Order from TFTestkits.net into Canada (Step-by-Step)

KevinBond

Well-known member
May 7, 2021
101
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Pool Size
71000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hey all, I wanted to document detailed steps for ordering items from TFTestkits.net into Canada using Shippsy to handle the cross-border stuff. This is a follow-up to these instructions so big thanks to @MostlyCanuck (I had never heard of Shippsy)!

For cost, my TFTestkits.net order came to $200 USD ($ 254.00 CAD). The tax and Shippsy handling fee came to $41.00 CAD (so $295.00 CAD all said and done). No duty as it is manufactured in the US. This all took about 2 weeks from when I ordered, to when I picked up.

1. Create a Shippsy account and note the US address (and your "SHP#")
2. Place your order on TFTestkits.net:
  • For shipping address, use the US address from Shippsy. The SHP# is very important. I put it in the "Company" field but I was advised "Address 2" would also work.
  • For payment, I used PayPal because, as @MostlyCanuck noted, the website doesn't accept non-us credit cards.
3. Once your package is received at the US Shippsy warehouse (in Niagara Falls, NY). You'll get an email and need to fill in some tax/duty-related information:
  • For Description, I used "Pool Test Kit"
  • Select that it was manufactured in the US, you'll need to attach proof. I downloaded the SDS PDF for one of the reagents included in my kit from Taylor's website. I was advised by Shippsy this would be sufficient as it shows the US factory address. Attached to this post is the one I used.
  • For Product Category, I chose Category: "Other", Sub-Category: "Other". NOTE: doing this almost gave me a heart attack as it shows the "estimated duty and tax" to be ~$6000! I was told by Shippsy, for "Other", they show the maximum. As you can see above, there was no duty and the tax ended up being ~$33 CAD.
  • For the Invoice, upload the PDF version of the invoice from TFTestkits.net
  • For Pickup Location, you can choose either Mississauga or Markham (there might have been a location in BC but I can't remember). I chose Mississauga (I live about an hour away).
  • Submit!
4. Once your item arrives at the warehouse in Canada, you'll get a notification. You can either go pick it up yourself or have it mailed to your house. For my kit, it was going to cost ~$15 CAD to mail. I opted to pickup but with the price of gas, I likely spent more than that... Not to mention the headache of driving in the GTA. Next time I'll have it mailed.

That's it! Hopefully this helps someone. Feel free to hit me up with any questions/clarifications.

--Kevin
 

Attachments

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Thanks - buying supplies for the kits from a Canadian dealer is ridiculously expensive - in the past I have had them shipped to US based relatives who were coming up for a visit.
 
I know this is a very old thread, but I'll add that I followed the description from @KevinBond to a T. totals were:
TF-100 Refill: $56.00 USD -> $80.01 CAD

Other charges (all CAD):
VAT: $11.88
Shippsy Fee: $7.99
Tax: $1.20
Total: $21.07 CAD

so the final cost to receive in Canada was $101.08. I also had them ship it to my house, which was an additional $19.35 for shipped total of $120.43
which converts back to $83.28 USD (using the same FX rate I got on the original purchase)
 
Hey all, I wanted to document detailed steps for ordering items from TFTestkits.net into Canada using Shippsy to handle the cross-border stuff. This is a follow-up to these instructions so big thanks to @MostlyCanuck (I had never heard of Shippsy)!

For cost, my TFTestkits.net order came to $200 USD ($ 254.00 CAD). The tax and Shippsy handling fee came to $41.00 CAD (so $295.00 CAD all said and done). No duty as it is manufactured in the US. This all took about 2 weeks from when I ordered, to when I picked up.

1. Create a Shippsy account and note the US address (and your "SHP#")
2. Place your order on TFTestkits.net:
  • For shipping address, use the US address from Shippsy. The SHP# is very important. I put it in the "Company" field but I was advised "Address 2" would also work.
  • For payment, I used PayPal because, as @MostlyCanuck noted, the website doesn't accept non-us credit cards.
3. Once your package is received at the US Shippsy warehouse (in Niagara Falls, NY). You'll get an email and need to fill in some tax/duty-related information:
  • For Description, I used "Pool Test Kit"
  • Select that it was manufactured in the US, you'll need to attach proof. I downloaded the SDS PDF for one of the reagents included in my kit from Taylor's website. I was advised by Shippsy this would be sufficient as it shows the US factory address. Attached to this post is the one I used.
  • For Product Category, I chose Category: "Other", Sub-Category: "Other". NOTE: doing this almost gave me a heart attack as it shows the "estimated duty and tax" to be ~$6000! I was told by Shippsy, for "Other", they show the maximum. As you can see above, there was no duty and the tax ended up being ~$33 CAD.
  • For the Invoice, upload the PDF version of the invoice from TFTestkits.net
  • For Pickup Location, you can choose either Mississauga or Markham (there might have been a location in BC but I can't remember). I chose Mississauga (I live about an hour away).
  • Submit!
4. Once your item arrives at the warehouse in Canada, you'll get a notification. You can either go pick it up yourself or have it mailed to your house. For my kit, it was going to cost ~$15 CAD to mail. I opted to pickup but with the price of gas, I likely spent more than that... Not to mention the headache of driving in the GTA. Next time I'll have it mailed.

That's it! Hopefully this helps someone. Feel free to hit me up with any questions/clarifications.

--Kevin
Shipsy now has many more warehouses in Ontario, BC and Quebec, including Kitchener Ontario where I live.
 
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Shippsy doesn't work for me. I work in downtown Toronto and live in Scarborough. I could go to Pickering on weekends but they are only open M-F. I don't understand why they don't have a downtown location.
 

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Shippsy doesn't work for me. I work in downtown Toronto and live in Scarborough. I could go to Pickering on weekends but they are only open M-F. I don't understand why they don't have a downtown location.
Option to have the package forwarded to your home address for a small surcharge.

Pick up locations are close by.
 

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Option to have the package forwarded to your home address for a small surcharge.

Pick up locations are close by.
Agreed, I will probably have it shipped to my house. There are several places in the Toronto suburbs, but traffic in Toronto is terrible and I take the train from my house to the office on M-Th. If they had a spot in the downtown core it would be very convenient for me and the tens (or hundreds) of thousands that work downtown. But to go to any location and come back home is at least a 45 minute round trip so it isn't worth it, unless I would be in the area.
 
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in case this helps anyone, this is currently what the VAT and Duty fees are on my order for the TFPro salt and an extra test tube.

I’m sure this will continue to fluctuate and change as the tariff wars are still going on.

I used Shippsy to import (they are also changing their prices in May)
 

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