Have you heard of Canada Post’s Free Shipping Tuesdays? The concept is pretty simple. Every Tuesday in the month of October, you can send one shipment for free anywhere in Canada. There are of course some restrictions and steps to be able to take advantage of this promotion but it’s a great way to save a bit of money on shipments.
Plus, as an added bonus, Canada Post is running a contest this year as well. They will be drawing two winners, each of which will receive free shipping for a year (up to $10,000). That’s an awful lot of free shipments!
Canada Post has been running this promotion for at least the last few years (that’s how long I’ve been taking advantage of it, at least) but the exact terms have changed a bit each year. Whether you’re brand new to Free Shipping Tuesdays or an experienced saver, let’s dive into how it works and what you need to know about the 2021 promotion and contest.
This post is informative only and is based on my knowledge and experiences. Please consult with a local professional for the best information for your business. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission on any sales at absolutely no extra cost to you. Review our Policies for more info.
The Basics of Free Shipping Tuesdays
Eligibility
In order to take advantage of the Free Shipping Tuesdays promotion with Canada Post, you must be a member of the Solutions for Small Business Program (SFSB). This is a free program for small business owners, so if you’re not a member already, you should sign up now!
Members get access to additional shipping methods that retail customers do not and save on parcel shipping costs. Your savings level depends on how much you spend on shipments, so over time, you will likely move up the savings levels as your business grows. You may also be able to schedule parcel pickups at your home to save trips to the post office and get access to some free materials (i.e. clear shipping envelopes for labels).
It’s quick and easy to sign up – just follow this link and enter your information to create your profile. I recommend signing up before Oct 5th (the first free shipping Tuesday). You can get familiar with the site and your account will be set up in time for using the first promo code.
If you sell on Etsy, you can also link your SFSB account to purchase shipping labels right on Etsy with your discount.
Parcel Size
Canada Post states that there is a 5 kg limit for the free package. This could be either the actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
Volumetric Weight
Volumetric weight is a measurement that takes into consideration both the dimensions/size of the package and the weight. It uses a density factor, which is a number showing that items of a certain weight are typically around a certain size.
To calculate the volumetric weight (also called volumetric equivalent or VE), first calculate the cubic volume (length x width x height). (Make sure to measure at the widest part of your package.) Now divide this volume by a density factor.
The density factor is 5000 for volumes measured in cm. (The only exception to this is for packages sent as Regular parcel which have a different density factor. However, that method is mainly for retail customers only. As a SFSB customer, you’re better off sending your packages as Expedited Parcel as the price is the same and it includes added benefits such as insurance and quicker shipping.)
For example, if your package measures 30cm long, 30cm wide, and 10cm tall and weighs 3 kg, let’s calculate the VE. The volume would be 30x30x10 = 9,000cm3. Now we divide by the density factor as follows: 9,000 / 5,000 = 1.8. That means the volumetric equivalent would be 1.8 for this package. The shipping rate is calculated using whichever weight is higher, so for this package, a weight of 3kg would be used.
Maximum Package Dimensions
The free shipping label covers up to a maximum of 5kg, either actual weight or VE. If your package weighs more than 5kg, you will only be charged for the extra weight above 5kg. This can still be a great weigh to save on shipping as you will send this package for a discounted rate.
If your package weighs less than 5kg, there will be a maximum package size that you can send for free. Once your package gets too big, the VE will exceed 5 and you’ll be charged for the extra weight.
Because the size of the package is made up of 3 different measurements, there isn’t one set of max dimensions. Your package could be long and skinny or perfectly square – each of those shapes would have different dimensions. But to give you some ideas, here are a few measurements that would max out at a VE of 5kg.
- 31 x 31 x 26 cm (12 x 12 x 10 in)
- 41 x 41 x 14 cm (16 x 16 x 5.5 in)
- 61 x 26 x 15 (24 x 10 x 6 in)
Shipping Method & Destination
The free shipping label is only valid for shipments sent within Canada using the Expedited Parcel shipping method. You can ship to anywhere in Canada, including a PO box.
