Making contact with the shipper

Some of the advice here can help save a day in shipping:

You are probably here as you have questions about the ETA of your shipment and that is completely understandable, after all this is not a book that is being delivered. It is heavy and will require co-ordination.  See more here on what to expect with a freight delivery here.

In shipping terms we are the Consignor (The consignor is the person or business that originates the shipment. Also, known as the shipper) and you are the Consignee (The consignee is the individual or business that receives the freight being shipped.)

You may not know it but as the Consignee you have the power of authority over the shipment and only you (I think this is back from many decades ago, when people would call expensive shipments and say things like “oh by the way, we have changed he delivery address please send the million dollars worth of whisky here of course that was not the correct location and someone was no longer thirsty”).

So the power of authority is in your hands.  The shipper will not speak to us about arranging a delivery to you.  We cannot unless you fill out about 20 forms and wait weeks giving us power of attorney (nightmare scenario).

You are in control.  If you want the shipment quickly or just want to know about it, call them.  It is your shipment.  This is UPS (or R&L) they are billion dollar companies and ready to help.  But they want to speak to the Consignee only (you).

You will have a tracking number, you can go online to UPS and track it (they provide an 800 number): http://ltl.upsfreight.com/shipping/tracking/index.aspx# (800-333-7400, option 2)

If your shipment is via R&L their tracking page is here: https://www.rlcarriers.com/shiptrace.asp (they provide a phone number usually to the local terminal).

Or wood look tile shipments will probably be Estes and each will have their own terminal and phone number, I prefer this as you are speaking directly with the people that have your shipment 5 mins walk from their desk!  Estes tracking page.

Finally, and I say this as I do not own these businesses.  These freight companies are the best we have, they have a person in a cubical (most likely no windows and little pay) that everyday has hundreds of shipment to schedule, you could be at the bottom of the pile.  Not a great place to be.

If you call in, then you can go to the top.  But bear in mind, yes everyone should do their job exceptional standards.  But I just imagine that this is a job that require a lot of coffee, so a little finnesse maybe needed if you want to exceed the normal shipping times and get moved to the top of that pile.

Thank you for reading my post.  Too candid at the end?  Please let me know, Feedback is the only way to get better: shipping@thebuilderdepot.com.

Stainless Steel 1×2″ Brick Metal Mosaic Tile

Incredible Kitchen Backsplash

The Builder Depot offers a 304 Stainless Steel finish 1×2″ Brick Metal Mosaic for $14.95/SF and Free Shipping

1×2″ Brick Metal Mosaic Tile

Carrara Bianco 3/4″ Penny rounds Arrive

Today arrived a new lot of 3/4″ Bianco Carrara Pennyrounds. This image shows honed, it is available in both finishes honed and polished for $14.95 a sheet

No hand model but it does not take much effort to make this Bianco 3/4″ penny round honed mosaic look pretty

This container arrived Feb 11th 2014 with the perfect lot of Carrara Bianco Pennyrounds.  Both the polished and honed lots have a great look.  Penny rounds are a very traditional style for anyone looking to restore homes to its original look.  Market prices in high end boutique tile and stone retailers have this priced at over $40.00 a square foot.  The Builder Depot with it’s no frills marketing strategy brings this premium Italian 3/4″ pennyround marble mosaic online for just $14.95 a sheet.  “Reverse Sticker shock” courtesy of The Builder Depot 🙂

Perfect Carrara Bianco

Perfect Carrara Bianco 12×24″ Polished • Carrara Bianco 12×12″ Polished • Chair Rail • Baseboard • Basketweave Border

Of course as the mountain sometimes spits out Gray marble (which we reject – this happens quite often) it occasionally comes out with utter perfection.  This particular lot would be in our opinion A++ the very best.  It cannot get better.  The veining is clear, there is enough of it but not too much.  I love with the 12×24″ piece on the right.  The 12×12″ is equally as good, but the warehouse dock is open on the right and as the light comes in it highlights the perfection of the marble.

If this was a diamond it would be in the VVS2 sector of extremely rare.  In the USA if we complied all the 12×24″ polished and graded them on clarity of veining (so it has to be clear cannot be a haze all over) and base color this 12×24″ would represent 0.25% of the entire USA 12×24″ available at this very moment.

Why is that?  A good question.  To be candid it costs more.  We pay an additional $1 to $2SF for this 12×24″ and 12×12″, we do not add that cost on.  We do it because we want to see the best Italy has to offer.  This is a piece of art.  On a wall in the correct home with visitors, this will become a huge advertising banner for our website.  People will be asking for this 12×24″ dated on the blog February 10th 2014 for months to come.  But traditional companies will not buy this, they will not pay the additional cost.

I am going to keep two pieces in my office.  I believe of all the thousands of pallets of Bianco 12×24″ we will get this year, they will be excellent, but this will just hold a fractional edge.  It will be interesting to see.  For us it is a contest, what can we get from Italy that can top this in 2014?

If you would like this particular lot of 12×12″ Bianco polished and 12×24″ Bianco polished (also available in honed), please email us sales@thebuilderdepot.com and reference this blog.  You will have to provide the date, please do not say the Carrara post you did – so many people do, that does not help 🙂

Stainless Steel for a Steal! $14.95SF and Free Shipping

Stainless Steel Metal Mosaic Hexagon Tile $14.95SF + Free Shipping from The Builder Depot