Canada Post may not be on strike right now, but they are seriously lacking competency this week.

[sin-n-dex]

This isn't eBay orders, thankfully I won't be paying out of pocket for this Canada Post mistake... but since many of us use Canada Post I thought I'd share what happened at work today.

So every day our office mails out around 250-300 letters (including many cheques to customers, most of the cheques are income replacement benifits, some payments are to vendors relating to disability claims). I work in the department that packs up the letters and sends them out (even though it's not my specific job, we have summer students and new staff take care of this easy task).

On July 9 we sent out our letters, and today 75 letters (mostly cheques) were returned to us because Canada Post coded our return address as the destination. These letters were to be mailed all over Canada and disability cheques are timed to go out so people receive them at the right time so they can pay their bills. It's a benefit they paid for with premiums, and we expect them to receive their cheques when we send them.

So 75 letters were sent out on July 9, went through the Postal System, got a pinkish flourescent code on the back of the envelope to they could pass through the sort, and whoever is responsible for sorting mail for our address brought them all back to us even though it was the return address, and no markings on them indicated they were returned to sender for any reason.

So what it boils down to, our letter carrier can't even READ that the letter is addressed to Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, etc. They know who we are, we send out tons of mail. We have a regular CP pick up in our mailroom.

So instead of doing my job today (which was sending out cheques that had actually got returned for a reason, bad address and the like), I was stuffing these cheques into new envelopes since the mailroom told me once the code is put on their it will keep coming back to us since it's coded as such. I estimate I spent 3 hours restuffing letters, and it cost the company some $70 or so in postage because we paid for postage for it to be delivered back to us.

So when I read whining and complaining about how tough it is to work for Canada Post and deliver mail, yadda yadda yadda... it seems that reading addresses is not a pre-req for the job or this wouldn't have happened.

C.

[38e_avenue]

Personally, I never had confidence in the miniature CP recipient's address printed on the shipping label. 

I always print my own, large address label and put it next to the CP label. 

[ypdc_dennis]

Your company should have filed a complaint with Canada Post about the letters getting miscoded.

Which 99% of the time is done by machine -- no human eyes involved.

[fh991586]

It happens to us too from time to time, but rarely more than one at the time (and never more than 5 a month). Not enough to file a complaint that won't be automatically closed by their system, and it's usually a bill instead of a check.

Funny enough, we got once in a lot about 20 returns sent to MPs because it lacked postage, even though it's free when sent to their official address at the parliament! It was only invites to an exhibit opening, and they likely would not have come, but I did send a strong complain then.

[ricarmic]

Years ago I quit putting my return address physically on the envelope for US tracked packets because I too was getting them sent back to the return address. 

I do still of course have the return address printed on the post office label but I now only put the buyers address physically on the envelopes/parcels.

Haven't had one come back since I started doing that.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@ricarmic wrote:

Years ago I quit putting my return address physically on the envelope for US tracked packets because I too was getting them sent back to the return address. 

I do still of course have the return address printed on the post office label but I now only put the buyers address physically on the envelopes/parcels.

Haven't had one come back since I started doing that.

---

@ricarmic 

I've always included both the label and the to and from address labels. Mostly due to the fact it is a requirement of the postal services. For international it is most important in cases where an item gets inspected and they choose to pull off the label, even to open/inspect. Basically a safe way to match label back to package. You could include both, just highlight the to portion to make it stand out. 

For all shipments (domestic and international): Lists the same requirements for CP and USPS

• Recipient's Address:

  This should be prominently displayed, often in the bottom center or right of the package. Include the full name, street address, city, province (or state), and postal code. 

• Return Address:

This should be clearly printed, typically in the top left corner of the package. It should also include the full name, street address, city, province, and postal code. 

• Additional Information:

Consider including a duplicate shipping label inside the package in case the outer label is damaged. For parcels over 22.7 kg (50 lb), overweight parcel stickers should be applied. 

• One other tiny addendum: It is stated somewhere that for shipments within Canada you keep  CANADA as part of the to and from address. I guess to the decrease the odds of some ho ho thinking its going internationally. Stallion suggests omitting. If you do include it should be in upper case on the final line. (Not right after the postal code.)

I've recently made a few eBay purchases within Canada and as of late none included a packing slip. Either that's all about save the trees or privacy concerns. Packing slips used to be standard business practice. 

@sin-n-dex 

I've recently noticed what "could" be a little work to rule going on. Parcels that show as should be going out for delivery one day, not going out until the next. Parcels for the USA taking 2 to 3 days to process vs normal next day. That could be either the added new due dilligence. Other possibility could be the strict no o/t by union and parcels getting caught up in the overload. Your situation sounds more like someone just not paying attention. 

[ricarmic]

@lotzofuniquegoodies , there is a return address on the post office label (remember I'm a stamps on the box kinda guy so I'm using the Post office generated label). The way I place the labels on my envelopes/boxes, the PO label isn't ever going to be destroyed in an inspection scenario, unless its a psycho inspector on the job that day. My greater risk is that the label gets ripped off in transit, but if that's the case, the destination address is still on the envelope/parcel. I do always have a packing slip inside. 

I have had validly returned items from the US, and in those cases the USPS has circled my return address on the label and it has made it back to me AOK.

I have a wide variety of "hacks" I've implemented over the last few decades, some are likely no longer needed, but as long as everything is arriving as planned I usually just leave things as it is.....

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

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@ypdc_dennis wrote:

Your company should have filed a complaint with Canada Post about the letters getting miscoded.

Which 99% of the time is done by machine -- no human eyes involved.

---

I'm sure they did, but dealing with those details is below my pay grade. I brought the letters to the mailroom and explained, it's kind of up to them, but knowing our company they would certainly want all that postage refunded.

