Many people think that once you have picked out a fireplace online and scheduled to have it delivered to your home, your work is done. All that's left is to call a contractor to install it, kick back, and relax. While that is somewhat true, there is one important step between the shipment and the installation of your new fireplace that you can not forget. So, in this article, we will guide you through the three steps for handling home delivery of your fireplace. These steps will make sure you receive the right fireplace and avoid accepting an appliance that's damaged.
The first thing you need to do when your fireplace arrives on a freight truck is check for all the pieces. If you ordered accessories or a larger fireplace that comes in several pieces, the delivery receipt should tell you how many pieces came in your order. Count how many the driver gave you and compare that to the receipt.
Next, look at all the pieces you have and check for damage. Take the packaging off, flip the fireplace parts over, and thoroughly inspect every part of your fireplace. Do not sign a delivery receipt before doing this step. The driver may act like he/she is in a hurry. They may rush you to sign. Do not allow them to force you to skip this step even if they don't want to wait. Your ability to file a claim against them if you find damages depends on completing this step.
If you don't find any damage, great! You can sign the receipt and accept the delivery and let the driver go on his/her way. If you do find damages, you need to take photos, make notes on the receipt, and then refuse the shipment. If you fail to do any of this before accepting the package, you will be held liable for any damages after the fact. While that may seem unfair, a carrier won't be held responsible for issues that come up weeks after they dropped the fireplace off. They have no way of knowing whether they actually messed it up in transit or if something happened to it at your home.
So please be sure to inspect for and report damage immediately. Do not accept shipments with damaged freight. Always refuse it. If you do these three steps, this will ensure that you never end up with a dented fireplace that you can't or do not want to use. We hope these tips have been helpful. If you have any other general questions about fireplaces, please see our library of articles here. You can also call us at 800.203.1642
About the Author
Amanda Hurd is a native Memphian, lover of linguistics, and blues music. She has worked in digital marketing for nearly a decade and loves to move people to action with written words. She is the Content Editor for the eFireplaceStore and eCanopy online stores.
Amanda's obsession with writing extends beyond her professional career, bleeding over into her personal life. She has maintained a blog for nearly six years, regularly posts inspirational content online, and is working on completing her first fiction book!
If she isn't off somewhere writing, you better believe she has her nose in a book getting ideas about what to write next!
