We want to hear from you—Canada Post labour disruptions

[happy_pigeon]

Hi all,

With Canada Post rotating strikes continuing for the third week with no indication of a resolution between Canada Post and CUPW, the eBay Canada team are looking to hear from Canadian sellers about the impact of the strikes on their business.

Feedback and examples from our seller community helps us to better advocate for you. If you're comfortable with sharing your experience, we want to hear from you, whether you've felt an impact from the postal labour disruptions or not.

Some members of my team (someone other than myself or Tyler) may reach out to you via PM for more information after you post in this thread. We look forward to hearing your stories!

[pjcdn2005]

I've never had an oversize mail returned for weight..but I did have one returned because it was an inch or so bigger than the maximum allowed.

You print out 3 copies of the label AND a customs invoice? Why 3 copies?  Also, the customs info should already be on the label so what do you mean by a customs invoice?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

I process all my shipments in Shippo. For International(Non USA) a note actually pops up before you click to print stating 3 copies. Should really be 2 copies for USA. Some countries even require documents printed in their specific language. Regulations for that is covered at the Canadapost website. Personally processed customs documents where I worked and that was standard procedure. For businesses you also are supposed to include the Certificate of Origin form or have on file with your customs broker for outbound shipments. Haven't processed in paypal in ages but as I recall their documentation was combined with the label. Actual customs invoice is quite a bit more detailed and definitely required for higher value shipments.

-CM

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

With a courier shipment your waybill/shipping label for international shipments(FEDEX, Puro, Loomis,UPS) are already more than 3 copies. I always print a copy for myself for backup in case something were to happen along the way if customs were ever to have questions or shipment paperwork were to get lost. Customs documentation includes a Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin or have on file and a packing slip to match the commercial invoice. The small packet forms we used to use CN22 were only 2 copies. Customer copy and 1 to stay with shipment.(Most of the customs with Canadapost is done electronically but there still needs to be that documentation(hard copies) to travel WITH the shipment)

[femmefan1946]

@momcqueen

I honestly don’t understand how anyone but that company makes money as part of their corporate business structure: it’s as if their carriers and third-party merchants work for free simply to keep the beast satisfied.

Well, basically that's exactly what is happening.

Just as WalMart cut prices until the mom'n'pops in Smalltown USA went under (then raised their prices) AZ has some cutthroat deals with both suppliers and shippers.

There is an article online from a USPS postal worker about changes in his workload   since AZ made a deal with USPS a year or two ago, when the PO was having yet another crisis. (Probably one started by conservative loons who figure that socialism is satanic, but I don't want to be judgemental.)

[2nd-time-around-jewelry]

I really haven't noticed any difference in my shipping times since the postal strike started. Business is as usual for me. I live in Vancouver B.C. & haven't been affected by the strike here so far. It may take an extra day or two sending across Canada but things get to the U.S. quickly as I am so close to the border.  And I always send a message to my buyers that there may be a slight delay because of the strike. So far so good.

[postit4me]

Canada Post uses a Cubiscan which measures each and every intake in the large processing centres. I questioned this more than two years ago, with the different between private postal outlets checking and charging the postage amounts. You believe you have sent your item correctly and the cubiscan measures and weights it and rejects it back to sender for more postage. All automated isn't technology great. My point was with large volumes how do you know that another item isn't scanned with yours to give these inaccuracies when a human already weight and charged for your item. This is what I learned from Canada Post when I complained about the different and they return of my item for more postage.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Sent only one tracked item this week, CP Expedited USA

It was delayed by one full day before even leaving our local post office due to strikes elsewhere in the Toronto area. Even though this rural post office was open to receive mail, there was either no truck available for the daily pickup or the centre where the truck needed to deliver to was on strike, probably the latter.

As of Nov. 10, 3:30 pm  the item has not arrived in USA, a delay of a little more than 24 hrs so far. 

Nov 9, 2018
19:28pm
International item being forwarded to destination country
MISSISSAUGA, ON

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Nov 9, 2018
06:18am
Item processed
MISSISSAUGA, ON

-------------------------------------------------------------

Nov 7, 2018
15:30pm
Shipment received at originating postal facility
RURAL POST OFFICE  near GTA, ON

[15westcoast]

Just received a pkg. from Michigan.  Went through

Chicago then to Montreal, where it cleared customs

and then to Richmond and here to Victoria.  Posted on

Nov. 3 (priority) and received today Nov. 10.  I was

worried that it would get hung up somewhere but the

rotating strikes were in my favor.  Not bad.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Update; CP Expedited USA shipping from just oustide of the Greater Toronto Area.

