eBay Message - Provisions for Canada Post Shipment.

[byto253]

Message sent: 

As the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) strike extends into its fourth week, Canada Post delivery services continue to face disruptions, affecting the flow of shipments across Canada. We understand this is a challenging time for both you and your customers. We're reaching out to share our response to the situation and to request your continued partnership.

To support you and your business, eBay is implementing automatic protections for the next seller standards evaluation. These include:

• Late Shipment Rate (LSR) defects
• Tracking uploaded and validated rate
• Negative or neutral feedback if tracking was uploaded and validated by the carrier
• Out of Stock cancellations

Additionally, all Item Not Received (INR) claims are now on hold, and the Estimated Delivery Dates (EDDs) for all shipments with Canada Post have been extended. These measures will ensure deliveries have enough time to be completed during the strike and will remain in effect until Canada Post resumes regular operations.

To navigate these disruptions, we recommend the following actions:

1. Maintain active listings: Keep listings active for continued visibility and sales.
2. Provide alternative shipping solutions: For outstanding orders, don’t ship with Canada Post, even if it was selected at checkout. Update your listings to incorporate alternative options like FedEx and UPS.
3. Offer local pickup: Allow buyers in your area to collect their orders in person.
4. Communicate: Inform buyers about potential delays and accommodate requests for cancellations on unshipped orders.
5. Stay updated: Regularly check the Community page for updates and consult Canada Post for information on the strike.

eBay will continue to monitor the situation and adjust guidance and protections as necessary, please keep an eye on the Community Board for further updates.

Thank you for your continued efforts and commitment to selling on eBay.

[intimewithmusic]

Has eBay lobbied the federal government like they did when this happened in 2018?

2018 Strike

"The head of eBay Canada sent a letter to the prime minister late Tuesday, urging him to force an end to the labour dispute. Andrea Stairs, eBay’s general manager for Canada, also warned that quick action was needed to ensure retailers don’t lose out on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

“I encourage the government to explore all available legislative solutions to alleviate the current situation,” Stairs wrote in the letter, which was also sent to Labour Minister Patty Hajdu and Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough.

Read more: Canada Post strike having ‘critical’ impact on retailers, eBay tells PM
Read more: Canada Post no longer guarantees delivery times amid more rotating strikes

Continued rotating strikes at Canada Post will result in significant losses for small and medium-sized businesses across the country, Stairs warned, noting that smaller firms are unable to negotiate lower shipping fees with other delivery services.

While many businesses have adapted as best they can since the strikes began on Oct. 22, Stairs said adjustments online sellers have made so far to avoid delivery disruptions are unsustainable.

“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are critical sales opportunities for Canadian small and micro retailers, particularly those that sell into the U.S. — the largest consumer market in the world,” she wrote.

“Should the Canada Post service disruptions continue through this key retail moment, these (smaller businesses) will be seriously disadvantaged in competing for U.S. demand.”

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Not trying to create panic but today Trudeau said if they don't settle soon it could spell the end of Canada Post. 

[1zombie2go]

I doubt Ebay will reimburse us the differance for going out of pocket to pay for the unwanted and overpriced FedEx and UPS shipping.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@byto253 

@1zombie2go 

@intimewithmusic 

Does anyone know if the ebay label rates being billed are matching any UPS/Fedex surge pricing that is getting charged? The details are posted on their websites as a disclaimer. FWIW it would be a good idea to be monitoring that. 

[reallynicestamps]

And I'm too old and retired to qualify for the $250 handout.

Grump grump grump grump.

[intimewithmusic]

Sorry Lotz, I'm out of touch.

Due to unexpected store closure I'm out earning $50/hr delivering packages for Amazon....

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

And I'm too old and retired to qualify for the $250 handout.

Grump grump grump grump.

---

@reallynicestamps 

You'll (we'll) be in the same predicament waiting to see if eBay has the wherewithall/technical knowhow to remove tax accordingly when/if the other thing kicks in on the 14th.

