expedited is often double. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

devon@ebay wrote:

---

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

---

@lotsa.luck wrote:

The next most likely course of action is that Canada Post locks out its union. This will probably happen next week as mail volumes dry up rapidly.

However, it is a battle for public opinion. Union in is a legal position to strike, but does not want to make the first move. Canada Post losing more money by the day, but does not want to make the first move.

This could go on longer than one would think, so Ebay should not have made their decision to remove Canada Post shipping options, before they had all the information.

I would hope the it is reinstated and as quickly as it was removed. But being Friday, (a long weekend in USA) they may not be in today.

---

devon@ebay 

@lotsa.luck 

It appears eBay was premature in turning off CP options for sellers to ship but is still letting buyers pay using CP options. Using UPS is approx 2 times more expensive and Fedex is 3 times more. CP is STILL in a business as usual position. Only difference is employees are refusing to work overtime.

Can we get CP turned on so Canadian sellers can continue selling at their discretion please?

-Lotzofuniquegoodies

Posted 9 hours ago as of this writing

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-post-workers-to-refuse-overtime-work-as-cont...

Canada Post workers stay on job, refuse overtime as contract talks fall short

---

Hi @lotzofuniquegoodies! The Shipping team is aware of the latest change and are looking into all the possible adjustments. In the mean time we still encourage sellers to look into other shipping carriers for shipping label needs. 

---

devon@ebay 

As mentioned in other posts UPS is double. Fedex is triple. That is not what buyers are requesting or paid for as a service and sellers are unable to eat the difference. I have 2 shipments in limbo due to this kerfuffle. Other sellers may have many more. Plus the potential issue with mega customs clearance fees being charged to buyer on back in which CP/USPS DO NOT charge. Majority of Canada is limited to CP being the ONLY available option. We just don't have the population density to warrant other carriers/couriers. 

PS. In attempting to reach out to current buyers to make alternate arrangements emails are going unanswered and phone number on file is not in service. From other sellers hearing similar stories.  See post 11 for additional concerns to this issue. 

[reallynicestamps]

@ecgt 

You can purchase shipping through Canada Post directly.

Do you have a Solutions for Small Business account with them?

While the discounts are not as generous as those negotiated by eBay, they do exist.

And you can still ship with stamps on the package, adding a label at the PO counter.

https://sso-osu.canadapost-postescanada.ca/pfe-pap/en/registration/business?sourceApp=SMB&sourceUrl=...

[lotsa.luck]

Canadians want to support Canada whenever possible.

Canada Post is open. Maybe not for long, but they are accepting packages. Canadians should be able to choose a Canadian shipping option.

The assumption that this labour war will play out just like the last one is presumptuous and naive. 

[ecgt]

We have had a Solutions for Small Business account since the Venture One days, but now only use the service for non-eBay sales. The discounts that eBay provides for shipping parcels are significantly better than Canada Post's rates through other avenues. In some cases (especially Tracked Packet USA and Tracked Packet International), the price difference is huge when comparing eBay labels to the Solutions for Small Business rates. The difference between eBay shipping labels and Canada Post counter rates are dramatic. We only pay counter when we are using Lettermail. Parcels are a different story.

We charge flat rate shipping for parcels based around the price of eBay shipping labels. As such, it was more cost effective for our business to put our store on Time Away when eBay shut off its Canada Post shipping labels than to use either of your suggestions.

[intimewithmusic]

Hi devon@ebay

  Lettermail is at the crux of the strike and represents 49% of Canada Posts losses. Why does eBay allow it? I mean no disrespect to the sellers using lettermail but now we have eBay coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together AND we have Expedited Lite. A seller can ship a widget up to 200 grams across Canada insured and tracked for $8 bucks yet some refuse, stick their widget into an envelope and lick it.

   In November 2024 almost all sellers who use Expedited Lite, Parcel Post, Expedited and  Tracked Packet USA were completely shut down for 32 prime time pre Christmas season days just because of the ongoing never ending hissy fits over modernization. This exact same thing happened in 2018 in 4th quarter. "Following a failure to negotiate a new contract, CUPW initiated another round of rotating strikes on October 22nd, 2018. This led to the passage of Bill C-89, which legislated employees back to work."

   eBay Canada must eliminate untracked "Licked Stamp" unprofessional delivery of goods AKA "Economy Shipping".  No other platform I know allows it.  Please work with the lettermail sellers to move them into professional shipping methods as they now have access to coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together and ship domestically for $8 bucks.

  Lettermail, AKA "Economy Shipping", is dead along with shipping in used pizza boxes. Please offer lettermail sellers incentive to stop so that the rest of us won't have to weather  another 32 days of closure next Christmas.

  Thank you. 

IT

[ypdc_dennis]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

   eBay Canada must eliminate untracked "Licked Stamp" unprofessional delivery of goods AKA "Economy Shipping".  No other platform I know allows it.  ...

---

Amazon.ca allows untracked Canada Post lettermail.

"Economy Shipping" is a generic term -- it does not have to be lettermail, the Seller can use whatever they want, as long as they match the delivery time frame.

[marnotom!]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

Lettermail is at the crux of the strike and represents 49% of Canada Posts losses. Why does eBay allow it?

