Shipping Policy
Slab logistics: freight, lead times, damage-in-transit.
1. Honed Earth doesn’t ship slabs
Honed Earth is the marketplace and audit layer. The supplier or distributor ships the slab; the fabricator receives it. Shipping logistics are negotiated between the transacting parties; we surface the trail for documentation.
2. What the platform tracks
- Origin warehouse (supplier or distributor)
- Destination (fabricator address)
- Carrier + tracking number (when provided by the supplier)
- Estimated delivery date
- Actual delivery date + condition on arrival
- Damage notes + photos (if any)
3. Freight class for natural-stone slabs
Natural stone slabs are typically Class 100 freight under standard NMFC classifications. Crating + padding adds 10–15% to the bill weight. Common carriers: regional freight, owner-operator hot-shot, or supplier-direct delivery for short distances.
4. White-glove delivery
On Pro+ tiers, fabricators can request white-glove delivery — slab unloaded at the receiving dock with proper handling equipment + two crew. Premium over standard freight; available on transactions where the supplier supports it.
5. Damage-in-transit protocol
When a slab arrives damaged:
- The fabricator photographs the damage at receiving (before unloading) and uploads to the slab’s audit trail within 24 hours.
- The supplier and fabricator both see the trail; the dispute opens automatically.
- Resolution path: replacement slab from the same lot (preferred), partial refund (alternative), or full return + refund (last resort).
- Carrier insurance claims run on the supplier’s freight account; the audit trail is the evidence.
6. Lead times
Lead times are between the parties + the carrier. Typical:
- Supplier-direct (within 200 mi): 1–3 days
- Regional distributor: 3–5 business days
- Cross-country freight: 7–10 business days
- Imported (port-of-entry to fab shop): 8–12 weeks (sea + truck)
7. International shipping
Honed Earth currently lists slabs available in North America (US, Canada, Mexico). Imported stock — Italian Carrara, Brazilian granite, Indian quartzite, Norwegian larvikite — is hosted by US-resident importers; the slab ships from their domestic warehouse. Direct international transactions are not yet supported.
8. Insurance + liability
Slab in transit is the supplier’s liability until the fabricator’s receiving signature. Standard carriers carry $1.50/lb of declared value; premium freight carriers offer per-slab insurance. Honed Earth surfaces insurance status on the listing; specifying parties should confirm coverage before transaction acceptance.
Questions: support@honedearth.com. See also Refund Policy and Terms.