If You Read One Article about Furniture Deliveries, Read This One

What sense does it make to buy furniture you do not receive? Since you will not be able to use the furniture if it’s not in your home, everything else is secondary to it being delivered. What good is a 60% discount if you don’t get the goods? Even if it’s made of the best quality material in the world, what good is that to you if you don’t have the product to use?

As Humans, we are all physical beings and have to use physical products. None of us can sleep online; none of us can eat online, and none of us can breathe online. Therefore none of us can live online. We all live on this physical planet called Earth and eat, sleep and breathe in its atmosphere. And yet, everyone sells the physical products we use as if they can be delivered online. I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked, there was no technology available which allows us to just “drag” products from the screens of our devices directly into our physical space.

If you’ve found yourself ordering products (online or in-store) only to be disappointed by delivery issues, you are not the only one to do so. You’re also not the first and you’re certainly not going to be the last person to go through this bad experience. As a matter-of-fact, if you do a Google search for any retailer, along with a phrase like “home delivery problems,” you’ll see a long list pop up on the screen. Sometimes even just doing a plain search for the retailer’s name will produce a similar result. This is because all retailers have problems delivering merchandise incident-free to their customers.

Most of these problems occur because retailers do not specialize in delivery services at all. Every retailer specializes in sales. Therefore, that’s the area of business they focus all their energies and attention on. There’s now a real dilemma because you, the consumer, are demanding speedier and more efficient delivery services of your merchandise. But how can retailers become proficient at something they do not specialize in? They don’t. Instead they opt for the easy way out by simply outsourcing the delivery aspect of their business. What advice can retail salespeople give you about services they have no knowledge of? Absolute none!

Let us be clear here: Household goods are not Apps, JPEG, Doc or PDF files which can simply be downloaded or forwarded online at anytime you choose. Each product will need to be physically delivered. So why would any sales person promise you physical delivery of furniture any time you choose to any place in the house you want? How could any sales person promise delivery of a sofa “when you choose?” Simply because they have no idea what they are talking about regarding delivery services. Do you want to know the truth? Most of these delivery promises are never fulfilled.

For smooth, successful delivery services you will need to get a general understanding of how the process works; what your responsibilities are, and your options. Since every delivery experience is unique, the options you’re given should be customized to deal specifically with issues related to your delivery. The only way you can be supplied with the correct options is from answers you provide for specific questions. Since sales people don’t know about delivery services, they will not ask any questions regarding the delivery aspect of your merchandise. All you may receive are promises about how good the service is. Bear in mind however that if you are not asked any questions you will not know what information to provide. As you may well imagine, this could lead to disastrous consequences.

I’m sure you don’t want to ever experience the negative delivery issues most people encounter. However, there is just one problem: Since salespeople will not ask you any delivery questions, how will you know what information to provide? What will your options be if you purchase that model Sofa?  Can it be delivered? Will it fit in your home? Who do you speak with? Well, I have good and bad news. The good news is that information is now available to prevent you from making the mistakes others have made. The bad news is that it’s very difficult to obtain this information as it’s not readily available at all.

Therefore the primary purpose of this article is to make you aware of the best resources available to protect you from experiencing these delivery problems. The best is an e-book entitled “The Home Furniture Delivery Guide” which provides many tips and tricks to avoid this nerve-wracking issue. It’s a very easy read (only 40 pages) and in it you’ll find a wealth of information on preventing home delivery problems, and solutions.

For example you’ll learn just how easy it is to:

•  Research the retailer’s delivery record – and not get caught by their sales pitch.
• Measure your spaces to make sure all the pieces will fit and function properly.
• Order furniture for quality – and not just for style.
• Ensure you receive all the correct pieces of furniture – and not a different style or color.
• Avoid being charged large re-stocking or re-delivery fees.

Remember, this is the most important information you will ever receive on buying furniture. Get the book here.

As usual, thanks for taking the time to read. For further information you may also contact us at: www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

 

Warning: You’re losing Money When You Use Furniture Delivery Services

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

You’re watching the news and an all too familiar story grabs your attention. It’s about a customer who purchased furniture, made a large deposit, and 16 weeks later still has not received the furniture. Even though the retailer promised a refund, the customer has not received it yet. In desperation, as a last resort, the customer reached out to the local TV station for help.

Fortunately, the Investigative Reporter is very good at her job and eventually tracks down the elusive Retail Owner, who promises a check will be mailed the following day. Pressured by all the negative publicity his company has received, the owner keeps his promise, and a few days later the consumer does not have enough words of gratitude for the reporter’s help in getting the money returned.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THIS IS A HAPPY ENDING. IS IT FAIR THOUGH?
Absolutely not! You see, even though the customer got the money back, it was “de-valued.” In other words, even though the payment for the furniture was returned, the customer was not paid for the time wasted (waiting in vain) or the stress endured during the ordeal. During the long wait period, the price for the furniture may also have increased as well. Consequently, there is a possibility the consumer might be unable to afford the same furniture with the money received.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the customer’s money had also been returned with interest? Don’t hold your breath though: This is not going to happen any time soon, if ever.

