How Freight Shipping Works

Because Acritec products consist of large, high-value, and heavy structural fixtures (such as bathtubs, shower bases, and ceramic basins), standard courier shipping is not viable. All large orders are handled via specialized LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Freight to ensure safe, damage-free delivery across Canada and the United States.

Below is our transparent, multi-step procurement process designed to secure you competitive shipping rates with zero initial financial risk.

1. Secure Your Inventory

When you complete your purchase on AcritecDirect.com, your card is NOT charged immediately.

We place a temporary, authorized hold on your payment method. This secures your items within the factory inventory queue and initiates the preparation of your order without any upfront financial risk. If you choose to cancel your order during the subsequent quoting phase, this hold is released immediately at zero cost to you.

2. Custom Freight Sourcing

Within 1 business day of placing your order, our logistics team manually coordinates with national and cross-border freight networks. We do not use automated, inflated shipping calculators.

Instead, we source a real-time, custom competitive quote based precisely on your delivery address, transit lane conditions, and specific site needs. To prevent unexpected costs at your doorstep, we actively work with our carriers to pre-calculate and include standard accessorial surcharges (such as residential delivery and liftgate requirements) directly into your quote whenever possible.

3. Review and Approve

We will email you a transparent freight breakdown along with a secure checkout link to finalize the shipping balance.

If you approve the quote: Pay the shipping invoice—we will finalize your original product payment hold, and your order will move directly to the factory crating bay.

If you decline the quote: Let us know via email; we will cancel your order immediately and drop the authorized hold on your card. You owe absolutely nothing.

Heavy-Duty Factory Crating

Transit damage is a significant headache in the plumbing industry. To mitigate this risk, every bathtub, shower base, and heavy sink is secured inside an engineered wooden crate directly at the factory before being loaded onto the freight truck.

This heavy-duty timber reinforcement helps ensure your fixtures arrive at your job site completely intact, pristine, and ready for rough-in installation.

⚠️ Mandatory Receiving Policy: Inspect Before Signing

When your freight shipment arrives, the carrier will present you with a document called the Bill of Lading (BOL) or a delivery receipt.

CRITICAL RULE: You must completely unpack and thoroughly inspect the exterior and interior of your products for any transit damage BEFORE signing that document.

If you discover damage: Refuse the delivery immediately, hand it back to the driver, and write "Refused due to transit damage" clearly on the paperwork. Then, notify us at info@acritecdirect.com.
If you sign the document cleanly: You are legally signing a binding statement declaring that the cargo arrived in perfect, unblemished condition. Once signed, neither we nor the factory can file a damage claim with the carrier, and we cannot issue replacements or refunds.

Do not let the truck driver rush you. It is your legal right to inspect the cargo before signing for it.

Cross-Border Shipping (USA Orders)

While the vast majority of Acritec’s catalog is manufactured at their primary facility in British Columbia, Canada, select specialty fixtures or components are sourced globally.

USMCA / Duty Status: Products manufactured in Canada cross the border into the United States 100% Duty-Free under the USMCA. For globally sourced items, any applicable standard entry tariffs are factored directly into your custom shipping and logistics assessment.
What we handle: Our team coordinates the required export documentation, customs manifests, and carrier routing to facilitate a smooth border crossing.
What you handle: To ensure a seamless delivery, standard cross-border carrier clearance charges or predictable brokerage fees are bundled directly into your upfront freight quote whenever carrier protocols allow. In rare instances where local municipal layout fees or localized terminal charges cannot be prepaid, we will notify you explicitly via email before finalizing your order hold.

Need a Freight Quote Before You Order?

If you are coordinating a large commercial project, a multi-unit development, or simply want to know your estimated shipping costs before initiating a checkout hold, we are happy to run the numbers for you.

Email your exact job site address and the list of SKUs or Model Numbers you require directly to our trade desk: info@acritecdirect.com.