It seems this shipment has taken close to 2 days longer than usual to arrive in the USA, Chicago is the usual entry point.

Nov 10, 2018
19:30pm
International shipment has arrived in a foreign country
USORDA

------------------------------------------------------

Nov 9, 2018
19:28pm
International item being forwarded to destination country
MISSISSAUGA, ON

Slow movement , unusually long spread between when the item supposedly left and it's actual arrival in USA. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

Nov 9, 2018
06:18am
Item processed
MISSISSAUGA, ON

Typically shipments receive their arrival scan a little before or after midnight, 6 hr delay here.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Nov 7, 2018
15:30pm
Shipment received at originating postal facility
RURAL POST OFFICE  near GTA, ON

24 hour delay here because CP cancelled the daily truck , no mail was forwarded on this day

[ians_vintage]

Two very important pieces of information for Canadian sellers were on the news tonight:

1) There is now 180 shipping containers full of unprocessed mail and parcels sitting at the Toronto distribution centre alone, other processing centres are seeing similar backlog volumes.

2) Canada Post announced today that they are suspending all delivery time guarantees for the foreseeable future, as they can no longer provide guaranteed delivery dates.

I've had buyers starting to complain about items not arriving within the expected delivery windows as well.

https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/fresh-rotating-postal-strikes-to-cause-deli...

[momcqueen]

As an online seller who relies on the prompt delivery of my merchandise to my shoppers ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR I am infuriated by the following:

http://cupw-sttp.ca/overtime2.pdf

"During our strike actions we have created a huge backlog of mail, which impacted the country and we can all be proud of that accomplishment."

Is ebay planning to do any lobbying to CUPW and Canada Post and/or the federal government on behalf as sellers? Or do we have to rally the troops ourselves? 

[cumos55]

My first experience with a postal strike was in 2011…

I kept selling until  the strike started…..  Fortunately it was a rotating strike… and all of my parcels cleared the postal system

------

It was in 2016 that  there was a possibility of a strike.  It was my choice to put my store on vacation for July and August of 2016…..  until the union and Canada Post decided not to proceed with a strike.

The difference between 2011 and 2016 was that sales were not an absolute necessity for me in 2016.

-----

Now it is 2018 ……My store has been on vacation since September 17.

The last parcel went from Winnipeg to Gander Newfoundland…….  It was going to be a long trip of approximately 12 days……  Tracking showed that it arrived several days before the expected date of delivery.

Several people have inquired about making purchases.  My response was that the store was on vacation because of the potential, or actual reality of a postal strike.

……………………………………….

Based on what happened in 2016, it was my decision to put the store on vacation.  I needed a holiday….    And it was a good time to make many adjustments to my selling on eBay.

There were many charity book sales over September and October.  Lots of new inventory was found,  and new listings were prepared and added to my store on eBay.    There has been a major adjustment in the management of my inventory in storage..  This meant lots of work….. 

Keeping track of parcels traveling in Canada Post  would have made life difficult… and  … frustrating.  This was not needed.  How many parcels....  from 40 to 60 parcels each month is too much to put into the postal  system with everything that is happening between the union and Canada Post.

Right now I am keeping track of the relationship between the union and Canada Post… and waiting. 

It is November 13…….We are at a point where something significant could happen….soon

……………………………….

The biggest difference between 2011 and 2018 was the reduction of lettermail in the postal system….  People made major adjustments in 2016…..  Billing was being received via email,  and payments were made using internet banking.   People continue to adjust to doing more on the internet,  and Canada Post is less important to the general population.  This rotating strike  has forced  more people to make this adjustment to using the internet

The amount of parcels in the postal system  continues to increase….. The number of people and businesses involved in on-line selling is not large,  but Canada Post has had to make major adjustments to  the delivery of parcels because of on-line sales…..  The internet is a major option for selling in Canada, and will continue to be more important with each passing year.  Canada Post must adjust to the delivery of more parcels with each passing year.  This delivery of parcels  keeps Canada Post a viable business.. 

The postal union wants  certain things to happen…..  Canada Post   has a different view of things…..  and … right now there is a stalemate.

[ians_vintage]

Halifax is now an ongoing strike, until further notice, as they have decided to continue to strike past the 24 hour window:

https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/canada-posts-strike-action-to-continue-in-halifax-area-until-...