---

Lettermail is perfectly legal to use for shipping goods domestically, @intimewithmusic, as well as valuable payment instruments.  We still get our credit cards mailed to us in nothing more than envelopes marked as having lettermail paid to deliver them, after all.

Canada Post's market share of parcel delivery was 29 percent in 2023.  It was 62 percent four years prior to that.  Yes, lettermail volumes have dropped drastically since their peak about twenty years ago, but Canada Post has also not been able to sufficiently transform its parcel post operations as the use of parcel delivery has increased since the COVID shutdown days.

[recped]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

Hi devon@ebay

  Lettermail is at the crux of the strike and represents 49% of Canada Posts losses. Why does eBay allow it? I mean no disrespect to the sellers using lettermail but now we have eBay coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together AND we have Expedited Lite. A seller can ship a widget up to 200 grams across Canada insured and tracked for $8 bucks yet some refuse, stick their widget into an envelope and lick it.

   In November 2024 almost all sellers who use Expedited Lite, Parcel Post, Expedited and  Tracked Packet USA were completely shut down for 32 prime time pre Christmas season days just because of the ongoing never ending hissy fits over modernization. This exact same thing happened in 2018 in 4th quarter. "Following a failure to negotiate a new contract, CUPW initiated another round of rotating strikes on October 22nd, 2018. This led to the passage of Bill C-89, which legislated employees back to work."

   eBay Canada must eliminate untracked "Licked Stamp" unprofessional delivery of goods AKA "Economy Shipping".  No other platform I know allows it.  Please work with the lettermail sellers to move them into professional shipping methods as they now have access to coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together and ship domestically for $8 bucks.

  Lettermail, AKA "Economy Shipping", is dead along with shipping in used pizza boxes. Please offer lettermail sellers incentive to stop so that the rest of us won't have to weather  another 32 days of closure next Christmas.

  Thank you. 

IT

---

No thanks, I would not want to sell on a site which tried to mandate my shipping methods. eBay is doing this in the UK with Private Sellers in exchange for no Seller FVF but this only applies to casual sellers.

The only Canada Post service I use is Domestic Lettermail, it is in no way an "economy" service, only Xpresspost is faster or as reliable so there is nothing "unprofessional" about it.

Maybe most important, using Lettermail allows for lower prices for buyers and greater profit margins for sellers.

[dinomitesales]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

Hi devon@ebay

  Lettermail is at the crux of the strike and represents 49% of Canada Posts losses. Why does eBay allow it? I mean no disrespect to the sellers using lettermail but now we have eBay coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together AND we have Expedited Lite. A seller can ship a widget up to 200 grams across Canada insured and tracked for $8 bucks yet some refuse, stick their widget into an envelope and lick it.

   In November 2024 almost all sellers who use Expedited Lite, Parcel Post, Expedited and  Tracked Packet USA were completely shut down for 32 prime time pre Christmas season days just because of the ongoing never ending hissy fits over modernization. This exact same thing happened in 2018 in 4th quarter. "Following a failure to negotiate a new contract, CUPW initiated another round of rotating strikes on October 22nd, 2018. This led to the passage of Bill C-89, which legislated employees back to work."

   eBay Canada must eliminate untracked "Licked Stamp" unprofessional delivery of goods AKA "Economy Shipping".  No other platform I know allows it.  Please work with the lettermail sellers to move them into professional shipping methods as they now have access to coupons, quantity discounts, and an option to lot items together and ship domestically for $8 bucks.

  Lettermail, AKA "Economy Shipping", is dead along with shipping in used pizza boxes. Please offer lettermail sellers incentive to stop so that the rest of us won't have to weather  another 32 days of closure next Christmas.

  Thank you. 

IT

---

This is a horrible take. It should never be removed - it's a cost-effective and reliable method of shipping that is utilized by many sellers.

Why would I spend $8 shipping something Expedited Lite when I can ship it for $1-2 with stamps, and in 99% of cases it arrives promptly and trouble-free? Not to mention the fact that that $8 shipping method can't reach anyone in a remote community. In the majority of cases that "Economy Shipping" Lettermail shipment is going to be delivered even faster than the Expedited Lite shipment.

As someone that utilizes the services available to me as an eBay seller in order to provide the best prices for my customers (i.e. Lettermail) I'm actually kind of offended - I'm not a "professional" seller because I don't utilize what you deem as a "professional shipping method"? Ridiculous.

And how would preventing Canadian eBay sellers to use Lettermail have any impact on the Canada Post labour dispute? Do you think the only people using Lettermail are eBay seller or something? The vast majority of people utilizing Lettermail are (non mail-order) businesses, not eBay sellers.

[chicweb]

Actually, I kind of agree with them.

If you check most websites out there, even Amazon, shipping usually starts at around $8, unless you're using some kind of subscription gimmick. Businesses use tracked shipping.

That’s what eBay expects from sellers. They offer no protection at all if something goes wrong with Lettermail.

Honestly, I’ve always felt it should never have been an option in the first place. I only use it on eBay because I have to, otherwise, I wouldn’t be competitive with all the sellers offering it. But I’d prefer not to

Even last Christmas, when Canada Post was on strike, many sellers were still offering Lettermail, which I personally found highly unprofessional. Don’t offer something you can’t reliably deliver.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. 😉