test kits/tfp supporter grip

[koffey]

Not sure if anyone else has ever complained about TFtestkits and the tfp support system but here's my grip.

Yesterday, I realized I needed some r-0013 and I do spend a lot of time lurking on TFP and engaging, I thought I would double check to see if TFTK yet ships to Canada as when I first found TFP and was buying a kit TFkits did not. And no TF still doesn't ship their kits to Canada because of said Taylor has a distro in Canada, assuming pool test kits Canada? So I checked them out and for 1 2oz bottle from PTKC was $32.35. My eyes watered. Ended up ordering on Amazon, 2x2oz bottles for $31.85.

I would love to be a gold/silver/bronze supporter but there's zero benefit as the rewards from testkets or inyopools do not apply to Canadians.... here's a $10 cause $30 would cost me $42 CAD.

Funny, just reading a thread from another Canuck saying how crazy prices are for kits/regents up here.

Probably could use my USPS mailbox and cross border pickup but that's just time consuming to get anything and in some instances, costs more in the long run.

Just a 'rant' if you will.

 

[dfwnoob]

The "benefit" is supporting the TFP non-profit which runs this website and pays for all of the web hosting, forum licensing fees, etc. The coupons are just a perk. I never even used the coupons inyo and TFtestkits sent me, I forgot they were even a thing. I donated because even the $100 gold tier is far, far less than I would have spent even if I got swindled by the pool store only once.

 

[koffey]

I get the 'benefit' of using said site however, from my perspective the bonus (benefit) is really accessibility to the coupons due to costs which entails my grip. Without having an inground pool, I had no reason to ever go into a pool store, which the exception of buying LC. Completely different POVs here. The focus is the kits/costs/coupons not the site.

 

[Mdragger88]

I agree with @dfwnoob about the reasons for being a supporter. We do have quite a few canadian members so maybe at some point there might be a possibility of a corresponding perk there. Inyo sells things on Amazon so perhaps they could get a code for those purchases too?
That said, there’s many members from other countries all over the world that likely can’t benefit from these perks and it might be kinda hard to make that possible & cater to all. An Amazon code would be the closest possibility. Years ago the tf100 was available on Amazon- not sure if that will ever be a thing again or not.

 

[koffey]

An Amazon code would be the closest possibility. Years ago the tf100 was available on Amazon- not sure if that will ever be a thing again or not.

Something like that would be ideal.

"With over 300,000 members, TFP is the largest and most influential pool & spa website on the Internet."

Typically the largest groups tend to be able to cater to all it's market, and like you mentioned, globally whether it's via 3rd party sellers or direct. I can typically buy anything from anywhere that's global, why not these kits and regents. The coupon would be the icing on the cake in my example to spend more money for TFP. Instead I have to split it between TFP and Amazon for example.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Koffey,

I think you need to get a grip before you can begin to gripe...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

If you have a gripe with it, it’s the fault of the Canadian government. I know this from experience. The Canadian government makes it all but impossible for retailers outside of Canada to sell inside Canada. Canada highly protects its native industries through regulatory burdens and tariff structures. When I was a working stiff for a major Fortune 100 tech corporation that had worldwide facilities, even shipping parts from a work site in the USA to a finishing site in Canada required mountains of paperwork and proof that you weren’t “stealing jobs” from Canada.

TFTestKits I am sure would love to sell products in Canada but, because of licensing agreements that Taylor technologies has in place, there is only one distributor allowed to bring Taylor products into Canada. So what you are experiencing is the ramifications of a government enforced monopoly …

 

[Newdude]

Without having an inground pool, I had no reason to ever go into a pool store, which the exception of buying LC.

There's a line of Above Grounders that stretches across both countries who get poolstored on the daily.

We meet several of them a day.

 

[koffey]

If you have a gripe with it, it’s the fault of the Canadian government. I know this from experience. The Canadian government makes it all but impossible for retailers outside of Canada to sell inside Canada. Canada highly protects its native industries through regulatory burdens and tariff structures. When I was a working stiff for a major Fortune 100 tech corporation that had worldwide facilities, even shipping parts from a work site in the USA to a finishing site in Canada required mountains of paperwork and proof that you weren’t “stealing jobs” from Canada.

TFTestKits I am sure would love to sell products in Canada but, because of licensing agreements that Taylor technologies has in place, there is only one distributor allowed to bring Taylor products into Canada. So what you are experiencing is the ramifications of a government enforced monopoly …

This is almost exactly the same when I would travel to the US to train our global company employes. I would always have to bring a letter from my employer explaining the reasoning of my travels to the states swearing that I'm not stealing jobs and plead with the US border and custom agents, lol.

In any event, if this is indeed a government enforced monopoly as you say and makes it difficult for outsiders to sell inside Canada, how is it possible that I can purchase basically anything that is sold or not sold in Canada? If there's simply a license issue and if there is as you say, one licensed distributor for Taylor in Canada, why can I buy it off amazon from another retailer that we should say is not licensed to see Taylor products in Canada. That implies that Canada doesn't care about ecommerce retailers right? Isn't that basically what tftestkits is also regarded as?

OR is this a simply Taylor to TFkits, we have a supplier in Canada so you can't sell to Canadians because we are making a killing of the limited product access to these folks. Profits!!

Really trying to understand here.

 

[koffey]

There's a line of Above Grounders that stretches across both countries who get poolstored on the daily.

We meet several of them a day.

Ok, lets rephrase this and say....

With having an intex pool, I had no reason to ever go into a pool store, which the exception of buying LC.

No need to nick pick the entire thread apart. lol

 

[proavia]

A day trip south of the border can bring many benefits.