ORDER FURNITURE AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE DELIVERY PROBLEMS.
Do not think the above story is an isolated one by any stretch of the imagination. The problem is much more common than reported.  According to reports published by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), deliveries of household goods have continuously remained on the top-ten complaint list for many years. Most of you will not know a potential delivery problem even exists until after you have already invested your time and money purchasing the furniture. Wouldn’t you prefer discussing any delivery issues before making a commitment to ordering the merchandise? This is easier said than done as:

MOST SALES ASSOCIATES ARE CLUELESS ABOUT DELIVERY SERVICES.
If you don’t believe this statement here is a very simple experiment you can do: Call random retailers and pretend you are shopping for household goods (furniture, fitness machines, recreational equipment etc.). Show some interest in the product and then ask each sales associate one simple question: “Have you ever done deliveries as a profession?”  Don’t be surprised by their answers as most have not, and do not know the relevant questions to ask you, or provide suggestions regarding the delivery of your merchandise. They might also provide erroneous information as well. Yes, that’s the truth: sales associates are excellent salespeople with little or no knowledge of delivery services.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN RESOLUTION.
It’s always better to avoid breaking things than repairing them as there are so many negative aspects involved in the repair process. For example, a broken leg will include pain, immobilization, rehabilitation and loss of time. Similarly, avoiding delivery problems is better than trying to resolve them as you are going to waste valuable time and money contacting your retailer to resolve these issues after they manifest themselves. The best thing you can do to avoid delivery problems is obtain relevant information or education regarding delivery services.

WHEN DO YOU NEED THIS DELIVERY INFORMATION?
Obtaining furniture is usually done in three stages:

1. Shopping
2. Ordering
3. Delivery

Even though it is usually the last step in the series of activities surrounding your merchandise, delivery actually begins from the time you begin to shop for furniture. Unfortunately, most people think delivery begins after they have completed the shopping and ordering process. How you shop might determine if you have a successful delivery or not. The information you provide while ordering the product might also affect the quality of service you receive. This means you should have information about your delivery options before you even begin the shopping process.

HOW DO YOU OBTAIN THE INFORMATION?
Most of the information you’ll find will teach you about moving, buying good quality furniture, scaling furniture for spaces and measuring furniture. However, the information you really need is dedicated education for the prevention of home delivery problems. This is because there are many more factors involved in delivering merchandise than you may even realize. For example, do you know how to avoid waiting in vain all day for a delivery truck? That information (along with other related material) is not readily available.

Fortunately, a new book, The Home Furniture Delivery Guide has been written to teach you how to prevent home delivery problems. In it you will find simple ideas which anyone can learn to implement quickly and easily.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. As usual, I hope this information was helpful. For further information you may also visit us at: www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

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Stop Wasting Time On Home Delivery Services

According to Thomas Frey of the DaVinci Institute, the average person in America will move 16 times over their lifetime. This works out to moving roughly once every five years. Whether you move this often, or not, you will purchase some type of household product each time you relocate. This means you might need to shop for furniture, appliances or equipment. However, do you know there are numerous problems associated with this simple activity? Do you know that delivery issues are one of the biggest problems linked to the purchase of household goods? Well, here’s an interesting bit of information: According to reports from the Consumer Federation of America, complaints regarding deliveries of household goods have continuously remained in their top-ten list over many years.

Do you know how profound this revelation is? Are you aware of what this means for you? Let me tell you: It means that more likely than not, if you purchase any large merchandise, you will have problems with getting it delivered. Here’s the thing though: Regardless of whether you live in a house, apartment or condominium, you will need to furnish it. Therefore the crucial question is, how do you furnish your home without experiencing delivery problems? If you have bought furniture, appliances or equipment before, you know salespeople are not very knowledgeable about the delivery aspect of merchandise. In fact, most of the people you will meet during the buying process have never done deliveries as a profession at all!

What do you do then? How can you avoid the numerous delivery issues? The answer is very simple: You (yes you) must educate yourself. “How do I do that?” you may be asking yourself. That’s a very good question as there is very limited information, if any, available on the subject matter. Thank goodness you are reading this now, as I decided to change all that by providing the required information in a readily available format. After years in the home delivery business, I just became fed-up by the lack of information consumers were provided regarding the delivery aspect of their products. Subsequently, I wrote a book detailing the steps you need to take to ensure products are delivered to your home incident-free. As you will see, it is all simple stuff which anyone can learn very quickly and easily to do. It’s just that you have not thought about these things because you are not in the line of work I’m in (read a little about me here) Everything is plain and straightforward. No rocket science here at all!