C.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@ricarmic wrote:

@lotzofuniquegoodies , there is a return address on the post office label (remember I'm a stamps on the box kinda guy so I'm using the Post office generated label). The way I place the labels on my envelopes/boxes, the PO label isn't ever going to be destroyed in an inspection scenario, unless its a psycho inspector on the job that day. My greater risk is that the label gets ripped off in transit, but if that's the case, the destination address is still on the envelope/parcel. I do always have a packing slip inside. 

I have had validly returned items from the US, and in those cases the USPS has circled my return address on the label and it has made it back to me AOK.

I have a wide variety of "hacks" I've implemented over the last few decades, some are likely no longer needed, but as long as everything is arriving as planned I usually just leave things as it is.....

---

@ricarmic 

I'm just considering those whackadoodle situations that a few sellers have been reporting lately where goods got to customs, sat for a week and did an about face back to Canada. In speaking to 1 seller this happened to there was no reason why the goods got returned to the sender. They opened up an investigation but never got an explanation. There was another situation where goods made it back to Canada then magically the item got sent back on its way to USA to eventually get delivered. As per seller both involved low value made in china items but it wasn't because of any duties owing. File those under plotz happens. 

[intimewithmusic]

Hi.

   Too complicated for me.  My head hurts.

    eBay is a pipe to put stuff in. Money comes out the other end.

    Source.

    Research.

    List.

    Sell.

    Ship.

    Repeat. 

[intimewithmusic]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

This isn't eBay orders, thankfully I won't be paying out of pocket for this Canada Post mistake... but since many of us use Canada Post I thought I'd share what happened at work today.

So when I read whining and complaining about how tough it is to work for Canada Post and deliver mail, yadda yadda yadda... it seems that reading addresses is not a pre-req for the job or this wouldn't have happened.

C.

---

HI @sin-n-dex,

  It sounds like a rough day. Your heated complaint may well be valid and I feel your pain. However your post has nothing to do with eBay. You have made a lot of great posts so thank you.  

   No disrespect but we are all "having a day".

Let's sell on eBay and talk about that in "Seller's Central". 

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

---

@sin-n-dex wrote:

This isn't eBay orders, thankfully I won't be paying out of pocket for this Canada Post mistake... but since many of us use Canada Post I thought I'd share what happened at work today.

So when I read whining and complaining about how tough it is to work for Canada Post and deliver mail, yadda yadda yadda... it seems that reading addresses is not a pre-req for the job or this wouldn't have happened.

C.

---

HI @sin-n-dex,

  It sounds like a rough day. Your heated complaint may well be valid and I feel your pain. However your post has nothing to do with eBay. You have made a lot of great posts so thank you.  

   No disrespect but we are all "having a day".

Let's sell on eBay and talk about that in "Seller's Central". 

---

It concerns Canada Post and mailing stuff, which lots of people in this forum do.

It was a general interest post on what's going on with using Canada Post. A lot of people have been having packages returned (although not for the same reason).

C.

[intimewithmusic]

---

@sapphyres-designer-jewellery wrote:

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

---

@sin-n-dex wrote:

This isn't eBay orders, thankfully I won't be paying out of pocket for this Canada Post mistake... but since many of us use Canada Post I thought I'd share what happened at work today.

So when I read whining and complaining about how tough it is to work for Canada Post and deliver mail, yadda yadda yadda... it seems that reading addresses is not a pre-req for the job or this wouldn't have happened.

C.

---

HI @sin-n-dex,

  It sounds like a rough day. Your heated complaint may well be valid and I feel your pain. However your post has nothing to do with eBay. You have made a lot of great posts so thank you.  

   No disrespect but we are all "having a day".

Let's sell on eBay and talk about that in "Seller's Central". 

---

It concerns Canada Post and mailing stuff, which lots of people in this forum do.

It was a general interest post on what's going on with using Canada Post. A lot of people have been having packages returned (although not for the same reason).

C.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I like and support @sin-n-dex because of her many helpful posts. This one is a reflection of a bad day other than on eBay.  It has nothing to do with eBay.  She can request the moderator to take it down.

 eBay Canada Sellers  have Trump, De Minimus,  US sellers capitalizing on weakening Canadian border transfers  and dealing with upgrading to W11. So no, thanks,  if my postie uses my bathroom and doesn't flush there is no need to bring it up in eBay Seller Central. 

 Let's help each other to improve selling and not  keep ruminating on  what may go wrong and blaming Canada Post when we can ship cheaper to the USA than they can ship to us. 

 All of my shipments are being delivered by Canada Post to the USA just fine.  Two very good feedbacks just now from the USA. 

Again @sin-n-dex , just a suggestion. I know I have mis posted on  occasion. It happens. Thankfully someone here  pointed it out and didn't defend me.  I weeded through your long rant looking for an eBay connection without success. No disrespect intended. 

[dinomitesales]

I feel like this is a valid post - issues with the national postal service, which many of use to have our goods delivered, are of utmost importance to how we conduct business. If you don't like it then move on, no need to comment on it.

@sin-n-dex are you guys applying stamps or are you using a postal meter?

[sin-n-dex]

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@dinomitesales wrote:

I feel like this is a valid post - issues with the national postal service, which many of use to have our goods delivered, are of utmost importance to how we conduct business. If you don't like it then move on, no need to comment on it.

@sin-n-dex are you guys applying stamps or are you using a postal meter?

---

@dinomitesales 

Most of the letters have those embossed postage (the kind they print on company return envelopes, we use those for cheques, our return address is in the corner), about 10% was from a postal meter where we print postage on it with our return address beside it. There were not postage stamps used.

C.