What is white glove delivery?
If your small business is venturing into e-commerce – especially in delivering high-end or luxury items – you’ve probably heard the term white glove delivery. This guide provides an overview of what this service is, how it differs from standard delivery, and provides some background information on whether you should consider paying for it as part of your business.
Table of contents
What’s behind the name “White Glove” Express?
Often considered a bespoke or customized product, “white glove” refers to the level of added service beyond what is expected from normal package delivery.Shipping and delivery workers do not actually Wear white gloves when shipping your product; the name is more of a metaphor than a literal description.
The origin of the name can be traced back to the white gloves worn by the butlers of classical English households. In this sense, “White Glove” connects the notion of “professional” or “bespoke” service with the personal, extra level of service provided by a butler. In terms of shipping and logistics, think of it as extra care or going the extra mile to ensure a product arrives safely at its destination and is properly unpacked, assembled and/or installed.
How White Gloves Differ from Standard Delivery
The standard shipping process involves moving your product from its point of origin to its final destination. Until then, you pack your items and hand them over to the carrier of your choice. For shipping packages from point A to point B, almost all e-commerce businesses choose major carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Others rely on regional carriers such as OnTrac, GSO, and LaserShip. However, none of these operators offer white-glove services. Since most direct-to-consumer products come in handheld boxes, most e-commerce businesses don’t need this service anyway.
The Difference Between White Glove and Last Mile Delivery
Many people confuse white glove with last mile delivery, and while they are similar, they don’t mean the same thing. Last mile delivery refers to the transport of a product to its final destination, no more and no less. USPS typically handles last-mile delivery of packages in its network, as well as other packages from UPS, FedEx, and other carriers.This is the difference with last mile delivery; USPS won’t once Even unpacking and assembling products during delivery.
At the end of the day, providing “white glove” service means doing more than simply delivering a package to ensure that the product will work or be assembled properly when it reaches its final destination.
Decide if your business should offer white glove services
While white glove service is uncommon in the e-commerce world, the decision to offer it depends on the products you’re sending. It is more commonly used to ship high-end products or luxury items that require extra care and special handling.
Who Needs White Glove Service?
Here are some examples of businesses where white glove services are relatively common:
- Shipping furniture (high end furniture delivery and/or assembly)
- Post-delivery installation of electronics, such as oversized TVs
- Shipping and Hanging Expensive Artwork
- Transportation of materials used in the construction or alteration of real estate
