How Does Ella Ship to Puerto Rico, and Who Pays Duties and Taxes?

Yes. Ella's Bubbles ships walk-in tubs to Puerto Rico, along with Alaska, Hawaii and the other locations commonly referred to as Territories of the United States. The tub travels by freight, the shipping is confirmed as part of your order for your exact address, and under the published shipping policy Ella's Bubbles is not responsible for any customs and taxes applied to your order, so any fees imposed during or after shipping are the customer's responsibility. The overview of orders outside the lower 48 states is in Ordering From Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, or Internationally, and this page gathers the details that apply to a Puerto Rico delivery.

How a Puerto Rico Shipment Is Arranged

Freight is arranged for each destination individually rather than from a fixed schedule. Shipping fees vary by address and are higher for hard to reach destinations as well as for Hawaii, Alaska and US territories, and the shipping is confirmed as part of the order. To get the freight worked out, call (800) 480-6850 with your delivery address and the models you have in mind. If you are ordering more than one tub, say so up front, because the team works out the freight for a multi tub order together.

Before shipping options can be confirmed, the team needs:

• Your complete delivery address, including the postal code. A city name alone is not enough, because the freight is arranged per destination.
• A working phone number. The carrier needs a local contact to arrange the delivery, and shipping options cannot be confirmed without one.
• The model, door side and therapy options you want, since these decide the size and weight of the packed tub that the freight is based on. If you are unsure whether you want a soaker or a jetted tub, say so, and the team can help you choose.

Which Carrier, and What About a Freight Forwarder

The specific carrier on the freight leg is confirmed by the team for your address rather than fixed in advance, so no single carrier name applies to every Puerto Rico order. If you already work with a freight forwarder or a customs broker, mention it when you place the order so the team can confirm whether your forwarder is needed and how the shipment will be handled.

For orders that leave the mainland, the team also describes a second route: your own freight forwarder collecting the order from the Chicago manufacturing facility instead of shipping through the carrier the team arranges. Tubs are assembled and tested to order, so the order must be placed and paid before it is built, and the team lets you know when it is ready for collection. Give the forwarder the shipping weight and dimensions from the specification sheet for your exact configuration so space can be booked accurately. The forwarder details are in Shipping a Walk-In Tub Overseas: What the Team Needs, Freight Forwarder Pickup, and Warranty Parts Abroad, and whether that route suits a Puerto Rico order is confirmed when you call with your address.

Who Pays Customs Duties and Taxes

The published shipping page is explicit: Ella's Bubbles is not responsible for any customs and taxes applied to your order, and all fees imposed during or after shipping are the responsibility of the customer, including tariffs, taxes, storage and other related costs. The published terms also state that all payments are in U.S. dollars.

How any such charges appear depends on how the shipment is arranged. Duties and brokerage may be collected by the carrier or broker before delivery, or itemized on the invoice from where you purchased. Sales tax is a separate question that depends on the seller's tax obligations and the ship-to address, so the invoice from where you purchased is the document that shows whether tax was applied to your order. Sales Tax, Customs Duties and Brokerage on a Walk-In Tub Order explains what decides each charge and where it shows up. Ask before your order is placed so nothing comes as a surprise, and if you are unsure what will apply at your address, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your order details.

How the Tub Is Packed, and What to Do on Delivery

Every Ella tub is assembled and tested in Chicago before it is packed for the trip. The packaging video shows the care that goes into the shipping containers: a multi-piece corrugated box of thick, robust material built around the tub, or a half-inch plywood crate cut and assembled around it, with the skids wrapped in a layer of plywood to protect them from forklifts and other damage at shipping terminals. That matters most on a long freight leg with more handling points.

Treat the delivery as your inspection point:

1. Photograph the packaging before it is opened.
2. Photograph the tub and every loose component as soon as the packaging comes off.
3. Contact the team right away through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850 if anything is cracked, bent or missing.
4. Keep all packaging material until the tub has been filled and run once.

Installing the Tub in Puerto Rico

Ella's Bubbles does not have installers in Puerto Rico and does not send technicians anywhere, so you hire a local licensed plumber and electrician for the installation. Every Ella tub is built to UL STD 1795 and CSA C22.2 No. 218.2 and for North American 120 volt electrical service. Share the spec sheet and manual with your installer before delivery so the rough-in is ready, and have your installer reach the team at (800) 480-6850 with any questions during the install. Labor is the installer's, while Ella covers the parts under its warranty.

What to Have Ready When You Call

• Your full delivery address with postal code and a working phone number.
• The model, door side and therapy options you are considering, and how many tubs.
• The name of any freight forwarder or broker you plan to use.
• Any questions about taxes or fees, so they are settled before the order is placed.

Watch: Superior Walk-In Tub Packaging for Damage Free Delivery | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Videos

Common Questions