With the lockout looking very possible for Friday, we have some information on changes you may see to online shopping during the mail disruption as well as some tips on how you can ship for less if needed.
Since a strike was possible earlier this week, many retailers have already switched to alternative methods of shipping. From the major stores I checked out, UPS seems to be the most popular choice for retailers. To limit the strain on their system, they offered discounts if retailers ship to UPS Access Points rather than your home. You may need to pick up a parcel there so be aware that you may need to have proper ID for that address (useful if you ship to work as many of us will not have ID for that address). You can sign up for a MyUPS account for free and they will email you before delivery. For a small fee, you can change the address of a shipment or schedule it for another day.
If you have a PO Box as your mailing address, most couriers will not deliver so you may want to make arrangements to have orders shipped to a friend or family member. Be aware that some retailers require your credit card to have the same address as your delivery address so this may not be an option.
We all know that courier shipping can be more expensive, so some retailers have temporarily increased their free shipping thresholds, while others have cancelled their usual free shipping days or coupons. We may be used to faster shipping with couriers, but deals made with retailers for cheaper shipping may not guarantee next day deliveries so do not expect faster deliveries as many even say to expect delays.
Returns may also be an issue with more expensive shipping as some have to be done at your cost and you do not have access to the prices retailers do. Look for return to store options if you think the item may not fit.
If you do need to ship during the lockout, check out SecureShip to get bulk pricing. You will need to be able to print a shipping label but they are usually much cheaper than going to a UPS/Fedex/Purolator location.
Not online shopping, but people asked on the forum. The “essential mail” that can be delivered on July 20th includes socio-economic cheques, such as child tax benefits, disability benefits, Old Age Security Pension, Canada Pension Plan benefits and veteran benefits. They request that where possible, you sign up for direct deposit to guarantee on time payments.
Thank you for calling it a lock out and not a strike. I hope we all realize the value of our postal system currently during this disruption and how important it is to keep our mail system as a crown corporation. For all the flack Canada Post gets, it is not funded by tax payers, it actually generates revenue and provides a necessary service to every Canadian (regardless of the city, town, or hamlet you live in). Unlike a private company that only delivers in large cities.