When will I receive shipping details for my walk-in tub order?

Shipping details for an Ella walk-in tub order arrive in stages rather than all at once. The shipping cost is on your confirmation invoice before you pay, nothing new arrives while the tub is being built and tested, and the shipment confirmation with the tracking number is emailed once the tub is actually on its way. Shipping, Sales Tax, and Pickup for Your Walk-In Tub Order covers what goes into the shipping line; this page covers when each piece of information reaches you and what to do if it does not.

Stage One: The Shipping Cost on Your Confirmation Invoice

The first shipping detail you see is the cost, and it comes before any money changes hands. Freight pricing is based on distance and destination, so the shipping charge for your tub is worked out from your delivery zip code and included in the total your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 provides. Sales tax is added only to orders shipping within Illinois; orders shipping out of state are not charged Illinois sales tax. If the tub is going somewhere other than your home, such as your plumber's shop, that address should be on the invoice from the start, because the shipping line is prepared for the address on the paperwork. Review the model, door side, options and the ship-to address on the confirmation invoice before you pay it, and ask for a corrected copy if anything needs to change.

Stage Two: Assembly, Testing and Packing

Once the invoice is paid in full, your tub is scheduled for assembly and testing. Every Ella walk-in tub is assembled and tested to order, and the video on this page shows the sequence. Craftsmen assemble the tub, it is tested and inspected to confirm it is leak free and that the pumps and motors run properly, and it is then cleaned. Small items such as drains and handles are individually wrapped, boxed and placed inside the tub or under the frame. The tub is wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap, the invoice and bill of lading are double checked, and the tub is boxed in a wooden crate or an extra strong reinforced cardboard container before it goes out.

During this stretch you will not normally receive shipping details, because there is nothing to report yet. The carrier is not booked until the tub is ready. Total time from paid invoice to shipment varies by model, options and stock, and Ella does not publish a fixed production or delivery timeframe. If you want to know where your order stands, contact where you purchased or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your invoice number, and they can confirm the current timing for your specific order.

Stage Three: The Shipment Confirmation and Tracking Number

The shipping details most people are waiting for are the ship date and the tracking number. These are sent by email to the contact on your order. Ella's published shipping guidance is that the shipment confirmation and tracking information are emailed within 24 hours of the product shipping. The tracking number cannot come before the tub leaves the building, so an empty inbox while the tub is still in assembly and testing is normal, not a sign that something went wrong.

• Check the contact on the order. Confirmations and tracking go to the email address and phone number on your invoice. If you ordered through a dealer, ask who is listed as the contact for confirmations and tracking, since that person receives the email first.
• Expect the carrier's call. The freight carrier calls the phone number on the order to schedule the delivery, so keep that number answered in the days after the confirmation arrives.
• Ask if nothing arrives. If you have been told the tub shipped and no confirmation has reached you, contact the team at (800) 480-6850 or ellasbubbles.com/support and ask for the tracking details to be resent.

Changing the Shipping Details Before the Tub Ships

Because the ship-to address, contact name and phone number all flow onto the bill of lading, any change has to happen before the tub is handed to the carrier. If you placed the order with your home address and now want it delivered to your installer's shop, contact the team, confirm the new address and contact details in writing, and ask for an updated invoice showing the change. Ella ships once you have confirmed those details, so make the change as early as you can. Shipping Your Tub to Your Plumber or Installer Instead of Your Home lists exactly what the team needs for a business address, including a contact name, a phone number the carrier can call and whether the shop needs a liftgate truck. Once the tub has shipped, the address on the paperwork is the one the carrier delivers to, which is why the confirmation invoice is the right moment to get it right.

Dealers who move orders on their own freight account follow a slightly different path. When the order desk replies to a purchase order it includes Ella's shipping charge along with the option to use the dealer's own carrier. If the dealer takes that option, Ella provides the pickup location, the crated shipping dimensions, the shipping weight and the freight class for the bill of lading, and confirms the scheduled ship or pickup window once the unit is ready. Dealer Orders: Using Your Own Freight Carrier and Bill of Lading walks through that sequence.

What to Do with the Paperwork on Delivery Day

The shipping details matter again when the truck arrives. Make a visual inspection of the crate with the driver present. Light scuffs and scrapes on the container are normal, since the crate is designed to absorb damage and protect the tub, but photograph them on your phone and note them on the delivery paperwork anyway. If the crate is severely damaged and you suspect the tub inside is damaged, you can reject the delivery and call (800) 480-6850 right away. The team will need detailed information, including copies of the bill of lading and invoice and photos documenting the damage. Freight damage claims must be filed within 48 hours of receipt, so save all packaging material and inspect the tub itself, both visually and by checking surfaces and connections, as soon as it is uncrated.

A Quick Timeline of What Arrives When

1. Confirmation invoice: shows the model, options, ship-to address and the shipping cost for that address. It is sent when you place the order and paid in full before anything is built.
2. Payment: once the invoice is paid, the tub is scheduled for assembly and testing.
3. Assembly, testing and packing: no shipping details during this stage. The team confirms current timing on request.
4. Shipment confirmation and tracking: emailed to the contact on the order within 24 hours of the product shipping.
5. Carrier call: the freight carrier phones the number on the order to set the delivery appointment.
6. Delivery: inspect the crate, sign the paperwork, and report any damage within 48 hours.

The same pattern applies to smaller shipments. When you order a replacement part, the tracking number is emailed once the part is packed and handed to the carrier, as Ordering a Replacement Part by Order Form or Phone describes. And if you are still deciding on a model and want photos, specifications or diagrams before you order, Getting Ella's Bubbles Tub Information by Email or Text explains how that information is sent.

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

Related Guides

• Video Tour: How Your Tub Is Assembled, Tested, Packed and Shipped From Chicago
• How your walk-in tub ships and how to prepare for delivery day
• Your walk-in tub has arrived, how to inspect the delivery before signing

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