What you need to know about shipping

We ship BIG all of the time, so we’ll make this simple!

For many of our customers, freight and large shipments are new.

We’ve learned a lot about shipping BIG! Here are some pointers to help you with your Pareti Mobile Walls shipment.

For many of our customers, our crated walls will be the largest shipment they’ve ever received. While other vendors may have delivered large items such as furniture or artifacts, we find that many customers haven’t worked with 18-wheeled common carriers you often pass on the highway. Receiving a shipment this way has some key differences you’ll need to know about before receiving your shipment.

Check out the expandable topics below:

What is an "LTL" Common Carrier

LTL stands for “Less than Truckload” – which means your shipment will oonly need part of a full truckload and your shipment will travel with others. This helps to reduce costs.

Most of our customers’ orders are shipped LTL/Common Carrier. The semi trailer will have different stops at hubs along the way as it unloads and re-loads heading toward your destination to make the trip as efficient as possible.

This is why crating is so important. As your shipment travels from hub to hub it will often be bought out and placed onto another truck. Without crating the likelihood of damages are significantly greater.

Why is crating necessary?

Crating is essential as it prevents over 95% of shipment damage during transport. Our sturdy crates and refined packing ensure your walls arrive in perfect condition. While cheaper methods like shrinkwrapping may save costs, they increase the risk of damage and denied claims, especially for finished or wrapped walls.

Why are crates expensive?

Due to the weight of the walls in shipment (usually 900 lbs. or more) the crate needs to be strong enough to both protect them and prevent any movement. Our crates are unusually strong, and designed to be reused.

Will the truck driver unload the shipment for me?

Most drivers do not assist with unloading, and some may or may not have a fork lift, however some will assist if that’s included up front in the shipping price. This is different than white glove service, which is where everything is from delivery to set up is provided – we can quote that as well. If you need basic unloading assistance during delivery, and we’ll included that in our shipping quote.

What if I don’t have a dock or forklift?

As a receiver, you must either have a dock and/or forklift to move the crate, or you must hand-unload. At 900-1200 pounds the crate generally cannot be scooted onto a dock, so even with a dock you must have a pallet jack or forklift to remove it from the truck. Please refer to this video for more information about hand unloading.

Situations that can make shipping more expensive

Above all, proper planning helps avoid extra fees. Above all, it’s important to watch our “How to Receive a Large Shipment” video and prepare your team for your shipment’s arrival.

Unavoidable shipping fees may apply to the following:

Delivering in downtown areas or businesses that do not have a shipping or receiving area
Using lift gate service (if applicable – generally for walls 7 feet tall or shorter)
Delivery to a college or university or other limited access areas that make it tough or impossible for semis to turn around, park, or back in/out
Delivery to a trade show (which is a different shipping class and requires guaranteed delivery)

Additional fees or penalties which are optional or add-on, but mostly avoidable:

Guaranteed delivery if not shipping a trade show exhibit
Poorly planned receiving, such as situations where no one is there to hand-unload, or no fork lift available
Turning away, or requesting a shipment re-delivers another day because no one is there to unload or remove the crate. This can add substantial fees to your original shipping amount.

Why a dedicated shipment might save you money

Shipping directly to you with an independent driver in a smaller truck can often be quicker and more cost-effective. With a dedicated driver, you gain greater control and can frequently communicate directly with them as they make their way to you. Since your shipment stays in one truck, crating is typically unnecessary, unlike LTL shipments that are frequently transferred at shipping hubs.

Let us know if you’d like us to quote a dedicated shipment for you. Depending on your location, it can save you money on both shipping and crating.

How long does a shipment usually take?

Most of our LTL/Common Carrier shipments take about 2-5 weekdays, although this can vary according to location, weather, road conditions, or other possible interruptions. Most customers find it’s best to build in about 5 days for your shipment in their total portable wall installation or project plan.

Packing

When you order a finish for your walls (paint, graphics or vinyl wrap) we carefully wrap them to protect them during shipment to prevent scratches. Bare walls ship well without this extra wrap, so we use only as much as needed to protect areas like the adjustable feet in transit. (Incidentally, we work hard to create an environmentally friendly product, so we re-use corrugated boxes whenever possible to reduce waste. Consequently, chances are your joiners will arrive in recycled boxes.)

What is “Guaranteed delivery”?

“Guaranteed Delivery” means you pay higher shipping fees to have an expedited or prioritized shipment. However, many freight carriers no longer offer Guarranteed Shipping in the way that it used to be. Unfortunately, paying the high price Guaranteed Shipping requires doesn’t always provide the best outcome. At Pareti we feel there are better ways to get your shipment quickly, and for less, and due to our shipping volume, Pareti can help you find the fastest and lowest rates for your shipment.

Here are some additional options to Guaranteed Shipping:

Check the Estimated Transit Times

For most of our customers the estimated transit time works with their deadline, but if you need a “hot shot” shipment to get your exhibit walls to you quickly, we can help you!

Using Dedicated Shipping Instead of a Major Carrier

Often the best and most economical way is through a “dedicated” shipment – which means you’ll have one driver, with a direct destination: yours!

LTL if time allows

Another option is thought “Less than Truckload” (LTL) shipping. With LTL your shipment will go to various hubs on its journey to you, often taking longer than a dedicated shipment.

Expedited shipments arrive on time and without problems, but we’ve seen a few shipments delayed due to dangerous weather (anywhere in the country, thereby affecting all transit times and connections) or other, rare mechanical breakdowns.

