Can the freight truck leave my walk-in tub somewhere other than curbside?

Yes, within what the freight carrier will book. The standard delivery for every Ella walk-in tub is curbside with liftgate: the driver lowers the crate to the ground and brings it to your curb or driveway, and that is where the carrier's job ends. If you need the crate somewhere else, the place to arrange it is with the team before the shipment is booked, not with the driver at the truck, as Can I tell the delivery driver where to leave my walk-in tub? explains. Beyond the curb, the recognized options are inside delivery to an agreed spot on the property, delivery to a loading dock or to your installer's business address, or pickup at the carrier's terminal or at the Chicago facility.

What the Curbside Service Covers, and Why the Driver Cannot Change It

Every Ella walk-in tub ships fully assembled by LTL, or less-than-truckload, freight from the Chicago facility. The tub rides on a pallet inside a crate, so it is far too large for a parcel service and travels with other freight on a truck fitted with a liftgate, the hydraulic platform on the back that lowers the pallet safely to the ground. Before the truck comes, the carrier calls the phone number on your order to schedule a delivery window, so someone who can receive and inspect the shipment needs to be present. On the day, the driver lowers the crate to street level and brings it to the curb or driveway. Drivers do not enter the home, unpack the tub or carry it inside. What Is Curbside Delivery with Liftgate for a Walk-In Tub? describes the whole handoff.

A freight delivery is booked at a service level before the tub leaves Chicago, and the driver carries out the service that was booked. That is why asking the driver to carry the crate into the garage, or to leave it around the back, rarely works: the carrier never scheduled it. Once the tub is on the truck, adding services is far harder, so placement needs to be raised when you confirm the order or, at the latest, before you authorize shipment.

Every Place the Tub Can Go Instead

The spread of options matters most when the house is hard to serve. A narrow road, a driveway the truck cannot enter, or a site the carrier flags as limited access changes what the carrier is willing to book, and What Happens If the Freight Truck Cannot Reach My Driveway or Road? covers that case. A condo or apartment tower with a service dock is usually still booked as a residential stop, because carriers classify a delivery by the physical delivery point and how their truck can unload there, not by the name on the building; Can my walk-in tub be delivered to a condo loading dock instead? explains how that is confirmed. Shipping the tub to the installer's business is the route many people use when a curbside drop at home is not practical, since the installer then brings the tub to the job with the right equipment and crew.

How to Arrange a Delivery Point Other Than the Curb

1. Ask before the tub ships. Mention it when you confirm the order, or at the latest before you authorize shipment.
2. Give the exact delivery address and describe what you need at the site. For inside delivery, describe the route in detail: gates, side entrances, distance from the truck, steps and their height, stairs, and the surfaces the crate will cross, such as concrete, tile or carpet. Say whether you want the crate unpacked at the drop point.
3. Name an on-site contact with a phone number, often your contractor, who will meet the truck and direct the drivers. For a gated community, include the gate address and any entry instructions.
4. Approve the charge. Inside delivery is set by the carrier for each delivery based on how far the crate travels and what obstacles are in the way, so no standard figure is published. The team confirms the carrier's charge and sends it to you, or to your dealer if the order was placed through one, and nothing is added until it is approved.
5. Authorize shipment once the delivery details are confirmed.

Ella's Bubbles does not offer white glove delivery, where a crew unpacks the product, places it in the room and removes the packaging. Inside delivery stops at the agreed spot, and your installer still moves the tub into the bathroom and sets it. White Glove and Inside Delivery Options for a Walk-In Tub Order draws that line in full.

What Happens Once the Crate Is on the Ground

Wherever the crate is left, the next steps are the same. While the driver is still there, inspect the crate and photograph anything that looks off before you sign, and keep every piece of packaging until the installation is complete. The video on this page follows a Transfer 60 from arrival to installation in the Chicago area: the crate and packing material come off outside, the tub is inspected for shipping damage, all end and side panels are removed before the tub is moved into the home, and whenever possible the tub is filled outside with all pumps running to check for leaks, then drained and dried before it goes in. Have your installer or two able helpers lined up for delivery day, because a crated tub is heavy and awkward for one person and the crate needs to come off the curb the day it arrives. If you have questions about your delivery, have your order number ready and call (800) 480-6850 or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support.

Watch: Walk-In Tub Installation and Delivery Ella's Bubbles Transfer 60 with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions