The Inspection Checklist for Designer Furniture Deliveries

A receiving warehouse's most important job isn't storage or delivery — it's inspection. Here's what a proper inspection actually covers, and what to insist on from any receiver you use.

Dock-level checks (before the truck leaves)

Carton count matches the BOL
Visible carton damage — punctures, crushes, water stains — photographed and noted on the driver's paperwork
Any refused pieces documented with a reason

Opened-piece inspection

Every carton opened within a reasonable window (days, not weeks)
Piece unwrapped and inspected under adequate light
Finish, upholstery, hardware, and structural elements all checked
Dimensions verified against the packing slip when relevant

Photo documentation

Multiple angles of the assembled or unwrapped piece
Close-ups of any damage, with a reference for scale
Photos attached to the receipt in your dashboard — not sitting in an inbox

Damage claim triggers

Anything caught on inspection posted to your dashboard the same day
Enough detail to file a vendor claim without a second visit to the warehouse
Piece held in inspection status so it doesn't accidentally get delivered damaged

What to insist on

If your receiver isn't opening every piece, isn't photographing damage, or is charging you extra for inspection reports, you don't have a receiving warehouse — you have a storage unit with a phone number. Request access to see how Pope's does it.