Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Receiving Partner

Choosing a receiver is choosing a partner who sits inside your client relationships and handles furniture you have staked your name on. The right questions, asked up front, separate a professional operation from a warehouse that will disappoint you on install day.

On inspection and documentation

• Is every piece inspected for visible damage at receipt?
• Are pieces photographed, and how quickly am I notified?
• Will I get documentation I can use to file a freight or vendor claim?

On handling and storage

• How are pieces stored and organized, and are they tagged to my project?
• Is the facility clean and appropriate for fine furnishings?
• Can I tour the warehouse before I commit?

On delivery

• What does your white-glove service actually include: placement, detailing, assembly, debris removal?
• Can you consolidate a project and deliver it in one coordinated install?
• How much notice do you need to schedule?

On pricing

• Is your fee schedule published, or do I have to request rates?
• How are receiving, storage, and delivery priced?
• What additional fees should I expect, and when?

On risk and confidentiality

• Are goods in your care insured, and is condition documented?
• Do you sell furniture or market to the homeowners you deliver to?
• Is my account information, including sidemarks, sources, and pricing, kept confidential?

Why the last set matters most

A receiver that sells furniture or markets to your clients is a competitor with access to your book of business. The strongest answer to that final set is an absolute one: logistics only, no retail, no marketing to your clients, and account details kept strictly confidential. That is the standard Trade Receiving is built on, and it is worth insisting on from anyone who touches your projects.