Since shipping costs can be a problem for designers, I have been making inquiries to discover how some companies ship their rugs.
Peerless Imported Rugs
PIR International in Chicago offers a shipping chart for their customers, using UPS or FedEx. The rugs are coded A through F according to weight, and then the approximate size is listed on the graph to give the shipping charges. The shipping is quite modest. A 5’ x 7’ rug runs from $10 to to $40, while an 8’ x 10’ runs from $20 to $70. The larger sizes, which cannot ship UPS, are sent either prepaid or freight collect.
Designers and decorators need to go to www.pirinternational.com to open an account, where they receive “to the trade” pricing but will need to pay shipping.
Rugs Direct
In speaking with Rex Creekmur, Director of Marketing for Rugs Direct in Virginia, he said that Rugs Direct ships free to the contiguous USA. There is a charge for shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada. The company uses UPS for the majority of their rug shipments. Oversized rugs ship via common carrier. Most rugs are wrapped in plastic. and the ends are taped closed. He said the UPS insure the rugs for their stated value. Rugs Direct does not offer any kind of extra or supplemental insurance coverage. They help the customer with any claims up to the delivery of the rug to its destination. If the customer signs for and accepts the rug, it then becomes his or her responsibility if there is damage.
As for working with designers, Creekmur said, “Yes, we have a Professional Partner Program for designers, decorators and corporate buyers. We offer a discount on purchases, expanded free trial services and a dedicated hotline /e-mail to help with product selection and returns.”