How to Create your Free Shipping Labels
Step 1: Get Promo Code
Each Tuesday in October, Canada Post will post that day’s promo code on their website here. You may also receive the promo code in an email from Canada Post or see it shared on a Facebook group, etc. The code is the same for everyone.
Each promo code is only valid for that date and the label must be created between 12am – 11:59pm ET. That means if you’re on the West Coast, you only have until 8:59pm PT to create your label. Each SFSB account can only use each promo code once.
Step 2: Log into Snap Ship & Create Label
Log into your SFSB account here and then go to the Snap Ship Tool. This can also be accessed from your Dashboard by clicking to create a new shipment.
Follow all of the regular steps for creating a shipping label. Make sure to select Expedited Parcel as the shipping method. Once all of the label information has been entered, click Add to Order. This will take you to your order page (similar to a cart page when shopping online, where it shows all shipments in your order.) Beside the shipment you’d like to send for free, enter that date’s code in the Add Promo Code section. Then go to checkout to complete the purchase.
You will need to provide a credit card to complete your label purchase, even if the price shows as $0. This is in case there are additional charges for your shipment, such as if you didn’t provide the correct dimensions and they adjust the charges later.
New to creating shipping labels through Canada Post’s Snap Ship tool? Follow this step-by-step guide to easily walk you through each step of label creation.
Step 3: Save or Print Label
Once your label is purchased, be sure to print out your label and/or save a PDF copy to your computer. The label is only available to access on your account for 5 days.
You don’t need to ship the package within 5 days, but you only have 5 days to print the label. Printing it out immediately or saving a PDF copy gives you more time to access the label if you won’t be shipping it out right away.
Step 4: Send off your Package
Like with all Canada Post packages, you can either drop it off at any Canada Post location or schedule a pick up at your address. (Pick up may not be available at all addresses, particularly remote or rural locations. Check whether you’re eligible for parcel pickups.) Canada Post does not give any deadline for how long you have to ship the package after printing the label, but it would be the same as with any standard package. I have used some of my labels months afterward with no issue.
Questions about Free Shipping Tuesdays
Are there any extra charges?
If you choose to add any additional features onto your package (i.e. signature, COD, insurance above $100, etc.), those will be charged at the standard price. These options are not included in the free shipment value.
If your package exceeds 5kg in weight or volumetric weight, you will be charged for the extra weight. Further, if the dimensions you enter for your package are found to be incorrect once Canada Post has the shipment, they may charge you if the actual dimensions exceed the 5kg limit.
Do I have to do everything online or can I go into a Canada Post location?
The Free Shipping Tuesdays promotion is only valid for labels created online. If you go into a Canada Post location with your SFSB account number or card, they won’t be able to apply the promotion.
If you don’t have a printer to print off the label, you can go into a Canada Post location and they will print the label for you. They will need to scan the code found in your email receipt, so bring your phone with you. Remember, you only have 5 days to print the label, so you’ll have to go into the post office within 5 days.
You can also go into the post office to drop off your package once the label is attached.
Can I cancel my label?
Yes, as long as the package hasn’t yet shipped. The bottom of your email receipt has instructions for cancelling the label online or by phone. You can also follow the steps here to cancel your label online.
Note that you won’t be able to re-use the promo code to create a new free shipment. Each code can only be used once, even if you cancel that label.
If you created a label and forgot to apply the promo code, you can cancel that label and create a new one using the promo code. Canada Post recommends that you create the new label first and reference it when cancelling the first label.
Do I have to ship my package on Tuesday?
Nope. You have 5 days to print off or save your label. After that, you can no longer access the label on your account to print it off. But once you’ve printed/saved the label, you can send that package off anytime.
Find more frequently asked questions about Canada Post’s Free Shipping Tuesdays on their website here.
