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IMPORTANT: Canada Post Is Back On Strike

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Fri, 09/26/2025 - 17:44
The Game Crafter
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Canada Post launched a national strike as of September 25, 2025 and their operations are shut down. This affects millions of Canadians and businesses across the country. It also limits the available shipping options to Canada for The Game Crafter. (The official announcement from Canada Post is available at https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media...)

We have updated our shopping cart and you will not be able to choose USPS or UPS Mail Innovations shipping methods to Canadian addresses. These shipping methods use Canada Post and so they will not be available during the strike.

At this time, UPS has not announced any disruption of service into Canada and so you are able to place orders to Canada using UPS shipping.

Any orders in progress that were to be shipped by USPS/UPS Mail Innovations will be held at The Game Crafter. Once the strike ends, they will be shipped out through those same shipping methods.

If you have an urgent deadline for your pending shipment that's being held and want to upgrade your shipping to UPS, you can contact our support team at info@thegamecrafter.com and our team will be happy to assist.

Thanks for your understanding. We'll continue to follow the updates from Canada Post and keep you posted of any changes.

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Wed, 10/22/2025 - 09:12
#1
larienna
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Just to update the

Just to update the information, its now a rotating strike, so some cities gets temporarily "unlocked" once a while.

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Tue, 10/28/2025 - 18:44
#2
questccg
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Look for alternative to CPC...

Here's a bit of a comment about Canada Post and what their workers are requiring before going back to work:

https://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-design/all-things-game-crafter/father-ge...

I just was expressing the fact that there ARE alternatives to Canada Post especially when you are talking about shipping regular packages to Canada. The two (2) 3PL companies that I have mentioned give DEEP discounts and use services other than Canada Post.

Maybe you can find a company that works for you while getting better pricing for your patrons and users on "The Game Crafter" (TGC). It's just a suggestion. I know the pricing of Canada Post shipping will no doubt be going up.

I aim to avoid them like the Plague unless it's like mailing letters or presents to Toronto, etc. etc. But for BUSINESS, I use a 3PL shipping service and it's WAY cheaper than Canada Post.

At first I was unsure because they REQUIRE "Thermal Labels" but in all HONESTY they charge me $2.30 CAD per label. The Thermal Printer cost $150 CAD ... But I only have like 23 Labels (~$53 CAD only). In the future we'll see if I invest in a thermal printer.

But I'd need to see how many LABELS I can get... Probably from ULINE ... The have a bunch of OPTIONS. TBD for the moment. Not exploring that as the COSTS are much too high for what I need ATM.

Not being a "jerk"... Just feeling like we are been "Goosed" with this BS in wage increases when many people are happy to be having a steady job.

Sincerely.

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Tue, 10/28/2025 - 19:39
#3
questccg
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There is another issue with Canada Post...

First the price ONLINE is not the SAME as the price at the Post Office Counter. So while CPC does save a bit online... With shipments to the USA you MUST go to the Counter to provide your "Declaration ID". My Shipping Service doesn't require this. Instead it requires that you have a SKU and "exact" import information (HS Code, Pricing, Manufacturer Address, etc. etc.) Then all you do is generate a SHIPMENT with the SKU and they DDP (Duties Pre-paid) are charged for each product shipped.

Super EASY... And no difference in pricing between ONLINE and at the On-Site Location (which I have to drive to ... So that uses a bit of gas too..) It's NOT super far... Like a 45 minute ride.

So if you need HELP like at Canada Post and go to the COUNTER... You will be CHARGED for doing this as opposed to ONLY doing the transaction ONLINE. Of course this is NOT an option with Shipping to the USA (due to DDP).

Bottom line: we're ALREADY paying high enough of a price for mail. This latest round of proposed increases is just going to make mail that much more expensive.

Regretfully.

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Tue, 10/28/2025 - 20:07
#4
questccg
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Some of the OPTIONS are:

ICS Ground or ICS Express (which is a Courier Company that does LOCAL delivery and does Canada-Wide shipping).

The other option is Intelcom which does last-mile logistics based in Montreal but have offices around Canada for LOCAL delivery.

If you can find a 3PL Partner which uses either of these options, you would not be required to rely on Canada Post.

These are two (2) VIABLE methods of delivery in Canada. I've seen BOTH companies in my neighborhood and they often deliver in our area (Lasalle). I'm just sharing because people might be like: "There is no option except Canada Post or the major Shipping Companies (like UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, Purolator) which are WAY more expensive than the Post Office".

I'm just sharing FACTS ... Not blowing hot air. There are options, it just takes a bit more time trying to figure out what is best in terms of pricing and flexibility (and options which include insurance under <$1 CAD)...

Also Tracking is also a problem in Canada. Couriers like I have mentioned all offer Tracking from their website. So it's a matter of doing more research and figuring out what works best for YOUR business.

Like I said, I'm explaining some of the research I did because AT THAT TIME, I had NO OPTION but Canada Post. And not being able to ship or have to pay Zonos a $2.00 CAD Fee + 10% Duties Fee... Was simply RIDICULOUS. And you have to use their APP... What IF I don't have a phone only a home computer... Then what???

Anyhow... Enough of my "barking", I'll leave you with this: there are options you only need to search for them.

Cheers!

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Tue, 10/28/2025 - 20:17
#5
questccg
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Here's what I mean

Quote:
While US shipping companies like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy use Intelcom and ICS Courier for Canadian deliveries, this often occurs through intermediary logistics partners rather than direct contracts. These US companies rely on local carriers for last-mile delivery, and which Canadian company is used can vary based on location and delivery type.

Quote:
Intelcom

+ Amazon Prime: Uses Intelcom for many of its same-day or next-day deliveries in Canada.

+ Etsy and eBay: Work with US shipping and logistics partners, such as Pitney Bowes and Landmark Global, which then utilize local carriers like Intelcom for the final delivery stage.

+ Third-party US shippers: Companies like ProShip Inc. and Shipium integrate directly with Intelcom to offer Canadian last-mile delivery to their retail clients.

Quote:
ICS Courier

+ Business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments: Some US-based companies and retailers use ICS for Canadian deliveries through logistics consolidators like Stallion Express and netParcel.

+ Partner network: ICS is part of the TFI International group of companies and operates in conjunction with other freight and logistics firms in North America.

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