15 Jan One Question Every Supplier Asks – Do You Have a Pallet Jack?
“Do you have a pallet jack lift?” It is one of the first things that a person who works in or around shipping will hear constantly as product comes into your warehouse. It is also one of the first things that an inexperienced person, who has an eCommerce company, will get stumped on almost right away. Sometimes it is the big shipment of parts, products, or whatever the case may be for your business that causes this question to be asked. Whatever it is, the guy or gal loading or unloading wants you to have a pallet jack.
Pallet Jack Lift Fees:
The thing they do not tell you until you are in the situation is that an answer of “no” is going to cost you money. Many shipping companies would like you to believe it is such an inconvenience to get out their pallet jack that they charge you for it. The charge is not cheap either. The charge can vary between $25 to $250 depending on who you are talking to and what needs to be unloaded. It is very likely you already had to pay this fee and are looking to not to pay it again. Honestly, operating an eCommerce business that ships things out and has a decent amount of volume is going to be seriously handicapped unless a pallet jack is owned by the company.
Where do you get a pallet jack?
The other question to ask is, “where do you get a pallet jack?” There are tons of little things like this you do not even know you need to know when you first get into business and get into a situation like this one. You should look to the company where you got your racks from. If they provide racks then they are aware you probably need a pallet jack but may figure that you already have one. They also want you to be able to use your racks!
Offering a pallet jack with a pallet rack:
They will likely sell you a pallet jack so that you keep the racks they just sold you. Keep in mind that this is good business because making sure that you can actually use those racks means that they stand a chance of you buying racks from them in the future. The sales pitch for the rack should include the question of whether a pallet jack is essential for scaling your business and achieving profitability.
Who Expects You to Have a Pallet Jack?
Your shipping company is one of the first people who will expect you to have one. It is easier to wheel out your full pallet to their vehicle then to unload it from the pallet. If you say no then there are times when they will charge you for this service. Shipping companies can include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and etc.
Your supplier’s expectations:
Your supplier expects you to have a pallet jack. The driver who came from another state to yours probably has to drive to another one. Those drivers want to get in and out as quickly as possible. They definitely will charge you if you do not have one because time is money to them. The sooner they can finish delivering the faster they can get home. If they have to get their pallet jack it could make them miss their next delivery time frame.
Are pallet jacks still necessary if you have a forklift?
Finally, you should expect yourself to have a pallet jack even if you have a forklift. For certain pallets, a pallet jack is faster and cheaper in the long run than starting up the forklift. It is also more maneuverable in most cases. If you move enough product to warrant building a pallet rack, then it’s time to get a pallet jack.
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