This is with the assumption that all goes well each step of the way. Be sure to note the following situations which can affect your guaranteed shipment:

The terms and conditions of most bills of lading release transportation providers (and therefore Pareti Mobile Walls, LLC from liability for loss or damage arising from:

an act of God,
a public enemy,
the authority of law or
the act or default of the shipper

In addition, except in the case of negligence, a transportation provider will not be liable for loss, damage, or delay caused by:

the property being stopped and held in transit at the request of the shipper, owner or party entitled to make such request;
lack of capacity of a highway, bridge or ferry;
a defect or vice in the property; or
riots or strikes

We are happy to help you navigate shipping. We’ll set everything up for you, and will advocate for you if your crate or contents sustain shipping damages.

How to hand-unload?

Recieving your walls is often the most labor-intensive part of owning them. For many of our customers, hand unloading is necessary sinc many businesses don’t have a dock or access to a fork lift. Here’s a video which explains how hand unloading works detail. If you lack the people resources to unload, carry, and assemble your walls, we have some suggestions that might help you. Feel free to get in touch with one of our sales representatives for more information.

Damages

No one wins when it comes to shipping damages, which is why it’s so important to avoid damage by proper packing and crating. While crating may seem like an expensive additional item, it will save you problems and money in the long run.

Most shipping damages can be avoided, but in the event that your item arrives with damages, it’s critical you follow this procedure exactly:

Do not sign the delivery receipt unless you are completely certain there are no damages. If there is visible damage to the crate, and/or visible damages to products, you must note “RECIEVED WITH DAMAGES” on the delivery receipt. Take a photo of the delivery rececipt for your records.
Contact Pareti immediately, and send us the photo of the delivery receipt.
Take a minimum of 10 photos per side of all damaged and undamaged areas.
If damage is evident from the shipping take photos of everything FIRST – BEFORE you open the shipment.
Photo all sides of the products, and all sides of the shipment, damaged and undamaged, and number each item using a sticky note on the crate and/or damged items and undamaged items so you, Pareti, and the shipper can easily identify what is what.
When you sign the delivery receipt note all damages, note that all damages have been photographed, note any missing items. Ideally, a Pareti representative will be on the phone with you to guide you in this process. If we are not open, just be certain to note every single issue on the delivery receipt, since this will be used by the shipper to dispute your claim.
Treat damages as though you’re going to court. Shippers will try to pay the minimum for damages, even if the shipment was insured. They will go by what is noted on the delivery receipt, and they will go by any photos you take.
You or Pareit will not profit from damages. In some cases the shipper will inspect or keep the items.

Receiving freight is unlike using other shipping services such as FedEx, UPS, or the post office. Even though FedEx and UPS have freight services, they operate similarly as other freight carriers. Freight has its own rules, guidelines, and acceptance of liability.

To avoid unnecessary charges and fees for shipping, be sure to plan ahead, allow ample time for production and shipping. Be sure to discuss the size of your dock (if you have one), whether or not you have a forklift or pallet jack available, or whether you need to hand-unload your order. We can offer tips to help your receiving go smoothly!

Using Individual Drivers rather than National Brand Transport Companies

Pareti is moving toward using more owner/operater shipping as a move to help support small businesses. We find these shipments move faster and result in fewer damages than national shippers, in addition to helping small business owners.

Best Practices for Reporting Shipping Damage

Most shipping damages can be avoided, but in the event that your item arrives with damages, follow this procedure for the best results:

Do not sign the delivery receipt unless you are completely certain there are no damages. If there is visible damage to the crate, and/or visible damages to products, you must note “RECIEVED WITH DAMAGES” on the delivery receipt. Take a photo of the delivery rececipt for your records.
Contact Pareti immediately, and send us the photo of the delivery receipt.
Take a minimum of 10 photos per side of all damaged and undamaged areas.
If damage is evident from the shipping take photos of everything FIRST – BEFORE you open the shipment.
Photo all sides of the products, and all sides of the shipment, damaged and undamaged, and number each item using a sticky note on the crate and/or damged items and undamaged items so you, Pareti, and the shipper can easily identify what is what.
When you sign the delivery receipt note all damages, note that all damages have been photographed, note any missing items. Ideally, a Pareti representative will be on the phone with you to guide you in this process. If we are not open, just be certain to note every single issue on the delivery receipt, since this will be used by the shipper to dispute your claim.
Shippers will go primarily by what is noted on the delivery receipt. Photos, no matter how convincing, are secondary.
In some cases the shipper or Pareti will inspect or keep the items or request that they be shipped back.

Shipping Damages Cartoon road old supremacy shipping

Freight is a bit different than other shipping services.

First, your shipment will go from shipping hub to shipping hub as it is sorted, reorganized in a new truck, and resorted at the next hub, until it arrives in your town. This activity exposes the crate to bumps due to its length. Shipping large items for years has helped us to refine our crating and shipping to prevent damages, however damages sometimes still occur in a small percentage of our shipments.

What to expect for your delivery day

Once your shipment is close to you, the shipment will go out for delivery generally in the morning. In most cases, Pareti will request the shipper contacts you to make a delivery appointment so you can agree upon a window of time for the delivery. This is especially important if you don’t have a dock or fork lift and need to hand-unload your order.

Many of our customers are new to receiving large freight

For many of our customers, receiving a large crate is a new experience! We do everything possible to make that a simple experience, even if you don’t have a dock or forklift.

Keep in mind that receiving that unlike shipping small items, commercial freight has its own rules, guidelines, and acceptance of liability. Your shipment is insured for damages, but we must follow certain strict guidelines to report and replace (or compensate) for shipping damages. Pareti will work on you behalf if you have damaged items.