Things to Remember When Having an Appliance Delivered

Before we can install your appliance, it has to be delivered. Free delivery sounds great, right? But, there are some things an appliance shopper should know, like that the cost of ‘free’ delivery is paid by the consumer, usually built into the price of the appliance.

Installed vs. delivered

Having an appliance delivered is not the same as having it installed. This is particularly crucial if installation requires plumbing hookup, gas hookup, or a built-in situation such as a wall oven. A wall oven may require modifying the opening and the correct electrical connection. A dishwasher needs a plumbing hookup. A delivery crew can bring the appliance, but an installer can hook everything up safely and correctly.

Recourse

Of all of the reasons for customer dissatisfaction in the appliance buying process, delivery is the primary cause of complaints, so make sure you’re clear on the agreement. Also, before you agree to free delivery, remind yourself who the delivery personnel are working for—it isn’t you, it’s the dealer. And since it isn’t you, you don’t have a lot of recourse if you have a problem once you sign for the appliance.

Delivery time

Time is money. It’s also kids waiting to be picked up from school, the doctor appointment you scheduled a month ago, and being ready for the meeting with your decorator. Once a dealer sells you that appliance, he expects you to be available for delivery on his time table, even if you end up having to wait half a day. The best thing to do is to plan for it or pay a delivery company that offers better options.

Difficult deliveries

Since appliances are large, it’s sometimes problematic to get them through doorways, around sharp turns, and round stair posts. The solutions vary. The crew for one lady we know who got ‘free’ delivery of her refrigerator quickly removed the patio door and accompanying window. She said when they returned the door to its original position, it didn’t work correctly and screeched whenever it was opened and closed.

Another delivery issue is the stairs. If you have more than one flight of stairs, you’ll generally pay extra. Ask about delivery conditions when you buy the appliance.

Damage

Did you know that the number one cause of cracked tile is having something heavy dropped on it? Appliances are notoriously heavy, and even leaning the bottom edge of a range on your tile floor can cause it to crack. Vinyl can also be dented if the appliance is allowed to sit on it for a while. Having mechanisms in place to avoid damage can save damage to your home.

The mess

Who is cleaning up the mess? Many customers of free delivery are surprised to find themselves cleaning up dirt and trash left behind by the delivery crew. Since they work for the dealer and not the homeowner, they have no vested interest in being tidy. The same is true of a refrigerator hookup in which the water hookup valve begins to leak the day after the installation, so be careful what you let a delivery crew do. Support is essential.

As-is

After signing the delivery acceptance, even if there is damage, the customer is on their own if they have signed off. Also, if it isn’t the right model (and a lot of them look quite a bit alike) unless the customer catches the mistake, he’s stuck with it.

We hope this has given you some insight into some of the complexities of delivery. Free delivery has some language and terms which aren’t advantageous to the customer. Understanding your responsibilities and needs will make a big difference in being an informed consumer during the delivery process.

While we don’t offer delivery, we do offer installation and repair of all major appliances. Paying a professional to install your device will save you potential problems and provide the support you need to understand and operate your machine safely.

Freedom Appliance of Tampa Bay has 13 years experience in professional repair and installation of all laundry and kitchen appliances and dryer duct cleaning. Call  813-302-7672 today!