Buying furniture from China · any destination
Furniture shipping damage checklist
Before paying: get photos of your packed order, the insurance terms and a named contact for each handover. At delivery: record damage and shortages, keep the packaging and notify the relevant parties in writing.
By the China Home Source editorial team · Updated · How we check numbers
Before payment: ask for these records
Use the replies to agree packing, shipment release and damage-reporting arrangements before you commit. These are suggested buyer checks; your contracts and policy set the obligations and cover.
1. Seller: photograph the furniture and its packing
Request dated photos of your actual item before wrapping, its protected corners and surfaces, and the sealed carton or crate. Match item IDs to the packing list. For glass, stone tops and loose legs, ask how parts are separated and supported. Agree the packing specification before paying.
Keep: Item and carton IDs, outside packed dimensions, gross weight, packing materials and photos at each packing stage. A showroom photo cannot show how your order was packed.
2. Forwarder: name each handover
List factory collection, consolidation warehouse, container loading, destination warehouse and home delivery. Ask who records condition and carton counts at each transfer, including any repacking. Confirm who unloads, opens crates, carries furniture upstairs and installs it.
Keep: A contact and written scope for each stage, plus condition records when custody changes. Ask where the transport service and any insurance end.
3. Insurance provider: send the documents
If insurance is offered, request the certificate and full policy wording, including endorsements. Check the insurer, policy reference, insured party, shipment, route, dates, insured value and currency, deductible, and claims contact. Ask who can file and receive payment if the seller bought the cover.
Keep: Written answers about loading, unloading, storage, repacking and room placement. Ask specifically about breakage, scratches, moisture and inadequate packing; have the provider point to the coverage or exclusion that applies. An “insured” line on a quote does not explain these terms.
For price inclusions and the exact delivery point, use the DDP furniture quote checklist. For cabinet dimensions and finish checks, use the pre-shipment cabinet inspection checklist.
At delivery: preserve the evidence
1. Count and photograph before moving
When safe, photograph the shipment as it arrives, labels, all sides of damaged cartons and any visible container or seal issue. Compare carton IDs and quantities with the packing list. Record arrival time and the delivery company. Do not climb into a container or stand under a load for a photo.
2. Record what you can see on the receipt
Describe the affected carton IDs, shortages, crushed corners, holes or wet packing on the delivery record before signing. Keep a copy. State which contents you could not inspect rather than confirming their condition. If the driver cannot record your note, photograph the issue and send a written notice through the carrier’s claims channel immediately.
3. Unpack with an evidence trail
When safe and consistent with the claims instructions, record unpacking from the labeled outer carton through the inner protection to the item. Take wide shots and close-ups of each defect, including item ID and scale. Check hardware bags and parts against the parts list. Keep original files, the furniture and all packaging available for inspection.
4. Notify the named parties in writing
Promptly notify the seller, forwarder or carrier, and insurer or claims agent as applicable. Include the shipment reference, item IDs, discovery time, photos and delivery record. Follow each contract’s notice and claim deadlines; do not wait for a repair price before sending the first notice. Ask for a claim reference, survey instructions and permission before repair or disposal. Prevent further damage where safe.
DHL’s claim preparation guide supports recording visible damage at receipt and keeping packaging. Chubb’s Australian marine cargo guidelines call for prompt notification and an opportunity to inspect. Their deadlines apply within their own scope; confirm the instructions for your shipment.
Separate the problem before assigning responsibility
Factory defect
A wrong size, finish or damaged surface visible before packing belongs in the seller’s defect record. Compare the approved spec with pre-shipment photos and the inspection report; request a correction under the purchase terms.
Suspected transit damage
Compare dispatch, warehouse and arrival photos to identify when a new crack or impact appeared. Report the facts to the transport and insurance contacts. Photos help establish a sequence; they do not by themselves decide liability.
Missing parts or cartons
Separate a missing hardware bag inside a sealed carton from a whole carton missing at delivery. Keep the parts list, packing list, carton count and unpacking record so the seller and carrier can investigate the right shortage.
Damage during room placement
Record condition before and after unloading, carrying or assembly. Identify the crew and the task underway. Send the record to the delivery or installation provider and check whether that stage falls within any cargo policy.
Keep this checklist on your phone
Copy it into your notes before delivery. Attach the original photos and documents when reporting an issue. The carrier or insurer may request additional evidence.
You can also select the text in the box.
Sources and insurance limits
Sources checked November 4, 2026. These sources describe particular services and policies. They do not confirm cover for your order or guarantee a payment.
- DHL Global Forwarding, Luxembourg: claim preparation. Documents, damage photos, receipt records and retained packaging.
- Chubb Australia: marine cargo claims guidelines (published May 2020). Certificate, invoice, packing list, transport records and correspondence; inspection before disposal.
- Maersk: cargo insurance FAQ and claims checklist. Explains that “all risks” has exclusions and requests shipment documents and evidence of loss.
Keep the policy wording and endorsements with the certificate. Ask the insurer to resolve any unclear term before shipment. Carrier liability, the seller’s remedy and an insurance claim can follow different conditions; this page does not decide an individual claim.
Packing and insurance questions
Does furniture shipping insurance cover every scratch or broken part?
Check the wording and endorsements for your shipment. Ask the insurer how it treats scratches, breakage, packing, moisture and handling after arrival. Maersk’s insurance FAQ explains that “all risks” still has exclusions. A label alone is not confirmation that a particular loss is covered.
How long do I have to report damaged furniture?
Use the deadlines in your carrier terms, sale contract and policy, and notify the relevant parties promptly. Notice of damage and the full claim can have different deadlines. The official guidance linked below applies to specific products and jurisdictions; do not treat its deadlines as a rule for every shipment.
Should I throw away a broken crate after taking photos?
Keep the crate, inner packing and damaged furniture available for inspection. DHL’s claims guide calls for retaining packaging, and Chubb’s guidance says to allow inspection before disposal. If an item is unsafe to keep, contact the claims handler for instructions and record any necessary safety action.