After reading you’ll learn how easy it is for you to:

• Avoid waiting home in vain all day for deliverymen.
• Make sure you receive the correct style or color.
• Ensure products fit through the available spaces in your home.
• Prevent large re-delivery charges.
• Protect yourself from re-stocking fees.
• Stay clear of unscrupulous retailers.

The FREE e-book version is available for a limited time so GET IT HERE while you still can.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope your next home delivery experience will be extremely fulfilling and rewarding.

Paul
President/CEO
www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

The Biggest Truth You Were Never Told

All of us have bought stuff from time to time. From a candy bar to a pair of shoes or furniture, we have all bought something. Regardless of how composed, disciplined or trained we are, our emotions determine most of the purchasing decisions we make. While most of us try to convince ourselves that we make logical decisions for our purchases, nothing could be further from the truth. If we are buying food, our decision is based on looks and smell; if we are buying car, our choice may be based on looks and feel, and if we are buying furniture, our selection might be based on looks, feel and smell.

All of these senses (sight, touch and smell) place us in an emotional state of mind by working the way they were intended to.  As Human Beings, we are all created with emotions which differentiate us from animals that act purely on instinct. Emotions are good things because they provide us with the ability to express ourselves in many different ways. Anger, sadness, happiness, euphoria and excitement are all examples of emotions.

Nonetheless, these very emotions can make us very vulnerable while purchasing because salespeople are all trained to prey upon these emotions. The fact is, from the beginning of time all that salespeople have sold are hope, promises and benefits. We all like these things. Therefore, no one ever sells problems and never will. For example, while selling you a car, salespeople will never mention that in the event of an accident you could be killed.

Similarly, retail salespeople will never tell you there can be problems with delivering your merchandise. All they will tell you about are the beautiful features of the product or the benefits of owning the product. Why do you think furniture salespeople tell you to sit on the sofa you want to buy? Why do you think car salespeople suggest you “take a spin” in the car? It’s simply because they know once you get emotionally attached to the product you will purchase it. Emotional connection is the number one driving force behind every purchase.

Marketing and advertising campaigns all make us aware of items in the marketplace. However, in order for us to spend our money there must be an emotional connection. Good marketers get us emotionally attached by using carefully selected words in their copywriting. When they get us to visit their marketplace, they always try to make sure we get emotionally connected to their product to guarantee a sale. Subsequently, we need to be aware that our emotions can lead to many problems.

Why do you think Lawyers, Doctors, Politicians and even Police Officers have been “conned” out of their hard-earned money? Many are too embarrassed to reveal they have been fleeced of their cash because their emotions clouded their better judgment. Do you know how many people have bought things they did not plan to purchase, because a clever salesperson got them emotionally attached to a product? Of course, you cannot blame the salespeople for doing their job in a proficient manner.

Put yourself in their position: If you were selling something, wouldn’t you rather tell prospective buyers about the good qualities instead of negative ones? Well, that has been the “rule-of-thumb” to the whole art of selling from the beginning and will not change. Since there can be many negative issues associated with home delivery services it is your responsibility to find out what they are, and how best you can prevent these issues. As I said earlier: Salespeople don’t sell problems. Subsequently you have to learn how to protect your hard-earned money by preventing the problems as best as you possibly can.

I hope this article has been useful. For further information you may read “The Home Furniture Delivery Guide” which is listed on Amazon, or you may contact us at: www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

 

This Is Not On Angie’s List

I’m sure many of you have heard about Angie’s List. If you have not, this is a site which provides ratings for numerous professionals. From contractors, plumbers and electricians; to dentists, lawyers and many more professionals, the site provides valuable insight and information. Nevertheless, if you are purchasing furniture or other large household products, this site may not provide the information you need.

Don’t get me wrong! There is a lot of information about retailers and transportation companies posted on the site. Moving companies are on there and advice about moving is listed as well. However, what if you are purchasing furniture or other large household goods? How do you find out about the retailer’s delivery record? How can you avoid delivery issues? Where do you find this information? The information is not on Angie’s list. To be more precise, this information is not readily available at all.

According to reports from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), problems with deliveries of household goods have remained a major issue for many years. In fact, it has been continuously in the top-ten list of complaints over many years. This means it is very likely if you purchase large household goods, you will have problems getting them delivered. It also leads us to the important fact that regardless of how beautiful a product looks in the showroom, if it is not in your home you cannot use it. Unfortunately, you the consumer are always charged with the responsibility of getting merchandise delivered into your home.

