How Canadian Shopify Stores Can Ship Through the Canada Post Strike
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers began a national strike on November 15, and Canada Post has stopped processing mail and parcels. With Black Friday two weeks away, Canadian Shopify stores need a plan that doesn't depend on one carrier.
Published Nov 18, 2024. Author: Ecomm Guys. 4 min read.
Key Points
- Canada Post says no new items will be accepted during the national strike, and delays will continue after it ends.
- The CFIB says about 80% of small businesses in Canada rely on Canada Post for shipping, invoicing, or payments.
- Couriers such as UPS, FedEx, and Purolator cost more. Purolator's union says it won't handle Canada Post items.
- Local pickup, clear delivery messages, and updated shipping rates can protect holiday sales while the strike lasts.
What Canada Post Has Said
The strike began at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 15. Canada Post says its operations shut down during a national strike. Mail and parcels aren't processed or delivered, some post offices are closed, service guarantees are affected for items already in the network, and no new items are accepted until the disruption is over.
Items already in the system will be delivered on a first-in, first-out basis once work resumes. Canada Post also warns that a strike of any length will affect service well after it ends, because processing and delivery will take time to return to normal.
There's no end date yet. The federal Labour Minister said on November 15 that the government is looking to resolve the dispute through negotiation.
Who's Affected
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says about 80% of small businesses in Canada rely on Canada Post for shipping goods or for invoicing and receiving payments. CBC spoke with online shop owners who were already switching to local pickup or pricing out couriers. They pointed out that courier rates are higher than the small business rates they get from Canada Post.
Shopify president Harley Finkelstein called on the government to act, noting the strike started two weeks before Black Friday. For merchants, the politics matter less than the timing. Whatever you sell in the next six weeks still has to reach your customers.
Add a Second Carrier Now
If Canada Post is your only carrier, set up an account with at least one courier today. UPS, FedEx, and Purolator all serve Canada, though rates and pickup options vary. CBC also reported that Teamsters Canada said its members at Purolator won't handle packages that come from Canada Post, so don't plan on dropping Canada Post labelled items into another network.
In Shopify, review your shipping profiles after you add a carrier. Check that live rates or flat rates reflect the new costs, especially for remote and rural addresses where courier pricing can jump. If you print labels through an app, confirm it supports the new carrier before your next busy day.
Offer Local Pickup and Delivery
If you have a shop, warehouse, or studio, turn on local pickup in Shopify so nearby customers can choose it at checkout. Local delivery is another option for orders in your area. Both keep some orders moving without any carrier at all, and they cost the customer less than a courier upgrade.
Set clear pickup instructions in the order confirmation, including hours, address, and what to bring.
Tell Customers What to Expect
Shoppers who are unsure whether an order will arrive often leave without buying. A short, honest message helps.
- Add an announcement bar that states which carriers you're using and that Canada Post orders are paused.
- Update shipping times on product pages and in your shipping policy.
- Email customers with open Canada Post orders to explain where their package is and what happens next.
- Remove any Canada Post rate from checkout until service is back, so no one picks a method that won't ship.
Start Today
Today, list every open order that was going by Canada Post and decide how each one will ship. This week, add a courier, update shipping profiles, turn on local pickup if it fits your business, and change the messaging on your site. Then place a test order with each new shipping option before Black Friday.
When the strike ends, keep the second carrier set up. One carrier shouldn't be a single point of failure for a holiday season.
Need help setting up carriers or shipping rules in Shopify? Book a call with our team.
Sources
- CUPW announces national strike that will cause delays for Canadians as holiday shopping season begins Canada Post, November 2024
- With Canada Post strike underway, small business owners scramble to make other arrangements CBC News, November 2024