When would be the right time to start shipping?

[lud-4367]

So, they will start collecting mails and parcels from this friday, right? Does that mean the business will be the same as before without delays?  Do you think it's okay to start dropping off mails and parcels from friday? Or maybe I should just wait until january since there are a lot of backlogs and also the people who are eager to ship right away. Furthermore, the news articles say that the union members will appeal the ruling. Does it mean they will start go a strike again? When are you going to start shipping? 

[ricarmic]

@doc_scribe 

I do this all the time (when my store is open).

I create a special lot with the title of "Special lot for PARTOFTHE BUYERSID" and a generic picture, not of what they are buying (usually the back of a stamp).

Note that I put in the description "If youre not PARTOF THE BUYERSID, check out the 1000s of other items running in my store. (It is surprising how many views these get as opposed to my normal listings so I figure cross polination is possible!)

Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/205021322471 

As far as I know the "something wrong with address" shouldn't cause future purchase issue as theoretically, even from bots perspective buyer may have fixed their address....

[intimewithmusic]

Thanks @chicweb . I had no idea never having used it. I assumed, from @busybea_books comment that it must be an option... Possibly I misunderstood it. Much appreciated!

("My lettermail sales (advert pages and articles) are about 70% USA, 20% Canada and 10% other international. ") 

[intimewithmusic]

   I see. Hopefully the price of Tracked Packet USA won't increase too much! 

[reallynicestamps]

I dropped (untracked) lettermail into the post box on Tuesday and Wednesday, went into the Post Office with tracked USA packets on Thursday (Helen from Weeda Stamps was there with two carts filled with packages from their Bid Board and eBay sales), and dropped more lettermail into the post box on Friday.

And on Thursday we got mail!

Two bills, one overdue.

[postit4me]

I have found NO Delay on any of the items I have posted since postal workers wentback. All my Canadian Christmas cards have been delivered and same with my parcels. I would assume there is no backlog of product with such great service. Thank you posties for your great service. As for USPS is another story there is delays.

[38e_avenue]

Unfortunately, not the same here (Montreal). A TP posted on Thursday (19 Dec) - and it's stuck 4th day, the tracking says "Delivery may be delayed due to labour disruption". And for unknown reason it has been shipped to Ottawa, instead to the local airport. Apparently, I switched from ChitChats to CP too early .... 🙄

I am also waiting for a few letters and parcels from Europe - none arrived.  🙄

[flipistics]

I ordered some boxes today from the eBay shipping supplies store (I hadn't used the coupon yet). I figure that will be a nice test of how things are moving.

Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!

[jtg204]

My domestic CP parcel heading to St Johns NL shipped Nov 12 got processed in Montreal on Nov 14, tracking hasn't updated since, other than the same delay message that ebay shows as from Ottawa.  I think that tracking update is just CP HQ location and not where packages are delayed?

[byto253]

That's the norm for CP.  It will just be in transit until it gets to NL as there is not normally any interim tracking update. 

[doc_scribe]

---

@ricarmic wrote:

@doc_scribe 

I do this all the time (when my store is open).

I create a special lot with the title of "Special lot for PARTOFTHE BUYERSID" and a generic picture, not of what they are buying (usually the back of a stamp).

Note that I put in the description "If youre not PARTOF THE BUYERSID, check out the 1000s of other items running in my store. (It is surprising how many views these get as opposed to my normal listings so I figure cross polination is possible!)

Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/205021322471 

As far as I know the "something wrong with address" shouldn't cause future purchase issue as theoretically, even from bots perspective buyer may have fixed their address....

---

FTR, a combination of @ricarmic  and @lotzofuniquegoodies recommendations worked just fine, so thanks to both for helping me over this once-in-two-decades hurdle. 

And yes, your theory appears to be correct about any lingering impact from selecting "something wrong with address" as the reason for cancellation. No restrictions here whatsoever...30 days later, same buyer, same addy...completed as smoothly as original sale.  

[reallynicestamps]

There was a poster on dotCOM today worried about a not yet delivered package which USPS had not scanned as received.

A Mentor reminded us that eBay requires Proof of Delivery, not proof of tracking.

That is, it is not important that the shipment was sent with a tracked service, only that it is Delivered by the estimated date.

Proof of Delivery is the seller's protection.

And eBay is usually willing to give some leeway if a formal Dispute has been filed and the seller can supply the tracking number.

Whether or not it has been "accepted".

@marnotom!  has a third party link for tracking shipments.

This is also why, if there is a formal Dispute opened, that the seller must must must respond with the tracking number if the shipment was tracked.

And why we must not panic at mere Messages.

Be polite reassuring and professional, but there is no need for refund until that INR claim is filed.

[sin-n-dex]

---

@postit4me wrote:

I have found NO Delay on any of the items I have posted since postal workers wentback. All my Canadian Christmas cards have been delivered and same with my parcels. I would assume there is no backlog of product with such great service. Thank you posties for your great service. As for USPS is another story there is delays.

---

One reason there might not be a delay... at my work the day they went back to work and started getting mail again, our work processed all letters from that day immediately to go out, meanwhile buckets from Nov 15 to Dec 17 are in a storage room waiting for postage and processing... it will take us a few weeks to process that back volume, but if you mail it at my work today, we'll send it out today. It's only the stuff that we did during the strike that's messed up for delays.

Just a thought.

C.

[sin-n-dex]

On the subject of mail, I got a bill today that was mailed almost a month ago (during the strike, but I suppose they hadn't put it in the mail until the strike was over). We got a package that was mailed before the strike (maybe a week or two before, it came the first day mail was being delivered again, it was a coin from an eBay seller). Also some banking stuff that was posted during the strike arrived.