This means if an item cannot fit through the available spaces in your home, it will be returned to the store or warehouse, and you will have to pay a re-stocking fee. If the piece is too heavy to be taken upstairs by the standard delivery team of two men, you will have to pay for the additional deliverymen required. In other words, you always pay for your lack of knowledge. Despite this fact, salesmen will not tell you about problems. From the beginning of time salesmen have only sold hope, benefits and promises. They have never sold problems, and never will. Either intentionally or not, every retailer makes money from two things: your emotions and your ignorance. Never forget this.

It will therefore serve you best to become an educated consumer for the deliveries of your household goods. This is very easy to accomplish. As you will see later on, it’s just about implementing simple, practical things which anyone can do. These are just common sense things which you haven’t thought about, simply because you are not in the delivery business. Thanks for allowing me to share this important information with you today, as even though home delivery services have now become a very integral part of our lives, it is probably one of the last things you’ll ever think about. In fact, most people never think about it until they encounter a problem.

So here are the main home delivery issues:

1. The product is not delivered.
2. The merchandise cannot fit through available spaces.
3. The goods are damaged.
4. Piece is too heavy to be lifted up stairs by two men.
5. Absent Customers.

I can’t discuss them all in this space but I’ll share some ideas about the first one:

The Product is not delivered
One of the things that infuriate people the most is sitting around all day waiting in vain for products that are not delivered. I’m sure it would upset you too. So how can you avoid waiting around all day for a delivery truck that never “shows up”? The main thing I want to emphasize here is that you research every retailer you plan on doing business with. More specifically, check their delivery history in addition to the quality of the merchandise they sell.

Don’t just assume that because a retailer sells the best quality products, it also means their delivery service is of a similar standard as well. Many times bad delivery services accompany good products, but “crappy” products are excellently delivered! Do your “home work” by getting feedback from persons who have previously had products delivered by the retailer. If the responses are positive then you can place your order. If not, it may be best to find another retailer.

These are some of the things you should pay special attention to:

a) Does the retailer accept responsibility for delivery related issues?
b) Do they treat customers with respect?
c) What is their history for resolving delivery problems?
d) How quickly do delivery issues get resolved?

As you may have already realized, companies spend a lot of time and money studying human habits and psyche. They know most people will not take the time to research the delivery aspect of their business. In fact, many companies are hoping you do not check them out at all. Make sure you are never a part of that crowd by using the internet to start your research. Simply do a Google search of the retailer, along with a phrase like “delivery complaints.” This should provide some answers. I guarantee many of the results will surprise you.

So there you have it. If you are going to furnish your home, apartment or condo, start by doing a research of your retailer’s delivery record. Remember, if the product is not in your home you cannot use it!

Hope this information has been helpful. For more information you can read The Home Furniture Delivery Guide which is listed on Amazon or you may visit us at www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

Same-Day Delivery Doomed!

I’m pretty sure you have heard all the hoopla and hype surrounding the same-day delivery models being presented by Amazon, Wal-mart eBay and other retailers. There is one reality of which I’m most certain though: Unless these retailers can ship their items in an electronic format, their efforts (while being noteworthy) will fail. “Well, how can this be?” You might be wondering. “Didn’t the experts say online shopping is going to wipe out brick and mortar stores?” Oh yes, of course the experts did say so! Guess what? Experts said the same thing about Kozmo.com too! By now we all know what happened to Kozmo.com so make no mistake about what will happen this around: All these new companies will meet a fate similar to that of their predecessor in their same-day endeavors as well.

There are many reasons the same-day models will fail but I’ll just list three and expound on them. They are as follows:

1. Online Limitations.

2. Courier Payment.

3. The Human Factor.

Online Limitations
The same-day delivery pundits have bet heavily that online-shopping will become the dominant shopping choice. Unfortunately, while shopping online may seem convenient, there is a lot of information missing from the pictures on your computer screen. For simplicity and clarity, I’m not even going to mention deliveries of large, heavy household goods as these present many more difficult challenges. I’m just going to discuss delivery of small, light items here. Okay, let’s say for example, you order something as simple as a pair of shoes online. Can you guarantee they will be the correct fit? Are they comfortable? What about clothes? Will that suit fit correctly? How about that dress? Why is it too big, even though the label says your size? As you may be aware, not all brands fit the same. Therefore, just because you might wear a size eight in one brand doesn’t mean another brand’s size eight will fit you the same. Online shopping also did not give you the option to try any of these items before you made your purchase.

How about fresh fruits and vegetables? Will they choose these to your liking? What if some are squashed or bruised? Can you return the bad ones? How will these companies deal with such returns? Will you have to pay for another delivery, or will they credit some money to your account?  The list goes on and on. I could ask questions all day long for which I’m sure I would not get a proper response, but you get the idea; don’t you? All you have to do is realize this simple truth:  Regardless of how beautiful the picture on your computer screen looks, if the physical product is unsatisfactory, you will be dissatisfied.

