The looming threat of job action on the part of Canada Post workers is beginning to take its toll on the owners and customers of some local businesses.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers delayed its plans to begin job action on Monday in the hopes of brokering a deal. The job action is now scheduled for Tuesday morning with plans for employees to refuse overtime hours on a roating basis.

The uncertainty has Calgary-run businesses looking for ways to satisfy the needs of their customers.

Lauren Stanley, the co-owner of online store Fairgoods, says she has been pursuing new ways of shipping her wares to her clientele.

“We have an Etsy store as well as an online store and we do a lot of bridal stuff so right now it’s massively busy,” explained Stanley. ‘We have brides who are impatient and have deadlines and really want to see their packages.”

The vast majority of Fairgoods customers are stateside, Stanly estimates the number at 90 per cent, and transporting product to the border was a vital Canada Post service.

“(I) found somebody in town who actually couriers stuff to the States and then we ship USPS (United States Postal Service) for all of our American customers.”

Stanley says the courier costs roughly the same as Canada Post’s fees but includes tracking numbers.

“If that warning hadn’t come at the end of June, early July, (Canada Post) would probably still have all of my U.S. orders,” said Stanley. “Canada Post has already lost a bunch of business from us. I just can’t have that insecurity and the extra work.”

Customers of Fairgoods who reside north of the 49th parallel will not be as fortunate at their American counterparts.

“When it comes to Canadians, I’ve had to just say if you want I can look into couriering it to you but we’re looking at costs that are probably three or four times what you would normally pay.”

Stanley says she has compiled a backload of orders destined for Canadian addresses and has postponed shipping the items out of fear they will become stuck somewhere.

While the owners of Fairgoods attempt to move product to their customers, some owners of boutique retail shops fear Canada Post job action could reduce the variety of product on their shelves.

Linda Perry, who owns Soul Food Crystals & Books., says a reduction in postal service could impact selection for customers at the 17-year-old business.

“We do have some distributors in Canada that we buy from and, of course, some of them use the post office,” explained Perry.

The West Hillhurst store, which sells self-help books, crystals, jewelry and tarot cards, faces uncertainty when it comes to securing goods.

“How am I going to get product?,” asks Perry. “What’s it going to cost me?”

Late Monday night, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers agreed to extend mediation aimed at resolving their labour dispute by another 24 hours.

 A Canada Post spokesman says both sides will continue to negotiate with the help of a special mediator into Tuesday.

(With files from CTV's Rahim Ladhani)