Hot Tub Cover Pros,
I am shopping for a cover online, and of course I am price comparing. Many of the sites offer free shipping but those that do not show freight rates around $100. Why is this so expensive for a 50 pound item and, is there a better way to order to save this $100?
Kim
Ft. Myers, Florida
Hi Kim,
We get this question quite often, as you might expect. Unless you happen to live very close to a cover manufacturer, you will not be able to avoid this part of the expense.
Ultimately, covers must be shipped via common carrier freight companies such as Yellow, SAIA, Overnite, Estes, Southeastern, R&L, etc. This is not because of the weight, but because of the size of the delivery. The typical box is eight feet by four feet by one foot thick and FedEx and the UPS brown truck just cannot handle deliveries of this size. UPS purchased the freight company Overnite so they can keep this part of the business, but Overnite does not operate in any way like the package delivery side of UPS.
Different than shipping with UPS or FedEx, freight rates are set by what is called a “tariff”. Simply stated, the tariff is a contractual agreement between the freight carrier and a shipper. The rates are negotiated and agreed to based on volume and the class of freight which is related to package size and weight. Since everyone shipping covers are all shipping about the same size boxes, the larger the shipper’s volume, the better the rates they can typically negotiate.
The delivery itself is quite different with freight as well. They will not just drop by to see if you happen to be home. This would be very expensive and they just won’t do it. They will typically call you to schedule a window of time for the delivery. You can schedule them when it would be convenient for you but be aware that if you ask them to keep the cover for several days, they can and will start accruing storage fees!
When the cover is delivered, inspect it to make sure it is not damaged. If it is damaged, either refuse it or note the damages on the Delivery Receipt before signing the Delivery Receipt. This is very, very important. If the Delivery Receipt is signed and the driver leaves, any attempt to claim freight damages will be answered with, “Well, no damaged was noted on the DR so it must have been damaged after the delivery.” To the right is an actual letter from a freight company for your review. Click on it to enlarge it.
Yes, cover shipping is expensive, and will increase with fuel prices just like everything else.
Happy Tubbing!
Ethel Elliott