Courier Payment
Even though you may be charged a delivery fee of $10, the courier company will have to be paid more (some are currently receiving $12.50) to provide their services. Moreover, while you will not be charged extra fees, couriers will also be paid more for extra mileage as well. If all these extra fees are not being paid by you; who pays them? The retailers do. These same-day retailers have gambled to absorb these expenses as they hope large volume of purchases will minimize the effect of delivery costs. This will never happen because every courier has to ensure the route for each day is profitable. One or two deliveries will not be profitable for the couriers. Therefore, if there are not enough items on the truck, it will not be driven from the warehouse, and your same-day delivery may become a “next day delivery.”

It all comes down to dollars and cents. No business can survive if its expenses are greater than its profits. Just consider this fact for one minute: If a business operates on a loss of just one cent per day, its life is finite. One day it’s simply not going to have money to keep its operations going. This is the kind of game kozmo.com played before and lost. Nothing about the physical aspects of home deliveries from the last century has changed today. Until these physical barriers are overcome, the same-day outfits today will fare the same as those of yesteryear.

Human Traits and Psyche
Some marketers do promotions without paying enough attention to the fundamentally important reality that we are all creatures of habit. As humans our natural tendency is to socialize with others. From even as far back to the time when humans were cave dwellers, we lived in groups. Whether it was necessary for our survival from the elements or other animals, that’s just how it was. Thousands of years later, even though we’ve become more civilized and created modern housing and shopping options, all their designs have been focused on this basic trait of human socialization.

For example, houses are built with “living rooms” to entertain others; classrooms are designed as open spaces; and shopping malls are created with “free flowing” spaces which make it easy for people to interact with each other. While admittedly, there are a few “loners” among us, most of us crave the need to be around other Human Beings. It is this need for human interaction which dictates what we engage in, or not. Most people who utilize social media a lot, also ultimately need the physical company of others either consciously or subconsciously. That’s why they go on vacations, dine out, and go out shopping.

The success of the same-day delivery models being proposed will require people not to act human anymore. We will no longer “hang out” in malls or go out to dinner, but will simply order everything possible from our internet device. Stop and think about this for a minute: Can you imagine living in a world without interacting with another person? Can you be anything but human? Absolutely not! Regardless of how much money you may have or the prominent position you hold in society, you are human first and foremost. Subsequently, we all will act as humans by socializing and interacting with each other in a physical manner. This means we will always look forward to the experience of going out to shop, dine or watch a movie; around other people. Who wants to stay home all the time as the same-day pundits would want us to do? I’m sure only a very few of the “loners” out there look forward to such an existence.

As usual, I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read it. For more information you can contact us at  www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

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Your Grumpy Deliveryman

I just want you to be fully prepared when you make your next purchase of furniture, appliances, or equipment, so I must tell you a hard truth: Don’t expect to see happy-go-lucky deliverymen showing up with your merchandise. Of course, not all deliverymen will be grumpy or ill-mannered but many will not have a pleasant attitude at all. Nonetheless, please be assured that more likely than not, the exhibited mannerisms may have absolutely nothing to do with you, but more so with deep underlying problems within the home delivery industry itself. Your deliverymen may simply be tired, annoyed, or overwhelmed from trying to provide resolutions while being “on-the-move.”

As many of you may have seen or read, there have been several instances where FedEx and UPS deliverymen threw boxes with fragile items (TVs, Computers, etc.) over fences, or out of their trucks. If you were not aware of these occurrences you can simply do a Google search for “FedEx (or UPS) deliveryman throws boxes.” Of course, these incidents got a lot of media attention and caused many, many consumers to get upset. However, as a person who has worked within the home delivery industry for many years, none of it came as a surprise to me. In fact, I’m really surprised there aren’t more of these occurrences on a daily basis.

I am not supporting the actions of these deliverymen at all because there are good and bad workers in every profession. However, most of these deliverymen work under extremely stressful and frustrating conditions. Even though these acts are unacceptable, many times the inappropriate actions from deliverymen are simply manifestations of their frustrations. I am going to explain why they get frustrated by describing what happens when you order delivery services. Once you understand how the system operates, you’ll have a better understanding of what is required of you and why it is required. This might also lead to you being more flexible and cooperative with the delivery personnel, which will result in you receiving smooth, uncomplicated delivery services.

A very funny thing happens when delivery issues arise: The deliverymen have to deal with them, regardless of whose fault it is. Many times the retailer is at fault, sometimes it is the delivery company’s fault, and other times it may be your fault. However, any time deliverymen arrive with merchandise and there is a problem, they have to deal with it. If you provide a wrong delivery address, deliverymen have to deal with that; if the merchandise cannot fit through your doorway, they have to resolve the issue. Is the furniture damaged? You guessed correctly, deliverymen will be included in the resolution process as well. Many times, especially online, the deliverymen are the only people you ever see during the entire buying process and inadvertently, they become the “face” of the retailer.