[rose-dee]

I sell mainly (over 90%) to the U.S. and have done so for more than 10 years.  I have a small, but enthusiastic buyer base, with a lot of repeat customers.  In my niche market, word gets around fast on Facebook and elsewhere about sellers' service or products.   Shipping is the bane of my existence, as U.S. buyers don't usually understand that Canadian shipping is not part of USPS. 

I've always had minor complaints about the cost of shipping (as reflected in my less-than-perfect shipping cost DSRs), even though I've always "subsidized" Canada Post shipping costs for my buyers.  However, for the first time in over 10 years of selling, my shipping time DSRs have dropped.  

My main worry is the potential of shipping delays to U.S. destinations, i.e. parcels getting out of Canada.  I'm in semi-rural Nova Scotia, which means that even normally  it takes 3 to 4 days for a parcel to reach the border via Canada Post (up to and including Expedited Parcel).  Almost all my small items go by Small Packet Air (untracked) due to the cost of shipping vs. selling price. 

EBay promising to remove its own seller punishment (defects, etc.) doesn't help me if I lose a customer due to the postal dispute.  My competitors are all in the U.S., so an American buyer will just give up on a Canadian if there are any problems at all.  Accordingly, my strategy has been to add nothing new to my inventory, and do no promotion in what would normally be my busiest and most lucrative season (from late August to late November).  If a major disruption now occurs at Canada Post (lockout, longer strikes, or full strike), I'll immediately put my store on vacation. 

In short, this postal disruption has pretty much destroyed my plans for this autumn season and wrecked my ability to sell confidently, i.e. being able to guarantee my U.S. buyers will get good delivery service.  I can't afford to lose a single customer due to slow delivery complaints.  At this point, with the season pretty much done, I've probably lost a good 80% of my usual income because I've avoided listing new items due to the uncertainty.  Once we reach early December, my sales usually drop off and don't pick up until early January, so come late November, it's over for me anyway.  

I wish eBay would put some pressure on Canada Post and/or the federal government to end this.  I feel this way particularly after reading the boastful comment by CUPW that they're proud of the "accomplishment" of having disrupted the entire country.  They've disrupted people's income who may not be able to afford it.  

[fainorreg]

Hi....There is no mail moving in Newfoundland since Tuesday..so its kind of sad

[snoopwiz]

Hi....There is no mail moving in Newfoundland since Tuesday..so its kind of sad

Shipped a package from Trawna to Stephenville Crossing NL on Nov 5, scanned in Halifax N.S. on Nov 9. So far so good. But wait........it is currently in Dieppe N. B, last scan on  Nov 13.   Lots of "Delivery may be delayed due to labour disruption" interspersed with the scans though. 

[cumos55]

I have already indicated my store has been on vacation since September 17.

Lots of new inventory has been added to the store....  What surprises me is that people are viewing those new listings....    I did expect significant interest in a few listing if the store was not on vacation ....  and they are showing  a high number of views....  with one having 94 views and with a store on vacation.

People are watching  and waiting for the postal strike situation to end....

[earth-keeper]

I don't know what site you guys are selling stuff on. My sales are down 90%. As soon as they started the strikes everything stopped. People are looking and "watching" 5,6,7 watching but the item ends with no sale. As for starting and selling an item for .99cents and free to almost free shipping, you have to be kidding. Has business gotten that bad? I am not going to lose $10 to sell something. I have to use the free listings and sparingly post other items but it is not worth .35 cents to .53 cents when nothing is selling.

[reallynicestamps]

As for starting and selling an item for .99cents and free to almost free shipping, you have to be kidding.

Just to be clear, 'free' shipping means the cost of shipping is included in the asking price for the item.

Which is cheaper?

A 99 cent item with $5 shipping?

Or a $5.99 item with Free Shipping?

Some buyers love the low price item and overlook the shipping cost.

Some buyers love getting 'free' shipping and overlook the higher selling price.

Both are valid ways of selling.

My Canadian sales have been dropping off but the US and overseas buyers are still around.

I list on both dotCOM when I can reasonably use Flat Rate /Free Shipping and on dotCA when I must use parcel services.  Until November the two sites sold equally well, since then most sales have been from dotCOM.

[pjcdn2005]

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@cumos55 wrote:

I have already indicated my store has been on vacation since September 17.

Lots of new inventory has been added to the store....  What surprises me is that people are viewing those new listings....    I did expect significant interest in a few listing if the store was not on vacation ....  and they are showing  a high number of views....  with one having 94 views and with a store on vacation.

People are watching  and waiting for the postal strike situation to end....

---

I don’t understand how your new listings coukd be getting views when your listings are not visible to the public.