I have four packages in transit to places in Canada. One buyer said he'd tell me when he gets it (and hasn't yet, he's in Quebec, I'm in Ontario). Another is going to Manitoba and was mailed three days before the strike, that buyer usually leaves feedback and haven't received any yet.

I'm hoping no INRs at an inopportune time... I'm waiting for surgery which looks like it will happen early next week... I could find myself in hospital before then, so would rather not have any eBay drama during this time. (The store was closed until Jan 5 as a precaution. I don't like being without sales, but no point in selling stuff If I might not be able to ship it).

C.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@sin-n-dex 

Home mail delivery has been basically back up and running for 5 days. So far 2 pcs of junk mail on different days. No sign of bills which there should have been at least 2. Got a single email from 1 of the utilities about setting up online but nothing further. Still crossing fingers on an untracked low value item to Spain that was dropped off 1 day before strike happened. For anyone that sent letter type pieces just prior to strike my best hopes and wishes.

USPS I know but still applicable. 

[reallynicestamps]

I met Helen from Weeda Stamps in the post office today. She told me she had been at the PO three times last week shipping from their two Billboards (a kind of auction) during the strike. The day I saw her, Thursday, she had two carts of boxes and envelopes. Today she had a box about two feet on each side, covered in stamps of course, still to go as she finished up shipping all her envelopes.

She also told me that they have had only two requests for FedEx deliveries, and no one seems too worried about delivery dates so far. Weeda also functions as Garden City Auctions and are a very reliable company.

I had a cancellation from Rumania, which I think was a scam prevented by the strike. It had not been mailed and the customer would have thought it had been given the purchase date. I am considering Blocking Rumania, since my last three customers there all have cancelled.

[38e_avenue]

---

@flipistics wrote:

Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!

---

Here is the update you asked for. It seems they are really back to work 😄

I just got a late parcel from the EU (shipped on Nov 12), but still none of the Xmas cards posted by friends. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@38e_avenue wrote:

---

@flipistics wrote:

Please keep posting updates on how your items are progressing. It's really helpful!

---

Here is the update you asked for. It seems they are really back to work 😄

I just got a late parcel from the EU (shipped on Nov 12), but still none of the Xmas cards posted by friends. 

---

@38e_avenue 

@doc_scribe 

@flipistics 

Just got a new update on mine dropped off yesterday tracked from Calgary to the Netherlands.

There was a blurb on news yesterday about the not accepting international until such and such a date. When I checked with clerk she was told that was only for electronics. Mine happened to be a book so no problem. 

-Lotz

[jtg204]

Update on mine too, the next update was processed at DIEPPE, NB Dec 22 and then departed about 30hrs later Dec 23.  So my one strike parcel has moved now.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@sin-n-dex 

A non tracked parcel I sent to Spain 1 day before strike officially happened was received by buyer. 5.5 weeks total time. Fortunately with prompt follow up and multiple requests to "Please be patient" and buyer agreeing to be, item finally arrived. Unfortunately not all customers are as patient. It is still very sad that eBay only has a system in place to credit a customer but  NOTHING in place to re-bill items when you are forced to refund when those items do eventually arrive. You are left to fend for yourself and just hope buyer will be cooperative. (Similar to when claims are required and eBay not giving you the info required to process smoothly.Real email addresses)

Best of luck with your and anyone in a similar situation when it comes to INR's. All one can do is hope for best and  good outcomes  and then dealing with any that don't, as required the best they can.

[sin-n-dex]

---

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

@sin-n-dex 

A non tracked parcel I sent to Spain 1 day before strike officially happened was received by buyer. 5.5 weeks total time. Fortunately with prompt follow up and multiple requests to "Please be patient" and buyer agreeing to be, item finally arrived. Unfortunately not all customers are as patient. It is still very sad that eBay only has a system in place to credit a customer but  NOTHING in place to re-bill items when you are forced to refund when those items do eventually arrive. You are left to fend for yourself and just hope buyer will be cooperative. (Similar to when claims are required and eBay not giving you the info required to process smoothly.Real email addresses)

Best of luck with your and anyone in a similar situation when it comes to INR's. All one can do is hope for best and  good outcomes  and then dealing with any that don't, as required the best they can.

---

Of the four that went Canada Post right before the strike, one buyer responded to me telling me not to worry, he'll be patient. He also said he'd let me know when it arrived, but no message from him or feedback for that transaction yet.

The other three buyers didn't respond, but no one is filing an INR. What I have asked is that they reach out to me before filing an INR, that's my request any time there's delays. I don't have an issue refunding if significant time is passing without delivery, but I don't need to rack up a ton of INRs on my account and be put in eBay jail with higher fees because buyers are impatient. At least half of INRs filed against me are bogus because the item was delivered, or eventually gets delivered, but the INR doesn't come off my account.

I did get a Canada order sometime last night/this morning for a regular buyer in Nova Scotia. I checked shipping with Stallion, but it's $15, and since this buyer is a regular with no problems ever shipping to them, I'm inclined to use lettermail and cross my fingers. They overpaid shipping a bit (paid shipping on two tokens when I would have combined), so I refunded the extra shipping and made an appeal to please be a bit more patient that usual due to the strike. Hopefully this won't come back to bite me.

In all this madness of pre-Christmas sales, Stallion having delays due to the Canada Post Strike and lots of delays with USPS, I have only had to refund on one letter so far (it was an INR and there was no tracking, it was a $3 item). I ended up blocking that buyer because they never contacted me later to say it arrived and offer to repay, and I don't believe as many letters are "not arriving" as buyers are claiming they are. When the INR is filed too quickly I'm feeling that they noticed no tracking and took advantage of the opportunity to get a free item. Most legitimate INRs tend to be filed quite late, and some of those items have tracking which confirms delivery didn't happen yet.

C.