The irony in all this is deliverymen are not involved in planning or making decisions for your delivery job because the work aspect of delivering your product is simply outsourced to them. The retailer outsources to a delivery company, which in turn outsources to Independent Contractors (the deliverymen). As a result, even though the deliverymen are the only people who do the actual work involved with the delivery process, they have no control over any aspect of the services provided, not even their own wages! Mind you, they are classified as “Independent Contractors” but they are not independent at all because the retailers and the so-called delivery companies control every aspect of the delivery services.

Here lies the real problem: How does one ask others to voluntarily resolve problematic issues when they were not included in the implementation of the decisions and policies that failed? How can a person ask others to spend money to resolve an issue, then not compensate or reimburse them at all? Does this seem fair to you? What kind of person would act in this manner? And yet, this is how deliverymen are treated by the various organizations they work for. In fact, some companies do not pay deliverymen for jobs involving merchandise that is not delivered because of entryways being too small. Of course, this is done after the deliverymen may have already spent money on fuel and tolls to deliver and then return the product to the store or warehouse. Can you imagine how it feels to transport merchandise 200 miles AND NOT GET PAID FOR THE JOB?!

This is how archaic the home delivery industry is. So the next time you see deliverymen showing up in a grumpy mood, consider that they might simply have a whole lot going on in their minds because of the way the industry is run. Not only may they be trying to avoid causing any damage to your property, but they might also be wondering if they will be paid or not paid for the job. Retailers and so-called delivery companies make everything seem so “cool” when you place an order but behind the scenes, out of sight, there is a huge element of distrust from the deliverymen toward their employers. In fact, every week there are huge fights (mostly verbal) between deliverymen and their employers regarding incorrect/unfair wages (settlements). When companies stop using deliverymen as pawns, then the whole system will become better. Until those changes are made, I say good luck to all involved.

As usual I hope this has helped you. For further information you may read the book The Home Furniture Delivery Guide listed on Amazon or you can visit us at: www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

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Will Amazon’s “Same-day Delivery” include Furniture and Appliances?

One of the hottest topics discussed among retailers is the same-day delivery option Amazon plans to provide its customers. All retailers fear this development because the retail giant could potentially lure away many of their customers with this service. It is an already established fact that most consumers who shop in traditional “brick and mortar” stores would prefer to take their merchandise with them as they leave the store. Similarly, if the merchandise has to be delivered, consumers would prefer to receive it almost as soon as they get home from the store because they have already allotted time that is convenient for them.

However, shoppers now have another option. They no longer need to leave the comfort of their home or office to shop for merchandise because online shopping has become a viable alternative. Amazon already has a huge online platform and shopping mechanism in place, with millions of credit card numbers on file. It is from this powerful online platform that Amazon will position itself to provide same-day delivery services. All you will have to do is go online, place your order, and…..SHAZAM! Your product is delivered within hours after ordering.

To achieve this feat, Amazon plans to build huge warehouses in strategic locations across the United States of America. This design will enable your product to be picked up (from a site closest to your delivery address) and delivered on the same day you placed your order. While all this is good news for the consumer, I must also be the bearer of some bad news: Online shopping does not mean online delivery also.

You see, most of us have become used to instant delivery via e-mails, texts, and social media. However, electronic delivery of physical products has continuously remained a huge challenge for humans. Think about this for a minute: Can you move the smallest thing in your home from one spot to another without physically moving it? Let’s take it a step further: Can you move the lightest thing in your home without physically moving it yourself? Even though there have been numerous studies conducted on teleportation, there is no technology in existence to (for example) electronically deliver a loaf of bread from the supermarket into your home.

Even though deliveries of small items (clothes, toiletries, linen, grocery, etc.) can be done by almost anyone to anywhere at anytime, delivering large household goods will present many major problems. For example, let’s say that while at work you place an order for some clothes. The deliveryman then picks up the items from a warehouse closest to the delivery address you provided. Because the items are small and lightweight, you might even choose to have the merchandise delivered to your workplace and then take them home. How convenient!

What if you place an order for furniture, a refrigerator, or a treadmill though? How do you think Amazon will handle this type of same-day delivery? Do you think it will be handled as smoothly as an order for shoes? Absolutely not! First, you will have to make sure the delivery is done on a day you are home because you will have to give the deliverymen access to your home. Second, will Amazon deliver the product to the room of your choice? Probably not and you will not be able to move these huge, heavy items by yourself. Many of these large items are not going to fit through some entryways and passages and will have to be returned. How will Amazon resolve such issues? How will exchanges be handled? What about refunds? Will they be same-day as well?