Besides picking up your TFTestkit or Taylor supplies at your maildrop in the US

• A stop at the falls to enjoy the day
• A stop at the casino to attempt to win back the cost of your trip
• Lunch at Ted's Hot Dogs on the south side of the border
• Filling up with cheaper gas south of the border
• A multitude of other opportunities

Plan ahead, order other items to have shippped to your maildrop.
Make a day of it, be adventurous and enjoy!

 

[koffey]

lol, that is true.

 

[Newdude]

With having an intex pool, I had no reason to ever go into a pool store, which the exception of buying LC

Have you SEEN the intex threads ? There's a bazillion of them. Just sayin.

 

[koffey]

Being serious and all 'they' actually deserve their own dedicated sub-forum.

Thread officially being derailed. lol

 

[duraleigh]

TFTestkits cannot ship Taylor products to Canada, including R-0013 or any other Taylor chemistry.

But TFTestkits would love to. Your point is well taken but pointed at the wrong entity

If you have a gripe with it, it’s the fault of the Canadian government. I know this from experience. The Canadian government makes it all but impossible for retailers outside of Canada to sell inside Canada.

Donations of any type are to Trouble Free Pool. If you feel you receive benefit from the existence of TFP, please consider a donation.

 

[phonedave]

If you have a gripe with it, it’s the fault of the Canadian government. I know this from experience. The Canadian government makes it all but impossible for retailers outside of Canada to sell inside Canada. Canada highly protects its native industries through regulatory burdens and tariff structures. When I was a working stiff for a major Fortune 100 tech corporation that had worldwide facilities, even shipping parts from a work site in the USA to a finishing site in Canada required mountains of paperwork and proof that you weren’t “stealing jobs” from Canada.

TFTestKits I am sure would love to sell products in Canada but, because of licensing agreements that Taylor technologies has in place, there is only one distributor allowed to bring Taylor products into Canada. So what you are experiencing is the ramifications of a government enforced monopoly …

Years ago a friend of mine worked for a company that made temperature monitoring devices for long haul trucks. Sometimes he would have to go into Canada to calibrate or troubleshoot units. Taking tools across the border involved a host of questions. Like you said, he had to prove that he was not going there to work on something that a Canadian citizen could otherwise do.

My family used to have a cabin in Canada. Whenever we went there we had to explain why we were bringing in food from the US. Because the US grocery store was 10 miles over the border while the Canadian one was more than twice as far away and also had a lot less of a selection. They still wanted you to shop in Canada

 

[Newdude]

from my perspective the bonus (benefit) is really accessibility to the coupons due to costs which entails my gripe.

So how bout a change in perspective. it's real easy to look forward and say Pffffft. I don't need TFP. But why is that ? It's because we were there for you when you did need us. We took you in, and either helped or provided you with the reading material to learn, and not need to step foot in the pool store. We were only there at that time, because of previous folks who were grateful of the help they received at the time.

So don't look forward, look back.

And any of us are only one leaking pump, liner (etc etc etc) away from needing the collective hive again. TFP will be there yet again, if enough folks found value in it along the way. *Thats* the reason for donating.

 

[koffey]

TFTestkits cannot ship Taylor products to Canada, includina R-0013 or any other Taylor chemistry.

TFTestkits would love to. Your point is well taken but pointed at the wrong entity


Donations of any type are to Trouble Free Pool. If you feel you receive benefit from the existence of TFP, please consider a donation.

I think you're correct. I did an awful lot of lurking and there's a single sole distro for Taylor in Canada and it's Lowry and Associates. Only about a 45mins drive from me in car. 20mins on motorcycle. Will probably check them out in the next few weeks, have to go see someone that's 15mins further north of Newmarket before the end of June.

Lowry and Associates - Pool, Spa and Industrial Testing Products

Lowry and Associates has served as Taylor's Master Distributor for both pool/spa and industrial testing products in Canada since 1989.

www.lowryassociates.ca

Then sell to business and residential alike direct however a k2006 is considered commercial, do not see any option to buy unlike the residential items. You need to request their catalogue via submission form. They have this under lock and key.

 

[koffey]

So how bout a change in perspective. it's real easy to look forward and say Pffffft. I don't need TFP. But why is that ? It's because we were there for you when you did need us. We took you in, and either helped or provided you with the reading material to learn, and not need to step foot in the pool store. We were only there at that time, because of previous folks who were grateful of the help they received at the time.

So don't look forward, look back.

And any of us are only one leaking pump, liner (etc etc etc) away from needing the collective hive again. TFP will be there yet again, if enough folks found value in it along the way. *Thats* the reason for donating.

I did donate to TFP, the remaining balance of what the bronze supporter after the purchase of my amazon gear. I mentioned that is the very first post in this thread and again in post#5. People just ran away with the idea of the benefit being the 'saved me way more than a pool store' and save the site who cares about coupons, an off shoot of what my 'gripe' really was. Or maybe I'm just terrible at posting TFP clear on what I was trying to get across.

Let me say it more bluntly.

Had I been able to get a testkit from TF, I would have donated the bronze, get a coupon to save some bucks on buying a TF kit. All my monies would have been to TFP.
TFP got a donation, the left over $7 dollars, so that's $5 USD. I didn't have too but I enjoy the site like I said in my OP. Can post my paypal receipt if you need proof.

There's obviously a reason why TFTESTKITS cannot sell to Canucks and I believe it is in my post above for being unable to fill Canada orders. Seems like Taylor and L&A are sole sourcing.

Regardless, I think we can let this thread ride out into the sunset. Thanks for participating in my barn burner.

 

[Newdude]

I did donate to TFP, the remaining balance of what the bronze supporter after the purchase of my amazon gear.

A whole lotta littles makes a whole lotta lots, they say. So belated THANKS.