Navigating Shipping and Returns During the Canada Post Strike

As you likely know, on September 26, 2025 the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) kicked off strike actions with a national strike. On October 10, 2025 CUPW announced a switch to rotating strikes. Affecting different areas of the country each day.  

While the Canada Post strike can have a disruptive effect on shipping, eBay remains open for business. Most sellers have a large variety of carrier options that can deliver your order quickly and securely, including FedEx, UPS, eBay International Shipping, Local Pickup and a variety of alternative carriers serving regions across the country.

Below you’ll find more information on the ways you can shop with confidence on eBay during the Canada Post labour disruption.

• Buyers are protected by the eBay Money Back Guarantee in cases where an item fails to arrive. If either a buyer or seller requests our assistance and we determine that the item is still in transit, we will implement a hold to provide additional time for its delivery.

• To allow more time for delivery, we have extended estimated delivery dates for all domestic, inbound, and outbound shipments using Canada Post services.

Domestic Shipping:

• Sellers are still able to access most regions in Canada using private carriers. 

• If you are purchasing an item from a Canadian seller, be sure to check the ‘Shipping” section of the listing to see which carrier they use. 

• If the listing offers Canada Post shipping, we suggest messaging the seller directly to ask them if they use an alternative service. Meanwhile, listings that offer any service other than Canada Post should be operational during the strike.

Local Pickup:

• Many sellers provide free local pickup as an alternative to shipping. To take advantage of this option, search for listings that offer local pickup or reach out to your seller to get more details about your item’s location and to coordinate the collection of your purchase.

• For more information on how to use local pickup, visit eBay’s Local Pickup Guide.

Shipping in rural regions:

• If you or your seller are located in a rural region, it is possible that alternative carriers may not always be available. In these cases, eBay has extended the delivery window to offer sellers the necessary flexibility to provide their shipments when the strike has ended.

• Some sellers can still access alternative providers within and into rural areas, so be sure to reach out to your seller directly if there’s an item you’re interested in, no matter where they’re located. 

eBay International Shipping:

• eBay International Shipping does not rely solely on Canada Post for last-mile delivery. Since the stoppage began, the large majority of eBay International Shipping has relied on carriers other than Canada Post. 

• If you purchase an item from the US with eBay International Shipping, your estimated delivery windows should be unaffected by the strike. 

Requesting Returns:

• We ask that buyers exercise patience with sellers before requesting returns, and vice versa. To avoid complications, keep in contact with your seller to partner on the best course of action while the strike continues.

• If you have an item that has not yet shipped, you are still able to request a cancellation from your seller.