Canada post strike

[oldhousejunk]

Since the postal strike is growing, and reports are that the mail is backlogged and stuck on trucks,  does anyone have any advice?  I went to my local post office today to mail packages, but they are shut down.   I have a lot of listings ending this week, which have a lot of bids on them - but if we can't mail them out what do we do? 

I can't seem to find any info on this, or a way to contact the bidders to let them know about the strike.   

Would it be best for us canadian sellers to just cancel all of our current listings (even with bids on?) and stop listing until the strike is over?  

Any advice would be appreciated.   

[tyler@ebay]

Hi @oldhousejunk - hang in there! We've got you covered from Item not Received claims, neutral/negative feedback, etc. 

You should be able to contact buyers by going to the Orders section of your Seller Hub and choosing 'Contact Buyer' from the drop down under 'Actions' (screenshot included).

I would definitely let your buyers know that there will be a delay as the items work their way through the mailstream due to the rotating strikes. From what I've seen from other members here, buyers have been fairly understanding. 

If you run into any other trouble don't hesitate to let us know!Click on the down arrow thereChoose 'Contact Buyer'

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

Hi tyler@ebay    ...According to the original eBay announcement on ca, if the strike did start to affect delivery, that was supposed to be handled via eBay to keep buyers in the loop. Has that started happening yet?

-CM

[femmefan1946]

FWIW-- The dotCOM community page has an announcement at the top about the Canada Post labour dispute.

[oldhousejunk]

Thank you for your reply! That was fast!
I do communicate and send messages AFTER the auction has ended, I'm just wondering about current listings - you can't contact bidders to let them know of the delay in shipping, and it seems like adding that to a listing will only detract bids.

[tyler@ebay]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

Hi tyler@ebay    ...According to the original eBay announcement on ca, if the strike did start to affect delivery, that was supposed to be handled via eBay to keep buyers in the loop. Has that started happening yet?

-CM

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Hi @lotzofuniquegoodies - we added an Announcement Board post on .com for buyers there (as we all know, US buyers tend to be...particular...when it comes to shipping delays). General sentiment is that most Canadian buyers are aware of the service disruptions as its been in the news cycle quite a bit. 

We're also adding other notifications for buyers as well - we anticipate them being well aware of potential delays in shipment. But even if you get a grump or two, we will make sure your account doesn't suffer for it. 🙂

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

Unfortunately "your average" buyers do not head directly to the announcement/message boards to find out fun facts such as a postal strike in Canada. If it came directly from eBay as an official announcement it would be more helpful. As the original poster stated, not sure how many potential customers it could scare off.

-CM

[momcqueen]

I would strongly encourage you not to let the rotating strikes derail your business. Since job action began, none of my outbound parcels have delayed despite traveling through one or more strike zones. They’re still arriving on time or even ahead of time.

Communicate with buyers to ‘please be patient as there may be delays’ and dispatch as fast as you are able, but don’t worry overmuch.

For now, it’s a tempest in a teapot to me at least.

[pjcdn2005]

As Mo suggested, there may not be any delays.  The strikes are rotating and since your post office is closed today, it is likely that it will be open on Monday or Tuesday.   I haven't had any noticeable problems so far and I've actually had some tracked packages arrive slightly faster than usual.

If you go to the CUPW website, it will give you a list of the current strike locations. I see that the Kitchener-Waterloo local is one that is on strike today. 

[femmefan1946]

Keep in mind that while the PO is closed on weekends, the mail is still being processed and moved at most terminals and plants.

It's not being picked up or delivered to homes or businesses on weekends and holidays, but that is normal.

I'm starting to wonder if and when management will start their normal holiday hiring. Doing so just now would be ... fraught.

[ypdc_dennis]

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@oldhousejunk wrote:

Since the postal strike is growing, and reports are that the mail is backlogged and stuck on trucks,  does anyone have any advice?  I went to my local post office today to mail packages, but they are shut down.   I have a lot of listings ending this week, which have a lot of bids on them - but if we can't mail them out what do we do?

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The mail is still moving (except in the areas that are temporarily on strike).

Local rotating strikes are 1 or 2 days long at this point.

Postal outlets (like those at Shoppers) are not staffed by Canada Post union members and can accept and scan packages even if the local CUPW union is out on strike.

To see which areas are currently on rotating strike go to cupw.ca

The Friday November 2 list has:

• Bois Francs (QC)
• Grande Prairie (AB)
• Hamilton (ON)
• Kitchener-Waterloo (ON)
• Moncton (NB)
• Regina (SK)
• Sault Ste Marie (ON)
• St. John's (NL)
• Timmins (ON)

[ypdc_dennis]

Saturday, November 3 CUPW list:

• Bois Francs (QC)
• Kitchener-Waterloo (ON)
• Moncton (NB)
• Sault Ste Marie (ON)

[ricarmic]

If they are of use here are my current wordings I send to all buyers:

First time buyers:

Thank you for your purchase and quick payment.  Your parcel has been shipped out today, Monday XXXXXXX.  Please note that Canada Post is now experiencing rotating strikes, which may cause delivery delays. I very much appreciate your extra patience regarding any delays impacting arrival time. Once the parcel arrives, I hope you will find everything satisfactory.  If you are not completely pleased with this transaction, please contact me via email.  I will do my very best to resolve any problem you may have.  Regards, RICARMIC (Ron)

Repeat buyers:

Thank you for your most recent purchase and quick payment. I am pleased you decided to purchase from me again. Your parcel has been shipped out today, Monday XXXXXX. Please note that Canada Post is now experiencing rotating strikes, which may cause delivery delays. I very much appreciate your extra patience regarding any delays impacting arrival time. Regards, RICARMIC (Ron)

I've been getting more than usual responses from buyers who have received it and so far all have been positive.

[ypdc_dennis]

This list will probably grow again Sunday night.

Sunday, November 4 CUPW list:

• Bois Francs (QC)
• Moncton (NB)
• Sault Ste Marie (ON)

[reallynicestamps]

I'd never heard of Bois Franc QC.

Turns out to be a small town north of Maniwaki, (itself a small town north of Ottawa).

Bois Franc has a population of 447.

I guess the postie decided to go hunting and used the strike as an excuse.

Moncton and the Soo are somewhat larger.

[musicyouneed]

Hi ricarmic, I absolutely love that you share wording for all your wonderful emails to buyers for different scenarios.   I have used them on many occasions and have copied them to a word document to have handy.  Thanks so much for sharing. 

[cumos55]

From the CUPW website.....

After more than ten months of negotiations, the intervention of two mediators   and two weeks of rotating strikes, Canada Post is more and more showing its true colours. All of its lofty rhetoric and the image it is attempting to project to its employees and the public are turning out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

It needs to be said: Canada Post talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk.

[ypdc_dennis]

Fresh meat walking the lines:

• All depots of Scarborough except Pickering (ON) as of 6pm ET, Nov 4
• London (ON) as of 10pm ET, Nov 4
• York Distribution Center of Scarborough (ON) as of 3pm ET, Nov 4

[silverpinups]

Postal workers are over-paid! Canada Post should ship them off to privately funded group homes for seniors and provide personal care for 12.00-13.00 an hour. 

Maybe that will wake them up....     

[ypdc_dennis]

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@silverpinups wrote:

Postal workers are over-paid! Canada Post should ship them off to privately funded group homes for seniors and provide personal care for 12.00-13.00 an hour.

Maybe that will wake them up....     

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minimum wage in some provinces is already $14

About time privately funded group homes start paying a proper wage.