Built to order, in stock and preorder are the three phrases that describe where your Ella walk-in tub stands before it ships. Every Ella tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order in Chicago. In stock means the shell and components for your exact configuration are on hand and assembly can begin. Preorder means that configuration is scheduled for a later production run. Made to order, custom built and backorder are common ways people say the same things.

How It Works

Tub shells are made in Ella's partner factories overseas, then shipped to Chicago, where each tub is fitted with its door, faucet, drains and the therapy package on your order, run through its mechanical, electrical and water tests, and packed for freight. Stock is tracked per model, door side, therapy package and color, which is why one door side of a model can be in stock while the other door side of the same model is on preorder. The video tour in how Ella builds, tests and packs your tub shows the process, and where Ella tubs are made covers the overseas and Chicago roles.

Which Ella Models Have It

These terms apply to every Ella model, not to particular ones. Availability shifts as configurations are claimed and new shells arrive, so the status of a given combination is checked at the moment you order. The article in stock, built to order and preorder: what the words mean explains how the labels are applied to individual configurations.

What to Know as an Owner

The knowledge base does not publish production or delivery timeframes, because timing depends on the model, the options and current stock. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm the timing for your specific order. Once the tub ships, a shipment confirmation with a tracking number is emailed within 24 hours of the tub shipping, and order status: what happens next describes each step after that.

If your installer will not be ready for a while, ask whether shipment can be timed to their readiness. That is agreed order by order, so raise it early; a tub that arrives before the bathroom is ready has to be stored crated and out of the weather. Keep your order confirmation, the configuration details (model, door side, package, color) and, later, the tracking number together; those are the first things the team will ask for on any order question.

Common Questions