Before you take home a kitchen or bathroom item, check the carton, the moving parts, the surfaces that will show once installed, and whether every part is in the box. Every item at BVX Home Supply carries one of four grade names, shown on the product, and these checks apply to an item at any grade.
What should you check on the carton before you open it?
Check every side of the carton for crushed corners, punctures and water stains before you accept it, then match the carton to the product you chose using whatever identifier it shows. A mismatch points to the wrong box before you pay for it.
Set aside any carton with more than one of these marks and ask to see inside it before you commit to loading it.
How do you check a cabinet or vanity for damage?
Open every door and drawer on a cabinet or vanity before you decide. Doors should hang level and close without rubbing, and drawers should run their full length without binding. Check a hinge that feels loose, a drawer that stops early, or a door that will not sit flush before you decide.
Run a hand along the face-frame joints and the corners of the cabinet box, and check the back and bottom panels. Look at the finish on every face that will stay visible once the piece is installed. This applies to a single unit from the kitchen cabinets range and to a full bathroom vanity alike. Confirm any hardware bag is actually inside the box.
A countertop on the same run gets the same look: check the top surface and the front edge for chips and cracks. Browse the countertops range with that check in mind.
How can you spot a crack in a sink, toilet or tub?
Feel for a crack in a sink, a toilet or a tub by running a hand slowly over every surface in good light. Then look closely at the mounting holes, the drain opening and the underside before you commit to it.
On a sink, check around the faucet holes and the drain opening for a hairline crack. On a toilet, lift the tank lid and check inside the tank as well as the bowl for a hairline crack near the bolt holes. On an acrylic tub, look for chips around the drain and any hairline crack radiating from a corner or a faucet cutout. Check a cast-iron or porcelain tub the same way, running a hand over the rim and around the drain; the tubs & showers range covers both.
What should you test on an appliance before you load it?
Open and close every door on the appliance and check that it seals against the gasket along its edge. Pull out every shelf, rack, bin and drawer to confirm they are present and slide smoothly, and turn each knob and dial to feel for resistance. Check the cord and plug for cracks before you load anything.
If the appliance shows a model or serial number, confirm it is still readable. The appliances category page covers how to use that number to look up a model before you buy.
A pickup inspection checklist
- Carton matches the product, with no crushed corners or water stains
- Doors and drawers open, close and run their full length, hinges tight
- Sink, toilet or tub checked in good light, mounting holes and drain free of cracks
- Appliance doors seal fully, shelves and knobs present, cord intact, any model or serial number readable
- Any hardware bag and every listed part accounted for before you leave the aisle
Bring this checklist to pickup. If you have not already arranged the vehicle, the people and the gear for the trip, see how to plan a large item pickup, and if you have not measured the space and the route at home, see what to measure before you buy. Both are worth doing before you drive to Paterson.