Canada Post strike means we have to use couriers who use confusing tracking. SSP affected.

[BuyfromGroovy]

Etsy is still docking our SSP stats for reviews where a customer sees an item delivered that has only been delivered to the freight carrier at that point and so thinks their parcel is mis-delivered and leaves a poor review.

During the Canadian postal strike, we have to use couriers. The courier's tracking will ALWAYS show a confirmed delivery to the freight forwarder's location first, then any customs deliveries, then to the customer. Even though we message buyers in advance and explain this to them, some have nonetheless left one-star reviews because the tracking shows an item delivered, when it's only been the first delivery, to the freight forwarder's location at the Toronto airport.

Etsy is docking our SSP stats for these as poor reviews. I have messaged Etsy Trust and Safety and spoken to online Seller Support agents, but nothing has been amended or done. In the past, Etsy has never docked a Seller's SSP for things out of their control, like how a courier routes parcels and marks as delivered, or because of a postal strike that forces Canadian sellers to dispatch via other carriers. Suggestions?

[CraftyCornishMaids]

the only reviews etsy removes for shipping type probelms are, are those that

ONLY mention a carrier BY NAME

many carriers like UPS and Fedex normally follow all the way through with tracking
are you buying direct from them, or through a comparison/broker service?

[BuyfromGroovy]

Not asking or expecting them to remove the reviews. Asking them to not deduct from SSP for things out of my control.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

it's a program that looks at the numbers and does the count

so if the review stays, the calculation stays

do you buy direct from a courier like ups or fedex?

[Vintagecountdown]

I don’t understand this…I’m from Canada and I’m using Chit Chats during the strike. It only says delivered when it reaches the customer. Which courier are you using? I would definitely switch!

[BuyfromGroovy]

DHL and ICS all mark the item delivered at the point of freight forwarding at the airport. It is annoying and confusing I 100% admit but that is how they do it. To be safe, we messaged buyers post purchase to tell them this. However, that our SSP should be affected seems a bit too much. In all cases these items have now been delivered, or are in Customs.

[BuyfromGroovy]

@Vintagecountdown- unfortunately, in London Ontario there is no local Chit Chats drop off the closest is Toronto or Ottawa. So, this is how we have to send until the postal strike is resolved. I am hoping I get an early Christmas gift and the strike comes to a conclusion shortly!

[MrsDsHandKnits]

No, we do not "have to use couriers who use confusing tracking."  As sellers needing to find alternate shipping companies, we choose what works best for us,  but we also must keep in mind that ALL these alternate couriers/shipping companies have become so over whelmed and so heavily burdened with huge volumes of packages(none of which should have surprised anyone), that they are doing the best they can under the circumstances so not everything may go as planned. No doubt not all these shipping companies operate in the same way, so what starts out as seemingly simple, easy and straightforward may not follow through in that same manner......I have used Purolator for shipments to the USA and the tracking was super. (Purolator hands off to UPS in the USA.)

[BuyfromGroovy]

@MrsDsHandKnits  um - yes we do need to source and use alternate delivery firms - as we do! This = couriers! Unfortunately, where we are located in Ontario, Canada we only have a couple of options with Fedex and Purolator not accepting parcels at this time. That is ICS and DHL who use confusing tracking as part of their logistics which is beyond my control!

[CraftyCornishMaids]

there are choices of couriers,

use ones that track properly

or put up with the consequences

[MrsDsHandKnits]

I am located in Saskatchewan where we have even less options, but make do with what is available and use the best option for our needs that will get the job done as best as possible under the circumstances.Purolator is still accepting International shipments.

[LastCentury]

chitchats drop in Kitchener - final mile delivery courier not confusing

stallion express location in London - final mile delivery courier not confusing

Swiftpost drop in London - not very transparent without making an account but they are busy as I see their vans all the time. And my family in London uses them for international.

[BuyfromGroovy]

@LastCentury- Kitchener a 1 hour drive. Stallion express no good for international. Swiftpost i haven't heard of but will look them up! Thanks for the names! Sometimes - most times - I wonder why I even post in the forum here but your post provided useful information Last Century, thanks again! I will also check out Stallion Express again for international parcels in case we don't get these posties back to delivering things.

[LastCentury]

I use Stallion express for international. works fine.

1 hour drive to Kitchener does not seem so bad, especially when you do once or 2x a week, and then do the markets & thrifts. I was there on Friday.

[UppNorthEh]

I was going to mention Stallion in London too.  One seller signed up for Stallion just for international.  I think I read someone in London using Sendle.  I will try to find it. 

She is in Kitchener.  They probably have Sendle in London too.   

[CrystalWoodBlessings]

I've been using Sendle (my only viable option) who uses Canpar/ ICS.  Nearly 150 shipments in and I havent had any trouble so far.  The Sendle dashboard shows me all my orders and where they are at in the delivery process, which is very handy.  So sorry you've been having trouble with your courier

[PoochandTabby]

Chit Chats has a drop off location in London. Is this any closer to you?

Intelcom London
Address
1030 ADELAIDE ST S
LONDON ON N6E 1R6
Canada

[cindylouwho2]

"The courier's tracking will ALWAYS show a confirmed delivery to the freight forwarder's location first, then any customs deliveries, then to the customer." As others have stated, this is not true with many couriers. I've not had an issue with Stallion Express, and of course buying UPS labels with netParcel through PayPal gives you direct UPS tracking. Until UPS added a surcharge this week, I was paying around $12.50 for most 1 pound packages to the US. (It's now around $14)

"Stallion express no good for international." I had no issues with the package I sent to Denmark via Stallion Express. It did take a week between drop off here in Calgary and being scanned in the US, but it still took about as long as Canada Post overall, and only cost $12.46 with tracking and $100 insurance. 

Sendle is all over London, too, so you have tons of options.

[MouseGarden]

I actually think the quality of service from couriers may vary according to region, depending on volume of parcels and actual number of employees or trucks, which is why some people say one courier is great and some say it is awful.  One courier picking up from me is always 2 or more hours late.  Reading their reviews I've always been afraid to use ICS.

In some cases although a courier won't accept 3rd party purchases from shipping sites, you may get different results on their own website.

Maybe add what the process is to your automatic thank you message, or make use a photo on each listing to describe the courier process briefly.  You are doing your best.  

[BuyfromGroovy]

Thanks @MouseGarden. In Canada, we have all been doing our best to get our orders out. Thankfully, Santa listened and the posties should be heading into work on December 17. Fingers crossed! Happy holidays to you.