Details about ShipStation's Canada Post integration. Includes requirements, connection process, features, integration notes, and troubleshooting.
ShipStation is a dedicated Canada Post partner, allowing users to get rates and create both domestic and international shipping labels for Canada Post shipments.
Use ShipStation with either a Canada Post Commercial or SFSB (Solutions for Small Business) account, and receive manifesting capabilities for your outbound shipments.
Connection Requirements:
An active Commercial or Small Business account with Canada Post.
Manifesting Requirements:
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Commercial account holds are required to manifest each day's shipments. Failure to manifest shipments may result in fees added to your monthly invoice.
Do this directly in ShipStation using the End of Day process. Then each day when you drop off your Shipments, provide the Canada Post driver or counter person with a physical copy of the manifest.
Small Business accounts have no manifest requirements.
To connect your Canada Post account to ShipStation, follow the steps below:
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Select the Canada Post tile and click Connect.
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Select whether you have a Solutions for Small Business or Commercial account type.
Note
If connecting a Commercial account, you must have a Business Profile created for Canada Post. See Create a Canada Post Business Profile for details.
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Click Connect.
You'll be redirected to Canada Post to complete the connection.
Log in to Canada Post (if needed).
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Choose your Method of Payment and click Continue.
Note
If you have a Solutions for Small Business account, you must choose Use saved credit card.
If you have a Commercial account, you must choose Pay by Account. If you do not see this method, you must Create a Canada Post Business Profile.
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Click Agree and Continue to agree to the Terms and Conditions.
If you're connecting a Canada Post Commercial account to ShipStation, you must have created a Business Profile in Canada Post that uses your commercial contract number. If you were using your Commercial Canada Post account with another shipping provider, it's likely you have already created this. However, if you're new to Canada Post or recently upgraded from a Solutions for Small Business account, you'll need to create a new user profile that uses the contract information.
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Go to the Canada Post business login page here and click Sign Up.
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Choose a new Username, enter your existing Customer Number and Postal Code/Zip Code, then enter the Verification Code. Click Sign Up to proceed.
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Enter your existing Agreement Number, and click Agree and Continue.
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Fill out the required Profile Information. This information can be the same as the information in your original account profile. Click Agree and Continue button once complete.
Review the information entered, then click Save.
ShipStation's integration with Canada Post supports the following standard features:
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Common ShipStation Features |
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Remember these points about ShipStation's integration with Canada Post:
Canada Post return labels are only available to Commercial account holders. Return labels cannot be voided, cannot include carrier insurance, and will always require Signature confirmation.
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If using a Commercial Canada Post account, you must manifest your shipments!
You can do this directly in ShipStation using our End of Day process. You can then provide Canada Post with a physical copy of the manifest.
Manifests are not required for Solutions for Small Business accounts.
Cannot electronically submit customs documentation for international shipments. You must provide any necessary customs documents with your shipments.
Does not support Label Branding (Logos on Labels).
Only Label Message 1 & 2 are supported. Label Message 3 will not appear on Canada Post labels.
Special characters can prevent label creation. You may need to remove special characters such as & @ ` ~ | ! % * < > to create the label.
You may incur extra fees if you drop-off packages at a deposit location that is not considered your nearest drop-off location. Use the Canada Post Find a Deposit Location tool to find your nearest deposit location.
Return Labels - Canada Post does not support voiding support labels.
Return Labels require Signature Confirmation. This is to ensure that item was successfully returned.
Does not support carrier insurance for return labels.
Canada Post uses a specific formula called 'Volumetric Equivalent of Actual Weight'. This accounts for the weight and dimensions of the package, and charges for the shipment based on volume when applicable.
Does not support multi-package shipments. You must split the shipment, and will not see a + sign for multiple packages as with UPS, FedEx, or Purolator.
Does not support carrier insurance for return labels.
Card for Pickup confirmation option not available currently.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
Issue |
How to troubleshoot or resolve |
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Error "Method of payment Account/Credit Card is not available" when creating shipping labels or closing shipments |
This error indicates that the payment method selected for the Canada Post integration is not valid. To resolve this issue, go to |
Error "/rs/soap/shipment/v7: cvc-simple-type 1: element unit-weight value '0.000' is not a valid instance of the element type" when creating international shipments |
This error message occurs when ShipStation rounds the weight value for an international shipment and the calculation ends up with a value of 0. This can happen if you have a lightweight shipment that contains a customs line item that has a high quantity (such as a 100 gram package with a customs quantity of 500.) To resolve this issue, adjust your customs declaration so that the name reflects that it's a multi-pack but the quantity is only 1. For example, use "Pack of 500 Paperclips - Qty 1" instead of "Paperclips - Qty 500." |
Shipments lost when changing payment type. |
If changing the payment type, ensure EODs are closed prior to the change, or that day's shipments may be caught in a limbo state. |
Error "Rejected by SLM Monitor" when creating a Canada Post label. |
This error is caused by the Canada Post's servers throttling your Create Label request. You may also receive this error in the event of a Canada Post server maintenance/outage. In either instance, if you receive this error, your best option is to give it a couple of minutes and try again. Typically, Canada Post allows 20 requests per minute. If you receive this error frequently, you can request a limit increase on your Canada Post account. |