How Shipping Is Quoted: Weight, Distance, Liftgate Delivery, and Accessory Shipping

Walk-in tub freight delivery works like this: every Ella's Bubbles tub ships fully assembled by LTL freight from the Chicago facility, the carrier calls ahead to schedule a delivery window, and the crate is lowered by liftgate to your curb or driveway. Shipping is quoted separately for your delivery address rather than being part of the tub configuration, because crate size, weight, distance and destination type all affect the carrier's rate. This guide explains how the shipping quote is built, what curbside delivery with liftgate means, and how to prepare so delivery day goes smoothly.

What the Shipping Quote Depends on

• The exact tub. Crate size and shipping weight vary by model and by therapy package, so the quote is built for the specific unit that will ship. The article on walk-in tub weights lists net and shipping weights by model.
• Distance from Chicago. Freight carriers rate by distance and service area, so two customers ordering the same tub can see different shipping costs purely because of where they live.
• Destination type. Rural and mountainous areas, Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. territories are harder to reach and cost more. Canadian and overseas orders are covered in the article on ordering from Canada, Alaska, Hawaii or internationally.
• Accessories. Small parts and accessories travel by parcel service and are quoted on their own.

Your Ella dealer or the team quotes shipping once they have the model, the options, the left-hand or right-hand door and drain side, and your address. A zip code is enough for a first figure; the full street address goes on the written proposal.

What Curbside Delivery with Liftgate Means

Walk-in tubs travel as LTL (less-than-truckload) freight on a pallet inside a crate. The truck arrives with a liftgate that lowers the crate to street level, and the driver brings it to the curb or driveway. Moving the crate into the house and up to the bathroom is the customer's or installer's responsibility, which is the main reason to have your installer lined up before the delivery date. Drivers do not enter the home, unpack the tub or carry it inside.

From Purchase to Your Curb, on Video

Watch: Fast, Safe Shipping & Hassle-Free Returns | Ellau2019s Bubbles Walk-In Tubs with chapters and a full transcript.

The video shows what happens between your order and the truck: the tub is assembled, leak-tested and pump-tested, then cleaned; drains, handles and small items are wrapped, boxed and placed inside the tub or under the frame; the tub is plastic-wrapped and bubble-wrapped and shipped in a wooden crate or reinforced cardboard container. On receipt, inspect the crate, photograph any marks and note them on the delivery document, and if the crate is severely damaged you may reject the delivery and call (800) 480-6850 right away. It also reminds installers to remove the side panels and aprons before moving the tub inside.

Before the Truck Arrives

1. The carrier calls ahead to schedule a delivery window. Someone able to receive and inspect the crate needs to be present.
2. Clear a path from the street to where the crate will sit. A garage or covered area is ideal if installation is not the same day.
3. Have your installer or two able helpers available. A crated tub is heavy and awkward for one person.
4. Inspect the crate before signing. Note any damage on the delivery receipt and photograph it; the delivery inspection checklist walks through this step by step.
5. Measure your doorways against the shipping size, not the tub size. The article on preparing for delivery day lists shipping sizes for popular models and explains how to move the tub without damaging it.

After the Crate Is on the Ground

Open the crate, keep every piece of packaging, and give the tub a visual and operational inspection so any concealed damage is reported within 48 hours of receipt. If something is damaged, the article on filing a freight damage claim explains exactly what to send. Before carrying the tub, remove the front apron, access panels and end panels and lift only by the frame; the guide to inspecting, moving and preparing your tub covers the details.

Related Guides

• Ordering a Complete Replacement Door: What It Includes, What the Team Needs, and How It Installs
• Can Two Orders Ship Together on One Freight Shipment?
• Shipping Your Tub to Your Plumber or Installer Instead of Your Home
• My Building Requires a Certificate of Insurance for the Tub Delivery
• Ordering a Replacement Wall Panel for an Ella Shower
• Shipping a Walk-In Tub Overseas: What the Team Needs, Freight Forwarder Pickup, and Warranty Parts Abroad

Dealers and trade buyers who want to move an order on their own freight carrier can find the bill of lading details Ella provides and the pick-up steps in the guide to using your own freight carrier and bill of lading.

If a freight truck cannot reach your home or you would rather collect the crate yourself, see shipping your walk-in tub to the freight terminal for pickup for how to set it up and what to bring.

If your order is for a housing authority, business, or other organization and the carrier still books it as a residential delivery, the guide on why an organization's address can be classified as a residential freight delivery explains how carriers decide by site access rather than by the name on the building.

If your delivery address has a loading dock or forklift, or you would rather pick up at the carrier's terminal or send your own carrier, see whether you need liftgate service and how shipping can be recalculated without it.

If the truck arrives and no one is there to receive the crate, the carrier will charge for a second attempt, so read what happens after a missed freight delivery and how to reschedule before the appointment window opens.

Common Questions

For anything specific to your own tub or order, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the team will take it from there.