White Glove Delivery
White Glove delivery is a term used for moving services that bring merchandise (like a sofa) into your home, set it up, and take away any packing materials you don't want. An area of ever-improving service, the details and work of getting your furniture from the factory and into your home are both straightforward and subtle.
Better white glove services, set up by large logistics companies with resources and technology, strive to provide a seamless factory-to-consumer experience. Real-time tracking, local delivery partners you can trust (still checking into what background checks are done, etc.) We are hoping to pair with a carrier we have used for over a decade to bring our non-toxic sofas from North Carolina to Maine.
As we determine whether we can start our small business's deliveries on their highly developed platform, we can do lots of things, and use trusted contacts in our ever-evolving world. Over the years, companies have come and others gone or merged, and we are now working with a freight broker willing to work with our smaller-volume needs as we grow. We get the factory's help to over-protect our pieces and place them in cartons and on pallets for safe shipment to a distribution point near your home.
There are two main parts to the home delivery. First is taking the protected merchandise from the factory's loading dock and getting it to within a few miles of its final destination, generally a depot made for redistribution to smaller vehicles for the "final mile".
Secondly, there is a local moving company that would receive, re-inspect, detail, photograph, report, etc. It is this outfit that would arrange for the delivery date and time, and to whom any specific driving or delivery instructions should be given. We will make sure to provide you with necessary contact information for us and the moving company, but we don't make the delivery appointments. The "final mile" moving company will do that. We will have advised this in advance, so you know that a call or email needs a reply. Contact us to advise ahead of the delivery appointment you make, so we can be available for support when the delivery is happening.
We do not take responsibility for a failed delivery. We will, however, make every effort to make sure an item will fit before you order it. The decision to order, ultimately, puts the responsibility for any issues of fitting - through openings and doorways or at the final location - solely on the purchaser.
In order for the delivery to go as smoothly as possible, we will want to see the route from the curbside or parking spot to the final destination inside the home. Photos work better than videos. We often will ask for a specific measurement. The shots we would want to see include:
- External walkways (how long? 4-wheel dolly ok?)
- External steps (how many)
- Stair flights and landings, showing overhead clearance
- Banisters, handrails, posts, gates
- Hoses, fire extinguishers, pipes, branches protruding into pathway
- Lights or other sprinkler pipes/obstructions pointing down from above?
- Doorways, from both sides
- Hallways
- Inside the room/space where the furniture will be placed
The idea is that you are able to share the obstacle course details of your home well enough in advance to know whether it will fit where you want it to go, and whether special care needs to be taken to maneuver, whether legs need to be removed (maybe needing special tools), or a door taken from the jamb.
Ideally, we come to an understanding of fit that you are sure about, and know in advance what preparations should be made for the delivery to go smoothly.
Because the final mile company is the one arranging the delivery, it is the responsibility of the receiving party to convey the special instructions we develop to ensure successful delivery - we are not on the ground with these delivery people, but will assist as much as we can.
12/12/24: Meanwhile, we work on our sales and perfect delivery record while continuing to try to partner with a world-class outfit to deliver into your homes.
