Amazon – The Real Truth About Shipping Large Items
I get so tired of all the mis-information certain dealers are handing out just to try to make a sale. It’s no wonder that Americans are now doing all of their product research and most of their shopping online!
Here is the latest from a reader just this week, “I called my local “Insert Shady Dealer Here” about this deal and they indicated that Amazon’s delivery to your home does not actually included taking it off the truck, for which there is an extra “forklift” fee. Whether or not this is true I can’t confirm.”
My words of advice you the buyer: If you are in a business and the salesperson starts knocking their competitor down the street, knocking down a product they don’t sell or just plain lies to you – leave. If the person tells you the item they are standing next to is “better” than the one you are interested in that they don’t have in stock – Don’t say another word – just leave.
My words of advice to dealers and sales people: “Be the leader you want to be, instead of critiquing someone else.” Caitlin Welby
Here is the actual wording from Amazon. You can read all about Shipping Large or Bulky Items
About Shipping Large Items From Amazon
Amazon.com offers a number of large and over-sized items that require special handling. Items too big to ship to a P.O. box or Amazon Locker must be shipped to a street address.
Nissan actually tested selling the Versa Note on Amazon. Yes, the car was delivered in an Amazon Box!
Large items sold or fulfilled by Amazon ship with one of our specialty shippers, such as ABF, CEVA, or Pilot. Because of this, large items don’t qualify for Prime FREE Two-Day Shipping. However, large item shipping is free of charge, including Scheduled and Enhanced Deliveries.
If your order qualifies for Schedule Delivery, you’ll have the opportunity to select a delivery date and time when your large item will arrive. For more information about Scheduled Delivery, go to About Scheduled Delivery for Large Items.
On the day of delivery, the carrier will unload the shipment from the truck and bring it to your door (either the front door of a house, your garage, or the front door of your apartment unit). You’ll be responsible for any assembly and installation.
If your item ships with Enhanced Delivery, a two person carrier team will deliver your item during the delivery window you select to your room of choice, unpack it, inspect the item for damage, and remove all packaging. For more information about Enhanced Delivery, go to About Enhanced Delivery for Large Items.
For all large item deliveries, an adult signature is required at the time of delivery. If an adult isn’t home at the time of delivery, the product will be taken away by the carrier and you’ll need to reschedule your delivery. The carrier will call you at least 30 minutes prior to delivery, so please ensure the phone number connected to the delivery address is correct in Your Account. You can update the phone number for this address by going to the Manage Address Book section of Your Account.
Final Thoughts About Amazon Delivery
Don’t be afraid to purchase any large item through Amazon. Their customer service is legendary and go out of their way to make it happen on time and right the first time.
I buy a lot of stuff through Amazon and I know thousands of my readers purchased snow blowers, mowers and lawn tractors through Amazon in the last year and only one of my readers was not satisfied with the delivery. The item (snow blower) came missing a couple of bolts. The new owner stated. “Amazon (demonstrating their normal excellent customer service) offered to palletize/package and return ship my equipment at absolutely no cost to me.” By the way he ended up contacting the manufacture and they sent the parts out quickly.
Scott Unland
All I can say is one.of their carriers (NSD) I call them No Show Delivery…lost my 200 pound generator in their terminal somewhere, and it never did show up, so I had to cancel my order and get a refund.
I will never order another large item from them again as long as they continue to use that inept company.
A thousand dollar sale lost.
Scotty Jay
Hi Paul, can you tell me with my big dog alpha 42″ what would happen if I tried to mow grass that was 4 feet tall? I have a paddock I want to get down and only need to do it once. Will this damage the machine or its 21.5hp engine?
Scott, Auckland, New Zealand
Paul Sikkema
@Scotty, No, you won’t damage the mower but the grass may wrap around the spindles underneath the mower deck.
Raise the deck up all the way.
When you mow it the mower will just knock the grass down and will not mow all of it on the first pass. Go in one direction and then turn around and mow over it again in the opposite direction. You may have to do this two or three times before it mows it off cleanly. You may find that instead of turning around backing up for the second pass may cut it faster.
If you smell burning rubber at any time – Stop the mower. Turn the mower completely off and look under the deck. Grass will be wrapped around the spindles. Cut it off with a utility knife.
Every 30 minutes or so stop the mower. Turn it off completely and look under the deck. If there is a lot of grass wrapped around the spindles cut it off.
When you are done, especially if the grass has a lot of moisture in it the deck will be full of grass underneath. Clean that out with a putty knife, old board, or even a kitchen spatula. Cut the long stuff off the spindles. If you need to remove the mower blades and that makes it very easy to get the grass off the spindles.
If the grass is really dry there will be a lot of clippings on top of the deck. Clean that off with your hands and then blow the rest off.
Does the Big Dog have greased spindles or sealed spindle bearings? If it has greased bearings put 2 or 3 pumps of grease in each grease zerk when you are done.
One last thing, If you feel safe to do this and there will be no one in the area, tie the discharge cover up with a rope or bungee cord. This will help the deck clear the grass faster. Remember, with that cover raised up your deck can throw a baseball sized rock, piece of wood or other debris 200 meters or more.