A step-by-step guide on ordering flooring in the digital world.
You’ve researched, you’ve sampled, and you’ve found your perfect flooring match. Now, it’s time to place your order. Because a freight company will ship your actual flooring order to you, some of the conveniences one takes for granted with traditional parcel carriers (such as UPS or FedEx) might not be available. Look for the following:
- Easy to Understand Shipping Rates. Your retailer should be able to provide you an easy-to-understand and stable shipping quote. Make sure your quote stays the same and does not change. In almost all cases, you should not have to pay more than $0.15/sq. ft. for shipping.
- Fully Insured Delivery. Make sure your retailer offers 100% insurance on your order. Although this should be standard, many retailers try to offer cheap freight quotes by using carriers that do not insure their delivery.
IMPORTANT! While insurance will free you from any liability, it is always your responsibility to inspect your order BEFORE signing for it. When your wood floor is delivered or picked-up, make sure to fully inspect for damage, and make any notes on the signed paperwork.
- Tracking. Although it may seem basic, many LTL (Less than Truckload) carriers do not offer current tracking capability. In order to accurately track your order, make sure the retailer you work with can provide you a tracking # (or PRO #, as it is referred to in freight).
- Flexible Delivery and Pick-up Options. A good retailer will provide you multiple options for delivery and pick-up. Whether you want white-glove service (product delivered into your house), curb-side delivery, guaranteed date/time delivery, or a terminal will call, make sure you get the service that fits your schedule and budget.
- Full and Transparent Return Policy. Your retailer should provide you a reasonable return policy. Although penalty-free returns are not common in the flooring industry, it is important you feel comfortable with the return policy and the risk involved. The best retailers will offer you a 100% return policy, provided the product is still in its original condition.
That’s it! You’re now ready to embark on your floor installation. We wish you all the best. If you have any additional questions or comments, please leave a comment or reach out the GoHaus team directly. We’re here to help.
The post How to Buy Flooring Online: Part 3 – Ordering appeared first on GoHaus.