Bonus Tips
Use your Free Label for Supplies
Some suppliers in Canada will let you use your free shipping label on an order you place with them. Make sure to find out if they offer this before using one of your free labels.
To do this, you’ll need to change the shipping from address to your supplier’s address. You may need to enter this under your account/profile information as another address. Then use your address as the recipient. If you know the dimensions of the package, enter them in the appropriate section. Otherwise, you can use a set of max dimensions to get up to the max of 5kg. If your package ends up exceeding the 5kg limit, you’ll be charged for the extra weight only; that’s still great savings on your shipment.
Once you create the label, make sure to save a PDF copy. You would then email the supplier your PDF label for them to print out and attach to the package.
Offer your Customers Free Shipping
You can extend the free shipping promotion to your customers for the month of October. This can be a great incentive for them to purchase now instead of waiting for the busier holiday months. They may also add on extra items to their order since they don’t have to pay for shipping.
Remember you only get 4 free labels this year and they must be shipped within Canada. If your sales volumes are really low, you can offer everyone free shipping and only eat the cost of the fifth sale and onward. Or offer free shipping to sales over a certain value to minimize the orders that will be eligible (ex. free shipping for the month of October on all sales over $100.)
Some other options if your sales volumes are higher and you can’t offer everyone free shipping:
- Do a random draw each week to choose an existing order that will ship free. Then refund that customer their shipping cost.
- Do a random draw of all of your email subscribers or Instagram followers, etc. each week to reward your followers. The winner’s receive one free shipment on their next order. You’ll need to collect their shipping address and then create the label on the free shipping Tuesday. If they don’t order right away, you can create the label anyway using their address and a set of max dimensions. (Keep in mind your normal box dimensions and choose the biggest box size you have that keeps the limit under 5kg. If their order ends up being over 5kg, you’ll only be charged for the extra weight.) Then print the label or save a PDF and keep it for when they place their order.
- If you’re wanting to run a giveaway, now’s a perfect time! You can send the prize to the winner for free by using one of your free shipping labels.
Don’t Miss a Tuesday
If Tuesday comes and you don’t have any labels to create, try to think of a shipment you know you’ll have to send in the future and create a label for that. Otherwise, you’ll lose out on that week’s label. Maybe you have a customer who orders frequently – create a label for their next purchase. If you take pre-orders at Christmas time, maybe you have an open order that won’t be shipping until November. Go ahead and make that label now and hold onto it. Know you’ll be sending a package to your friend or family member for Christmas? Create that label now.
Again, just be sure to save a PDF of the label now so it doesn’t expire on you.
The Free Shipping Tuesdays Contest
Have you heard about the bonus contest Canada Post is running during this year’s Free Shipping Tuesdays? Two lucky people will each win free shipping for a year (up to $10,000).
How to Enter
All Solutions for Small Business (SFSB) account members are automatically entered into the contest. You will earn additional entries for each package you ship throughout the month of October. Each shipment must be sent using your SFSB account, but can be done online or in person at a Canada Post location using your member card.
For an extra/alternate entry, you can also mail in an original handwritten essay (minimum 100 words) describing what winning the prize would mean to you and your small business. You must include: your full name, SFSB account number, address (including postal code), age, email, and phone number (including area code). Mail your essay to:
Canada Post
Free Shipping Tuesdays Contest
1 Dundas St. West, 7th Floor
Toronto, ON
M5G 2L5
The Prize
There are two prizes to be won. One for an existing SFSB member (signed up before Oct 1, 2021) and one for a new SFSB member (signed up between Oct 1 – 31, 2021). The ways to enter are the same for each prize (see above).
Each winner will receive free shipping for a year! There is a maximum limit of $10,000 in shipping credits for each winner.
The winners will be drawn at random on November 22, 2021. The prize will be applied to the winner’s SFSB account by January 6, 2022 at the latest and expire on November 30, 2022.
You can read the rest of the contest rules here.
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