I see your grump grump grump grump and raise them several more. 

[byto253]

Message sent to buyers today:

As the Canada Post strike enters its fourth week, we want to inform you about the measures eBay is taking to ensure minimal disruption to your shopping experience.
Please review the key information below:

Delayed Deliveries:

• Packages currently with Canada Post will remain undelivered until the strike concludes, and there may be additional delays as they work through their backlog.
• Please hold off on reporting that your order has not arrived, as it is likely delayed in transit.
• Our eBay Money Back Guarantee will apply if your order is delayed because of the strike. If your order does not arrive in a reasonable amount of time after the end of the labour disruption, contact us for assistance.

Shipping Options:

• Sellers have been encouraged to offer alternative shipping options on their listings.
• Estimated Delivery Dates (EDDs) for Canada Post services have been extended.
• Shipments made using eIS (eBay International Shipping) have been redirected to non-Canada Post carriers. These orders are expected to arrive as scheduled unless you or the seller are located in remote areas that are dependent on Canada Post.

Returns:

• Communicate with sellers regarding return requests to minimize complications.
• If you’ve already shipped a return, it may be stuck in transit.

We are closely monitoring the situation and its impact on items in transit. For updates on the labour actions and eBay’s response, please visit the Canada Post website and eBay’s Canada Post Strike page.

Thank you for your continued efforts and commitment to selling on eBay.

[widgetc]

I just got my first negative due to the strike while  doing everything right. eBay notice says it will protect us from

• Negative or neutral feedback if tracking was uploaded and validated by the carrier

This does nothing for items cancled so not mailed and so no tracking number exists or for non-tracked items which nearly all my stamp items are.

[sin-n-dex]

---

@widgetc wrote:

I just got my first negative due to the strike while  doing everything right. eBay notice says it will protect us from

• Negative or neutral feedback if tracking was uploaded and validated by the carrier

This does nothing for items cancled so not mailed and so no tracking number exists or for non-tracked items which nearly all my stamp items are.

---

Sorry to hear you got a tool of a buyer (which is obvious from the feedback he left). I'd still try to fight with eBay to get that removed since they promised to protect because of the strike.

I have four items that are "in transit" with Canada Post, not so worried about negatives, but don't want to have to refund due to the strike. Not really sure how I can go about appeasing buyers to get them to not file an Item Not Received claim and be refunded (and they will receive their letter when the strike ends).

I sell stamps too, and my four "in transit" orders were mailed with postage stamps instead of tracking, so I'm in the same boat as you if I get a negative due to this.

I stopped shipping to Canada but I'm still doing USPS shipping through Stallion Express. The tracked items are appearing to be processed reasonably quickly, but the untracked items in batches are taking extra days to process, and items shipped since Dec 2 have not arrived at their destination yet. It's hard to be asking buyers to wait when you don't have an estimate on how long it's taking shipments to arrive (and the non-tracked stuff I only know when feedback is left or if a buyer messages me, both not common occurences).

C.

[chicweb]

I think using lettermail might be gone for a while on eBay.

The strike is not over and it is impossible for sellers to deliver using that method. It might be like this for a while, there will be long delays even after the strike ends. Continuing offering it at the moment is an open door for bad feedbacks.

eBay will unfortunately only remove bad feedback during the strike for tracked items only, as specified in their notice.

Many sellers changed their shipping strategy to be able to continue operating (that means having higher item prices or higher shipping prices or both.)

We have to adapt.

[byto253]

Agree, even after it is over I won't be putting up the small stuff for a while.  What I did sell during the strike is higher value and/or bulky items that required parcel shipping.   

[chicweb]

I'm analyzing things right now. CDs and DVDs might be sold in bundle for my part... Still not sure... Still able to sell other kind of items.

I think listings of 15$+ have higher chance to get sold with tracking...