There are many other issues that will arise from Amazon’s same-day model as well, but I’ll just discuss one of the fundamental ones here. Since all orders will be placed online, most consumers will be unable to physically see, feel, or test products before ordering. Subsequently, even something as small and simple as a cell phone protection case may prove unsatisfactory when you receive it. My golden rule to everyone is this: If at all possible, shop from a retailer (online or in-store) with display models available. This way, you can lie on a mattress; open drawers and doors; or check if legs (tables, chairs, armoires, etc.) are sturdy.

I hate to paint a picture of gloom and doom but the facts are the facts. It is only fair you know them before you are led down a path of confusion, heartache, and disappointment. Every retailer specializes in selling products but they do not specialize in delivery services. Therefore, Amazon’s delivery services are outsourced to so-called delivery companies. These so-called delivery companies are really “middlemen” who then outsource the jobs to individuals who actually own and operate delivery vehicles. These are the individuals who will deliver your merchandise.

I need you to ask yourself the following questions: If retailers and the so-called delivery companies do not specialize in delivery services, how can their delivery promises hold true? What advice can they give you? Will Amazon hold themselves accountable for delivery issues? How can you avoid delivery problems? Will you be educated about the delivery process? What questions do you need to ask the retailer? What additional information should you provide Amazon with?

Sadly, most retailers or so-called delivery companies do not employ qualified experts to provide answers to the above questions. One of the best sources of information to prevent delivery problems of large household goods is the book The Home Furniture Delivery Guide which is listed at Amazon.

As usual, I hope the information provided has been helpful. Thanks for reading. For more in-depth advice and consultations you may also visit us at www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

Related articles

• How important are delivery options to consumers? (skillweb.com)
• Only 9% of shoppers care about same-day delivery (vator.tv)

Why Are You Staying Home for Deliveries?

The next time you buy large household goods you will be instructed to wait home for the delivery within a certain time-window. Many times you will have to wait “all day” for the delivery. This is understandable for bedroom sets, refrigerators, or treadmills, which must be delivered inside your home because:

1. You will need to give the deliverymen access to your home.

2. You want to be sure products are placed in the right areas.

3. You may just feel more comfortable being on-site for the activities.

What if the products being delivered are outdoor items? What if you will not need to give deliverymen access to your home or property to do the job? Do you really think you need to stay home and wait for a barbecue grill delivery? Are you going to wait home all day for a basketball system to be delivered? Well, even though retailers are going to tell you to do so, I’m here to inform you that you do not have to remain at home for outdoor delivery, installation, or assembly of outdoor equipment or furniture.

You may be asking yourself, “What if the products are damaged or faulty when they are delivered and I’m not there?” Your concern is understandable, so let me ask you this: What if you were on-site for the delivery but realized three days later that the items were damaged or faulty? What would you do then? Of course, you would immediately contact the retailer to resolve the issue. Whether you’re on-site or not, if you find out merchandise is damaged or faulty after delivery and/or installation, immediately contact your retailer to resolve the matter.

All products sold in the United States of America are covered by an “implied warranty.” What this means is, if for example you buy a chair and use it for sitting (as it was built for), it should not begin to fall apart after four months of use. In other words, the failure of inferior products is not your responsibility because it is the manufacturer’s duty to make sure good quality products are built for the market-place. Therefore, you have every right as a consumer to refuse or return any product you are not satisfied with; whether it is delivered in your presence, or not..

From the information above, it is clear to see that you do not have to be on-site while outdoor equipment or furniture is being delivered to exercise your rights as a consumer. The main reasons you might stay home for deliveries of outdoor products are:

1. To authorize digging for installation of equipment requiring such.

2. To get advice about where equipment should be installed.

3. To provide access (gate, etc.) for deliverymen to gain entry to your property.

Understandably, you might also be concerned about the safety of your merchandise after it is delivered. Basketball units, trampolines, gazebos, swing sets and lawn tractors cannot be stolen easily because they are huge and heavy. Snow blowers and barbecue grills can be stolen but a thief has to plan on stealing these because they cannot fit easily in a car and are usually too heavy for one person to lift. For the record, I have never delivered one that was ever stolen afterward.

Long before cell phones had cameras, I used to do deliveries for Home Depot. They provided curbside delivery service only and many times customers had no idea how they were going to accept the delivery. I would then explain that the products could be delivered to their garages and they usually complied by providing me with a temporary access code. Upon completion, I simply called to inform them and they would express their gratitude, which made me feel good. No one ever called to say they did not receive their product (dishonestly) either! Like I said before, that was before cell phones were equipped with cameras. There is so much more that can be done now, and I’m sure you would be grateful to receive a picture showing the product in your yard, on your deck, or in your garage; without you having to leave work.

Technology has made many things easier to do, and unattended delivery is one of them. In fact, it is now possible for you to receive a document, sign it, and return it to the sender within minutes, without leaving your physical address. This is the power of technology available to us right now. Unfortunately, many retailers and delivery companies do not embrace the use of such technology and will continue to tell you to stay home for such deliveries. There’s an old saying which says “don’t stay stuck on stupid.” It surely applies to these archaic practices used by retailers and delivery companies.

