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What Is the Freight Damage 48-Hour Window on a Walk-In Tub Delivery?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. How It Works
  2. Which Ella Models Have It
  3. What to Know as an Owner
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

The freight damage 48-hour window is the published period, 48 hours after receipt of your shipment, in which any damage or missing parts must be reported. It covers obvious crate damage as well as concealed damage discovered during a visual and operational inspection. Owners also call it the damage claim window, the reporting deadline or the 48-hour rule, and it comes straight from the shipping policy at ellasbubbles.com/shipping.

How It Works

The clock starts when the shipment is received. Within those 48 hours you carefully open the crate, save all packaging material, and inspect the tub for concealed damage before filing. Inspection means both a visual check and an operational one, so whenever possible fill the tub and run the systems before installation. A problem found during that test is easier to resolve when it is reported inside the window than after the tub is set in place.

If something is wrong, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with photos, your invoice and your bill of lading. In most cases a damaged part is replaced rather than the whole tub, so the process is straightforward. If a dealer or retailer holds your order, report the damage to them as well. You may have seen an older video mention a five-business-day period; that figure is superseded, and the published 48-hour window is the one that applies.

Which Ella Models Have It

The 48-hour window applies to every freight shipment from Ella's Bubbles, so it covers every walk-in tub model and any part that ships on a pallet. It is a delivery policy rather than a model feature.

What to Know as an Owner

Treat delivery day as inspection day. Use the delivery inspection checklist while the driver is present, and note any damage on the delivery document before signing. Then unpack and compare the contents against what is in the crate, because missing items fall inside the same window. Keep the crate and every piece of packaging until the installation is complete.

For a ticket, have ready: photos of the damage and of the crate, the signed bill of lading, your invoice, your order number and a short description of what you found during the operational test. Our step-by-step guides, my tub arrived damaged, what to do in the first 48 hours and filing a freight damage claim, cover the rest.

Common Questions

How long do I have to report damage to my walk-in tub after delivery?
You have 48 hours from the receipt of your shipment to report any damage or missing parts for your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub. This 48-hour window is the published policy found at ellasbubbles.com/shipping and is also known as the damage claim window, the reporting deadline, or the 48-hour rule. This policy applies to every freight shipment from Ella's Bubbles, covering all walk-in tub models and any parts that ship on a pallet.
Does the 48-hour window include damage I only find after unpacking?
Yes, the 48-hour window includes damage you only find after unpacking your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub. The policy requires you to inspect for concealed damage, both visually and operationally, before filing a claim. This means you should promptly unpack the tub, fill it, and run its systems to check for any issues, as problems found during this test are easier to resolve when reported within the 48-hour window.
Will a damaged tub be replaced entirely?
In most cases, a damaged part of your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub will be replaced rather than the entire tub. To help the team confirm exactly what is needed, you should provide photos of the damage and the crate, along with your signed bill of lading, invoice, order number, and a short description of what you found during the operational test. Once confirmed, the replacement part will be shipped to you.
Is the five-day reporting period I saw in a video still valid?
No, the five-day reporting period you may have seen in an older video is no longer valid. That figure has been superseded by the published 48-hour window for reporting freight damage or missing parts for your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub. Please plan your visual and operational inspection to occur within 48 hours from the receipt of your shipment.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

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