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Canada Post strike

post #1 of 23
6/25/11 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
News seems to indicate no end in sight. My post office is now no longer accepting packages to Canada. For a 0.5 lb package that would cost about $5 with USPS first class, FedEx is $15.11 and UPS $18.29, with their cheapest services. Not that bad actually but the bigger concern is the customs charges recipients will expect to pay. Commercial carriers such as FedEx are much more aggressive about collecting customs duties and will even sometimes apply a flat brokerage charge. Any other alternatives to consider? I'm recommending to my customers that they wait out the strike, unless they're really in a rush and and prepared to pay the fees.
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post #2 of 23
6/25/11 at 7:25pm
Unfortunately, there are no other routes. When I used to do fulfillment, FedEx was far better at getting things through customs quickly and cheaply than UPS. Until the strike is over, you either have to pay more, charge your Canadian customers more for shipping, or have them wait.
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post #3 of 23
6/25/11 at 7:44pm
Thread Starter 
USPS is still accepting Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) which is contracted for delivery by FedEx. The price is higher than direct through FedEx, at $36 for their flat-rate envelope. But it may be worthwhile if the customs and fees are lower. I have no experience with GXG though.
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post #4 of 23
6/25/11 at 8:12pm
Yeah it sucks. Had to use UPS to ship a pair of jeans out to the US yesterday, came out to 25 bucks
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post #5 of 23
6/25/11 at 8:41pm
I put a check in the mail going to Toronto the day before the postal strike and didn't learn of the strike until a week ago. I didn't follow my own 'always wire' rule
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post #6 of 23
6/25/11 at 8:51pm
No other option unfortunately. Within Canada we can use Purolator, but I don't think there is a way to send via puro from the states.

Imagine how we all feel here. I have 7 packages I am waiting for
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post #7 of 23
6/26/11 at 1:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
No other option unfortunately. Within Canada we can use Purolator, but I don't think there is a way to send via puro from the states.

Imagine how we all feel here. I have 7 packages I am waiting for
I believe Purolator is contracted to UPS in the US.
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post #8 of 23
6/26/11 at 1:43am
Government passed legislation to end the strike. Workers will begin returning to work early next week.
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post #9 of 23
6/26/11 at 2:15am
Assuming no snags with senate
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post #10 of 23
6/26/11 at 2:38am
lets hope it really ends, i have people waiting for their stuff very patiently
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post #11 of 23
6/26/11 at 7:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by davesmith View Post
lets hope it really ends, i have people waiting for their stuff very patiently

I second that.
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post #12 of 23
6/26/11 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by davesmith View Post
lets hope it really ends, i have people waiting for their stuff very patiently

As do I. Absolutely ridiculous that they locked the workers out with the system full of mail. Do you know if the shipping fees can be recovered because they did not meet the standard?
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post #13 of 23
6/26/11 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raoul Duke View Post
As do I. Absolutely ridiculous that they locked the workers out with the system full of mail. Do you know if the shipping fees can be recovered because they did not meet the standard?

I wS wondering the same thing. I shipped out a pair of headphones to be replaced the day before the strike. So frustrating since the process normally takes 3-4 weeks and since they've been sitting who knows where for over a week it'll take forever
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post #14 of 23
6/26/11 at 5:31pm
Back-to-work legislation passed in the House last night. Shouldn't take long before packages are flowing again.
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post #15 of 23
6/26/11 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
If I recall correctly when the Royal Mail strike ended in the UK last year they processed the backlogged orders by "last in first out", ie they delivered the most recent mail first instead of the oldest ones. So what this means is that you should definitely not try to mail anything to Canada until the strike ends or else it could be stuck in the backlog for a while.
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