Canada Post Strike and On-Time Shipping

[windfalcon]

Hi All, I looked for a thread about this but wasn't able to find anything. There are plenty of threads about the Canada Post strike, but none regarding penalties for late shipments to Canada due to the strike.

Etsy sent me a 'warning' message letting me know that I'm not meeting standards by shipping items out late, and the only order that's late is one that's going to Canada. I can't ship this out until USPS allows shipments to Canada again (even though the strike is over, we still can't ship to Canada from the U.S.). I want to make sure my shop won't be penalized due to this order being 'late'.

I have been in regular contact with the customer, and they are fine waiting until shipments to Canada open again, so there's no issue there.

[ThePurplePuppy]

I checked with my local
PO and they said they ARE accepting shipments to Canada as of today. Both Etsy and PS are both refusing to allow us to print labels so the only  option I see is to go to the Post office and pay retail rates. I can hold off until Monday and am going to check  again o see if I can buy a label before resorting to that.

[cindylouwho2]

Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to just sit on orders because of the strike. We need to find alternative shipping methods, extend the ship by date, or cancel the order. This has been discussed in numerous threads; I am sorry you didn't see it. 

[windfalcon]

I feel like if both the seller and the buyer are okay with holding onto the order until the strike is over, it shouldn't negatively affect your shop. It's one thing if the customer filed a complaint with Etsy, but if both parties are content with waiting, it doesn't make sense for that to negatively affect your shop.

[cindylouwho2]

@windfalcon Unfortunately, Etsy doesn't care what you feel like.

The site promises that items will arrive on time, and they expect us to meet our processing times to do that.  

Many sellers had to cancel orders or find alternative shipping methods due to this strike. Etsy themselves have been offering non-CP labels to ship from the US to Canada for a month now: https://community.etsy.com/t5/All-About-Shipping/Updated-12-17-Canada-Post-labor-strike-What-you-nee... so in Etsy's opinion, you could have shipped before now. 

[AmmoliteRainbows]

We can only change the ship by date once.  And not knowing when the strike was to end, mission impossible for those in rural areas with no alternatives.  I have since shipped every order on time, and today received the Etsy warning, and that I am being assessed.

[cindylouwho2]

@AmmoliteRainbows "And not knowing when the strike was to end, mission impossible for those in rural areas with no alternatives." There were alternatives in over 90% of the country. You could have used the cheap UPS labels from NetParcel for example, or possibly Sendle. I used the first option myself. 

But for those truly without any options, the only choice was not to sell until the strike was over, and to cancel any existing orders before they were late. We knew the rules from the way Etsy applied them during the Royal Mail strike. 

(By the way, you might want to change your shop announcement, as the strike is long over)

[GlassyFields]

@windfalcon 

If the customer is ok with delaying the order, I would have cancelled and had then reorder once shipments from the US to Canada resumed.

I've had to do this for other reasons, e.g. buyer on vacation and doesn't want package to arrive until they're home, etc.

If I can change the ship date, I do that. Otherwise, I arrange with the buyer to order later and cancel the initial order. So far this worked. I'm always a little scared that I'm giving up an order ... but the alternative is an Etsy black mark.

Etsy has its rules and although they don't always fit special circumstances - like yours - a site that has millions or sellers and buyers could drown in trying to accommodate special circumstances.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

You are in the USA

you have access to etsy's global shipping for Canada, use that, they are, and have been, delivering

[ThePurplePuppy]

@CraftyCornishMaids 

This is what I was planning to do on Monday due to an order that needs to go out this next week.

I have asked numerous times if USPS will accept this package and everyone here in the forums seem to think no they won't. However, my local post office looked it up on her computer and said yes they would.

Who the heck do I believe--I don't want to print out an expensive label and then have the PO not accept it!

Thanks for your opinion!

[CreativeDesignsbyAmi]

I am using Global shipping.  It will work for you.  

[MouseGarden]

Canada Post said it is accepting new international mail starting Dec. 23rd.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/corporate-news/news-release...

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I used Etsy’s chat feature for the same exact situation. The AI bot told me the shipping restrictions won’t affect my Star Seller status. I don’t even care about Star Seller but I am concerned about my shop being dinged in other ways for shipping late. My order is from a repeat customer who always places large orders. Shipping is expensive even through Pirate Ship. I’m not willing to double my shipping cost by paying retail. It’s the chance I’ve decided to take. I haven’t gotten any warning messages from Etsy yet. I’ve been in regular contact with the buyer and she’s been more than cooperative. 

[Ambrijoux]

I am shipping with chit-chats everywhere USA, International and Canada, if you have one near you it is the best option for now except if you need to ship in rural places (they are busy and you have to bring them your package and open a account) good prices

[RedCottageVintage]

I don’t know if this option is too late for you or you already did it. You can, in agreement with the customer, push the shipment date as far as you can (25+ days I think). I did this with two Canada orders and they are to be shipped by the 30th December. As the strike is now over I will ship on the 28th. Everything is fine, happy customers, no loss of star seller status (if these two were shipped late it wouldn’t have affected it anyway). I worry more about the customer service and communication than that it “might” have a tiny effect on my items being shown. It doesn’t matter that much. 

[KR3DfantasticPRINTS]

Has anyone not had a problem? Are certain states shipping to Canada? I’ve been able to print Etsy labels to Canada and also ship via ShipStation labels too. I’m located in Wisconsin though. I thought it was odd that it was allowing me with it all going on…but I have valid tracking numbers that have either been marked delivered in Canada or on the way yet since I just sent them out last week. 

[Adorabilities]

@KR3DfantasticPRINTS 

What shipping method did you choose on ShipStation? I've been unable to purchase a USPS label to Canada there.

[GlassyFields]

I'd delay the ship date by as much as possible and if necessary cancel the order and encourage the buyer to return when USPS resumes shipping to Canada.

It's just not something that is under our control.