Update Nov 05. Canada Post is still on “rotating strikes” though they don’t seem to be doing any.
They are in ‘strike position’, so if you are concerned your package might get stuck, consider choosing Purolator or FedEx. The options have been added to shipping.
If you have questions, email via the contact page 🙂
Update Oct 10 to clarify shipping situation: Canada Post is now on a “rotating strike”.
What does this mean?
It means that if your mail is stuck in the system (mailed, but not delivered before strike) then it will start moving.
It means that I will be sending lettermail packages again after the long weekend (rotating strike starts tomorrow on Sat).
It means that mail will move, and the strikes will be in different places on different days – so your order might be 1-2 days longer than usual. Last time CP did a rotating strike, some mail took the usual number of days, and some delayed a couple of times as it went through a couple of strike zone days. Mail just doesn’t move on that day, then usually resumes the next day.
It means that is you order Xpress shipping, it might take longer, as there are no guarantees.
I’ll be catching up and shipping as much as possible starting Tues the 14th.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Older info, some may be applicable:
Please check the email you listed on your order, in case I need to contact you. You can leave a note on your order too.
My best option has been Purolator, for non-Canada Post shipping, which tends to range from $18-35 depending on where it’s heading (and weight of package).
Read below on options. I haven’t mentioned the 3rd party really there, it’s more complicated, and last strike there were some real headaches with delivery, hopefully this time it’s okay as I just send a bunch that way.
Update Oct 07 to clarify shipping situation: with Canada Post on strike, lettermail cannot be shipped. If you choose lettermail and it’s $2.61 or $4.29, there is no way I can ship for that little – sometimes for about $7-8 within my own region (Vancouver Island to Vancouver area) and via a 3rd party discount service that I have to courier the order to first (which also costs money to send to). On Monday Oct 6th, I sent as many orders as I could that way, and hoping to again at least once of the week of Oct 14-17 (the 13th being a holiday). That service might not service your area. Please check the email you listed on your order, in case I need to contact you. My best option has been Purolator, which tends to range from $18-35 depending on where it’s heading (and weight of package). Read below on options. I haven’t mentioned the 3rd party really there, it’s more complicated, and last strike there were some real headaches with delivery, hopefully this time it’s okay as I just send a bunch that way.
From last week:
Over the weekend I *may* have been trying not to address the fact that without notice Canada Post went on strike AGAIN!
I dropped off an armload of orders at a post office in the afternoon, drove home and found out that they had gone on strike.
Once in the system you can’t go get you packages back out (unfortunately).
I was hoping for some news this morning, but even the major news outlets are quiet.
But, I did have a dream where the header on my website read “I ship lettermail” – Stephen King.
That kind of says it all.
The horrors obviously persist!
Disclaimer: “I ship lettermail” – Stephen King is not an actual Stephen King quote. I don’t even know a Stephen King, except the famous one who writes horror and I don’t actually know him (surprise!).
Edit: I added the title to my header, I figure at this point I need to lean into these persisting shipping horrors 🙂
If you are wondering… “How do I order then?”
Use the shopping cart as normal.
Read on for which shipping method to choose… (this is a repeat of info on another strike post with updates)
Americans: Sorry, still not shipping. It’s so complicated with goods having different countries of origin and figuring out tariffs in advance. The fees for sending CUSMA compliant 0% duty items also are an additional expense.
Canadian Option 1: If you order your items ‘expedited’ to a street address or area where couriers actually go (not sent ‘last mile’ by Canada Post), we will try ship them by courier (probably Purolator). If you know couriers don’t go to your home, but will drop at work, etc, you can add a different street address when ordering.
Canadian Option 2: If you order your items by lettermail we will hold them until the strike is over, or send courier if we can not lose too much money doing so. Sorry, I can’t subsidize $20+ to ship what would be $4.29 lettermail, but if you paid $12+ in lettermail and I can ship for $18 courier, then I will subsidize. Basically, if I can not lose too much shipping your item, I’ll ship it for the lettermail price you paid. It comes with a tracking number.
Canadian Option 3: If you want the cheap lettermail shipping prices and know you are in no rush, you can still order and I’ll send when strike is over – feel free to add that in your order notes, super handy 🙂
Questions? Feel free to reach out via my contact form. That’s the easiest way for me.
Again, my apologies. It’s been a (another) wild time over here with dealing with overloaded couriers (who don’t usually do rural pick ups, so I’m driving farther to drop off) and figuring out solutions! Living in large urban areas (Vancouver, Toronto, etc) means access to cheaper couriers. Where Bear Dance Crafts is, we have to mail into those places – and sending a box by courier to them isn’t cheap. The last strike we subsidized shipments (cost us more to ship than customers paid) then had to courier boxes to Vancouver also out of pocket. Some of those shipments were lost and had to be replaced too – so I am not overly excited to to do that again.
**You can also leave a note on your orders. Are you in a rush? Are you okay waiting to see what happens with the strike? Please feel free to leave me a note about what is ideal or any important information a courier might need, like a buzzer number **