One other thing: I do not recommend unattended deliveries for package deliveries (FedEx, UPS, and DHL etc.) as it has been well documented that people steal these lightweight pieces. Many have even been caught on-camera stealing their neighbor’s package.

As usual, I hope you found this article enlightening and useful. For more information, please contact us at: www.homedeliveryadvisors.com

 

Company Problems Become Your Problems

Many of you may have heard people discuss issues they have with companies in the following manner, “I really don’t care how they fix it because that’s their problem, not mine!” Well, hold on there for just one minute: Surprise-surprise! That statement just does not hold true because even though that’s the way it’s supposed to be, it is not.

The fact is, while problems within delivery organizations or companies should not be your problem, they could cause problems for you. Before we continue, you need to be aware that most of the so-called delivery companies really operate as “middlemen” by receiving the jobs from the Retailer and passing them on to Independent Contractors (deliverymen). This means these middlemen carry out the same actions for every job they receive and incur the same costs for every job.

However, every job does not require the same amount of work because some pieces are bigger, some are heavier, and some jobs take more time to complete than others. What this means is that all jobs should not be paid at the same rate. Nonetheless, this is exactly how the middlemen pay because they don’t physically participate in doing any job. A job that takes two hours to do costs the middlemen the same as one that takes five minutes to complete because they simply receive e-mails and forward them to Independent Contractors.

For an Independent Contractor (deliveryman), it is a whole different story. First of all, there is no independence in being an Independent Contractor. The real reason deliverymen are classified as Independent Contractors is to allow the middlemen to make themselves exempt from all the true expenses (fuel, tolls, insurance, vehicle maintenance, etc.) related to delivery services. Even though the classification is legal, it is not right because all the prices, terms, regulations, and rules are set by the same middlemen who do not do the work. Because of this fact, most of the time deliverymen are paid unfairly as they have no power to set fair rates or fees.

Who is a contractor?

When you seek the services of any contractor for your home, all labor, materials, and other miscellaneous costs are factored in before you are quoted a price. The contractor determines the price you are charged based on his rates and expenditure. Independent Contractors, on the other hand, have absolutely no control over the money they are paid as most of the money you pay the retailer goes to the middlemen, who then siphon an unfairly large amount before paying the deliverymen. Can you believe these middlemen sometimes make more money per job than the actual deliverymen? How do you think the deliverymen feel about that? Why do you think they sometimes show up looking disgruntled?

As an example of the huge disparity between the actual work done and the rates, please pay close attention to the rates shown below. This shows how deliverymen are currently being paid by a so-called delivery company (middleman):

1. Delivery Only: $44.00 – This entails a five to ten minute delivery time.

2. Delivery & Assembly: $65.00 – This entails 60 to 90 minutes of work.

3. Repairs: $55.00 – This entails 60 – 180 minutes of work.

Clearly, these rates are utterly “out of whack,” for lack of a better term. It is obvious that very little thought, if any, was put into determining these rates because (as explained above) the middlemen create them. The most profitable service is the “delivery only” as it takes the shortest time to do and a competent deliveryman could complete 10 of these types of jobs in a day, be home earlier, and make more money than by providing any of the other services. Do you think any person doing a repair job will want to spend more than 45 minutes doing so? What do you think this will mean for the quality of service provided? Based on what you know now, could you honestly blame a repairman for not going the “extra mile” for you?

Do you know what the other killer is in the above? The middlemen actually get paid more than $200.00 to provide the repair service. The repairmen know this as well. What would you do? What can they do? To make a long story short, most deliverymen get “ripped off” by the middlemen. You are now in a position to understand the bad attitude some deliverymen portray when you ask them to take your old furniture to the curb. It may have nothing to do with you at all but because they know they are being unfairly paid in the first place, they do not want to provide any extra service.

Don’t follow all the hype and hoopla from your retailer because if you don’t do your homework you will be in for a rude awakening during the delivery process. I also know another leading retailer here in the United States of America charges a delivery fee of $150.00 and the middlemen then pay the deliverymen $25.00. Yes, that’s correct. $25.00! How then can you reasonably expect to see happy-go-lucky guys showing up with your furniture when internal discrepancies of such magnitude exist?

You don’t have to take my word for it. Just check out any of these so-called delivery companies regarding the hiring of Independent Contractors, and you’ll find they always have vacancies. Do you think contented people leave their jobs? Do you think these companies attract and retain the most competent people? Why do you think there is such a rapid job turnover rate among this group? What impact do you think this has had on their training? Don’t you think it will affect the quality service you receive?

As the title of this post says, “company problems become your problems,” so stay ahead of the game by visiting us at:  www.homedeliveryadvisors.com