People shopping online always have to deal with shipping problems. Products can be lost or stolen during transit or even upon delivery.
There are many possible flaws during the shipping process. Not only do the products have to be shipped properly, but the condition of the arriving products may be affected mid-transportation.
Shipping Problems and Challenges When Buying Kitchen Cabinets Online
With everything purchased online, kitchen cabinets also face shipping challenges. Like regular items, it may be hard to keep track of where a certain shipment is.
Despite large pallet shipping cabinets, these items can be lost in the mix of everything being shipped. Shipping can damage wood cabinets, and doors can get chipped or scratched when unloading the materials from the truck.
It is frustrating to spend so much time and money receiving items from the company only to have them damaged. How can one dictate who is responsible and who will fix the shipping problems at hand?
The Cabinet Company
The cabinet company will be the go-to if something goes wrong with the order. Typically, customers will contact the sales representative they worked with to find and contact issues with the order. Not all faults can be easily blamed on one party, depending on the situation. Of course, one’s first
When shopping online for anything, checking reviews will filter the good from the bad. Why do reviews matter?
Reviews will let you know the good the company does and, more importantly, the bad reviews. It highlights what the company did wrong on certain orders and how they fixed these situations.
Not only are reviews important, but also the shipping policy, warranty, damage policy, and even return policy. Buying cabinets online differs greatly from buying a phone charging cable from an online store.
Shipping Policy, Warranty, and Damage Policy
Companies typically list guidelines for shipping their products. This will let customers know what to expect when they receive the cabinets from the shipping company.
Most shipping companies ship products on pallets on large freight trucks. Cabinet companies typically describe the shipping procedure and what customers need to know before purchasing the cabinets.
Like shipping policies, cabinet companies each have warranty and damage policies. Warranty and damage are what a lot of customers should look for. Based on any shipping damage or damage later on, a customer may easily replace the damaged items if the warranty states so.
The last thing customers want to hear is a warranty that does not replace items damaged in shipping. In stressful situations, a good warranty acts as a safety net, allowing customers to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Shipping Company
The shipping company will be in charge of shipping your product to you. The typical companies that are expected to ship your Amazon order are not the same ones that can ship a palette of kitchen cabinets.
Companies like UPS or FedEx may be the carriers for certain orders. Specific companies will change based on location for freight orders where a whole palette is needed. Customers may ask their sales representative which freight company is used to ship their specific order before purchasing.
Customers should receive a shipping confirmation and tracking number upon the order’s shipment. Tracking the order is important to see when the order arrives and the timeline of the kitchen remodeling project.
Unlike a small package from a typical online delivery, delivering a palette is a much more difficult task. A company cannot leave a palette on the front door and leave without the consumer present. A massive order like kitchen cabinets will require someone to be there to receive the order.
Not everyone can always take time off from work to receive an order. If someone is renovating the kitchen, it will be best to have a contractor receive the order. That contractor is knowledgeable about kitchen cabinets and may help check for damages.
Who is Ultimately Responsible for Shipping Problems?
The company supplying the goods is at fault. Sellers must follow up with the customer to ensure the shipment goes through. Many individual sellers will try to blame the delivery.
Whether it is by the USPS, a third-party service, or contracted individuals, the seller needs to work with the delivery to guarantee the products get to the customer’s hands in good condition. They need to ensure the product they sell gets to the customer properly.
If an item does not arrive to the customer or arrives damaged, the seller must ensure the items get exchanged or refunded. They are the ones supplying the goods and need to resolve any shipping problems.
If the items get damaged mid-transportation, the seller needs to work with the delivery to resolve that issue on the side. Customers often do not have the time or patience for others to point fingers and blame others.
Especially when home remodeling projects are on a strict timeline, dates must be at specific stages.
The longer the issue takes, the later and later the project gets held back for the customer. To keep on board with the schedule, evaluate to see which portions of the cabinet are damaged.
If the cabinet’s interior is refined, one can complete the whole kitchen installation. Damaged doors can be replaced and installed at the very end, even after completing flooring, countertop, and appliances.
What Do I Do While Trying to Resolve Shipping Problems?
If the cabinet’s interior is intact and any damages do not affect the cabinet’s structural integrity, the installation process will not be delayed. The cabinet box is the only thing that needs to be installed before the next process.
The countertop can be installed after the cabinet box is assembled and mounted, and the cabinet doors can be installed at the very end of the kitchen remodel.
Depending on the cabinet company’s shipping, warranty, and damage policies, customers can discuss with the sales representative on replacing the damaged parts during shipping.
If a cabinet interior is damaged that affects the structural integrity, they can work on the rest of the kitchen first. Once the replacement kitchen cabinet is finished, the last cabinet can be assembled to finish the kitchen.
What dictates a cabinet that does not affect structural integrity? A cabinet typically needs a back panel, sides, shelves, doors, drawers, and maybe a frame.
Frameless cabinets do not have or need a front frame. Doors and shelves are typically components that are not integral to the cabinets’ stability. The plywood edges are commonly hidden from view.
RTA cabinets will have a side skin panel and toe kickboards, and the countertop will hide any imperfections on the edges of the plywood. Framed cabinets will even hide more imperfections that may be slightly visible from the box. Although a customer may not like the idea of a slight chip being okay on a cabinet, it potentially will be hidden away.
