Negotiations between Canada post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are underway and may throw a wrench in many Canadian e-commerce brands’ holiday shipping plans if an agreement can’t be reached in time for the holiday season. A strike could spell a customer service nightmare for brands during the most busy quarter of the year. With BFCM right around the corner, many Canadian businesses are wondering: How do we navigate a potential postal service disruptions?
The key lies in being proactive and having a careful strategy. In this blog, we’ll cover practical ways to work around potential postal service strikes, safeguard your holiday sales, and keep customers happy.
The Potential Impact of a Canada Post Strike
Currently, Canada Post and CUPW are in the conciliation phase of negotiations. If no agreement is reached, a strike could legally start in early November—right before the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear. The timing is especially concerning for e-commerce businesses relying on the postal service to meet the spike in demand that comes with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
A disruption at Canada Post could result in:
- Shipping delays that erode customer trust and satisfaction.
- Higher shipping costs if you switch to alternative couriers.
- Increased customer service inquiries due to delayed or lost packages.
If you’re an online retailer, preparing now is critical to mitigating the fallout and ensuring your business remains active during the holiday rush.
6 Strategies to Work Around a Postal Strike During Peak Sales Events
Here are some proven strategies to help you navigate shipping disruptions without impacting your business.
1. Diversify Your Shipping Partners
The best way to avoid over-reliance on any single carrier is to diversify. Start by looking into other shipping providers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, or local couriers. Each has its own network and specialties, so find a combination that suits your needs based on package size, delivery speed, and cost.
For example, consider segmenting your shipments based on destination. Look at private couriers or regional delivery companies that can handle bulk shipments for domestic deliveries, and consider DHL or other carriers with strong networks for international deliveries.
2. Communicate with Your Customers
Keeping customers in the loop is important! While it hasn’t happened yet, if Canada Post declares a strike it’s a good idea to add notices on your website, social media platforms, and email newsletters to let customers know about disruptions and how it might impact delivery times. Honesty and transparency will go a long way in managing expectations and reducing negative feedback.
3. Offer In-Store Pickup and Local Delivery Options
If you have a physical store or distribution centre, consider offering in-store pickup or local delivery services. This is a great way to sidestep postal disruptions altogether and offer customers a reliable alternative. Set up curbside pickup options for customers to retrieve their orders quickly and safely.
4. Incentivize Early Shopping
Encourage customers to shop earlier than usual by running pre-Black Friday or early Cyber Monday sales. Offering discounts a few weeks ahead of the traditional sale dates can help spread out your order volume, giving you more time to manage fulfillment and avoid a backlog if a strike occurs.
Use incentives such as:
- Early bird discounts
- Free gifts with purchase for orders placed before a specific date
- Exclusive access to new products for early shoppers
Extending the peak demand period reduces the risk of bottlenecks and shipping issues.
5. Plan for Increased Customer Service Demand
Even if a Canada Post strike doesn't happen, some shipping disruptions are inevitable during the holidays. During this season, it's best practice to prepare your customer service team for a higher volume of inquiries related to delayed or missing packages. Consider adding temporary staff, implementing a chatbot, or using an automated FAQ tool to handle common questions.
Create a dedicated FAQ question or landing page on your site with up-to-date information about shipping statuses, expected delays, and alternative delivery options. The easier you make it for customers to find answers, the less pressure there will be on your support team.
6. Leverage Third-Party Fulfillment Providers
If your in-house shipping capacity is limited, consider partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Many 3PLs have established relationships with a range of carriers and can help navigate disruptions more effectively.
By outsourcing your fulfillment, you not only reduce the logistical strain on your team, but you also gain access to more flexible shipping options during a postal strike.
Be Proactive and Flexible
While the potential for a Canada Post strike is concerning, it doesn’t have to derail your holiday sales plans. By being proactive and diversifying your shipping strategy, you can continue to deliver a great customer experience — even if postal disruptions occur.
Start preparing now by evaluating your shipping partners, optimizing your customer communication, and offering alternative fulfillment options. With the right strategy in place, you’ll be in a good position to navigate any postal service disruptions and make this holiday season a success.