Still waiting a bit more to take that decision for lower value items. 😉

[widgetc]

Basically for many items the only  adaption is to not sell. 

As an example I sold a few stamps to someone in India...cost to mail under $3.00 but the only other eBay shipping option was about $130.00.

"eBay will unfortunately only remove bad feedback during the strike for tracked items only, as specified in their notice."

If the buyer asks to be refunded rather than waiting there is no tracking because the item was never shipped.

[chicweb]

True about the cancelation.

I guess that's one more caveat of using Canada Post on eBay right now.

As for the option not to sell... That's an opinion. But there's not really any other viable choices at the moment. Market change. Businesses must adapt.

It is your choice to still provide a shipping method that is not available (and we don't know when it will come back). But there's possible consequences by doing so (angry customers, bad feedbacks, having to refund, customers losing trust, etc).

I personnally prefer to be safe and rethink my business model to not even have to use Canada Post ever again. Learned my lesson with them. I have a business to run and it needs stability in its operations.

Just a question of opinions and ways of doing things. 😉

Wish you good luck, maybe if you contact them, they will add the removal of bad feedbacks from cancelation without tracking into the protection (which would be logical to do, I think).

[apmtrade]

I am in the same situation, most of my orders shipped as lettermail  due to weight, Stamps & Covers.

When the strike started I took "Time away"

In the days close to the strike I shipped around 25 orders, and I am now starting to receive " Not received" and " Open case", for not received orders. 

As I understand eBay only protects sellers' ,shipping with tracking, but we are totally out of control of the strike situation and eBay should give a longer timeframe before buyers can open a "Not received" case.

[chicweb]

You are still in control of your listings, shipping prices and methods.

Why still offer lettermail when you cannot use it to ship? There are other carriers.

Many sellers switched to Time Away and removed their items losing a LOT of money because they cannot provide any shipping. Others changed their pricing accordingly to continue operating.

Since the strike, I see a LOT of sellers still offering ONLY lettermail and having a lot of sales but cannot provide the items. It's normal that customers will want their items or the money back eventually.

I still don't understand why some still offer it at the moment. Of course customers will be unhappy.

I shipped about 10 items around the strike with lettermail. I'm ready to refund them completely and lose the items. That's part of doing business. Not eBay's fault or the customer's fault. I should have played it safe and switched to a tracked service with another carrier way before.

[dobo5250]

good luck with ebay sending a letter ti the goverment doing anything about it -- now maybe a face to face meeting with lots of tv and news people reporting it would do something maybe sprinkle in a few hardluck stories with those people in attendence at this meeting  maybe just maybe something would get done --but alas the powers at be keep to themselves -- only money makes money in this country --the little guy and iam mean the little guy like us gets the boot everytime -- just look at that debackle of the 250 dollar rebate -- what a joke -- take that money solve the postal strike  enough said 

[widgetc]

For most of the stuff I sell it is more than an opinon that the only option is not to sell without letter mail being available, it is reality. As an example eBay item number:233524978276, I charged $1.20 shipping to someone in the U.S.. Cost to mail $1.40 but I have a lot of postage that I purchased at a discount. The cheapest option now is fedex at $18.30. Most sales are international and no customer will buy and pay that much to ship...they will buy from someone in another country.

I put eBay on holiday.

[chicweb]

You can mail-in consolidate packages with chitchat if there's no drop-off location near you. Would cost about 15$ (well, it's the case for me) and chitchat ship for 6.75 in most urban areas in Canada and the United states with tracking. But mailin-in needs a bit of volume or more patient customers.

You can add 1$ per item. Wait for 15 items to be shipped at once to chitchat. And charge 6.75$ for shipping.

I'm using something similar. I just add a bit more for rural. I suggest adding 10$ shipping (split between shipping and item price). Some place cost 11$... But, it's a good average, I think.

Or you can bundle the items.

Sometime, market changes. Some items become less interesting to sell online the way they were. We must adapt and be creative.