It is the customer's responsibility to be available at time of delivery to inspect the shipment for damaged or missing materials. If you have a representative other than yourself accepting the delivery please ensure that they are familiar with these procedures. Orders that include residential delivery will be called from their local shipping terminal to arrange delivery, however we cannot guarantee any particular day or time.
The customer or their representative must be present to unload the truck. Larger orders may be delivered on pallets; these should be broken down and unloaded by hand if a fork lift is not available. The delivery driver is only required to move the packages to the end of the truck. The customer must move the fencing, gates, and accessories from the truck and store them in a dry and cool place until installed. It is advised to have at least two people to assist at the time of delivery. Trucks with lift gates are available at an additional charge. However, requiring a lift gate has caused shipping delays in the past and is therefore not recommended.
We ship proper quantities in good condition. Once your order leaves our facilities it is the responsibility of the delivering carrier. When you sign for the order it becomes your responsibility. If you simply sign the bill of lading without any qualifying language or notations regarding missing or damaged items then you have waived all rights to future claims. Identifying and documenting missing and damaged merchandise is the responsibility of the receiver and must be done at the time of receipt. Please follow the instructions below carefully.
1. Sign with no exceptions
This is recommended only when you are absolutely certain that the order is correct and undamaged. No future claims will be allowed.
2. Sign subject to concealed damage.
This is recommended only in rare cases. You should fully inspect your order whenever possible. Please use this exact language as it will preserve your right to make a damage claim for a short period of time: PRODUCT RECEIVED SUBJECT TO CONCEALED DAMAGE SEVEN (7) DAY NOTICE REQUIRED.
3. Sign subject to identified shortages and/or damages.
You MUST describe ANY exceptions on bill of lading along with your signature. You should review the damages with the driver and get his signature on the bill of lading if possible. It is also advisable to photograph any damage, if possible. Do NOT discard the damaged boxes.
4. Refuse the order (Not recommended)
Do not refuse shipment without first receiving written permission from Eads Fence Company, Inc. In most cases this will be treated as a return; restocking fees and shipping charges may apply.
This is rare, but unfortunately does occur occasionally. If it does happen sign the bill of lading accordingly and contact Eads Fence Company immediately. Generally the procedure is to accept the order subject to the damage. In most cases the damage is minor and can be easily corrected. For example, bent pickets or rails are easily shipped via UPS and can correct most cases of damage. This is much faster and easier than sending whole new panels via freight.
If there is damage the shipper may want to inspect packages, goods and all shipping containers before a claim can be made. After inspection, the carrier will provide you with all of the proper paperwork needed to file a claim. This paperwork should then be forwarded to Eads Fence Company, Inc. so your claim can be processed. The replacement of your lost or damaged materials will be expedited during the claim process for your convenience. Do not deduct losses from your Eads Fence Company invoice while awaiting replacement material.
Eads Fence Company will assist you in every way possible to collect loss or damage claims from the carrier. There is no cost to the customer to replace lost or damaged items as long as the aforementioned policies are followed. However, we are not responsible for cost of replacement materials or the freight charges for shipping of the replacement parts or materials if the policies above are not adhered to. Ultimately, this is the responsibility of the carrier and we will make every attempt to recover missing or damaged items for you.