Are they custom cabinets or manufactured? Maybe that's the difference. When we've had cabinets made before, the cabinet maker brought them to our house and installed them. I've never ordered from a cabinet manufacturer.

My KD, ordered the cabinets from Kraftmaid, and they were delivered to his store, he in turn had them delivered then to our home. The contractor then off-loaded them into the house.

We ordered custom cabs.
The cab company delivered and brought them into the house.
Yes, we tipped the guys.

We ordered Shenandoah from Lowes and they were delivered into our house by the shipper.

I ordered Schuler cabinets from Lowe's, and the shipping company brought them into the house.

Abbey

My contractor had to bring them in. I didn't know they weren't going to do deliver them all the way in. I had 7 steps up to my front door. They had to sit outside for a few hours (this is an urban area) until my contractor could send 2 guys over from another job.

Interesting, I've done 3 kitchens in 3 years and they are delivered from the manufacturer to the KD company and they deliver them to the house. I never thought to have them brought into the house and always had them put in the garage. I like them there because then I just bring them in a few at a time and unbox them and hang them. My houses are always fairly small and it would be a pain to have them all over the house. I am also a DIYer so cabinet installation is done over a couple weeks not in a day or two!

I ordered Kraftmaid through Lowes and they were delivered to our house in a large Kraftmaid truck and placed in our garage. Ours was a remodel, so I didn't even have the essentials of our old kitchen torn out until I made sure that all the cabinets were accounted for, undamaged, and ready for install. Last thing I wanted was to be out of a kitchen for more time than necessary. Then our contractor moved them from the garage and installed them in the kitchen.

And I didn't even think to tip the delivery people. I am usually pretty tip happy so am feeling pretty ashamed now thinking that I should have compensated them.

Ok, get this:

I order from TheCabinetJoint.com when I have the $$.
They drop ship. That means a big FedEx truck that can barely get down my road pulls up at the end of the 200' driveway and yells, "How'ya gonna get these up to the house?"

I pull my truck down to that truck, he pushes them off onto the bed of my truck, I back my truck up to my front porch and drag 'em inside.

I work for tips all evenings long. Wish there were someone to (carry this crap) tip me.

We have Kraftmaid. They came to the door and asked where we wanted them. We chose the garage. We didn't tip but it was a warm day and I offered them something to drink. :) non alcoholic, of course. lol

Thanks everybody for your input. My cabs are custom but they don't do install and don't normally bring them in the house (??). In the end, they send someone from the plant to help with the driver but they essentially hung back while the contractor's crew did most of the unloading (a couple of pieces were very large and needed 4 guys) in spite of the fact that the GC didn't want to deal with liability in case of damage. It worked out fine and I sprung for lunch for the crew as a token of appreciation. Was a little stressed out over this because I could tell I was taking this personally (hormones and shot nerves) but all is good now.

This is something that should have been pre-arranged at the time of order. When I write up an invoice for a client, I always ask, "do you want delivery"? And if yes, I tell them, "It's $75 for a garage delivery". If you want them taken up some steps or in to a house, that amount will change". One man can easily unload to a garage. But going up steps or having to worry about door casings and delicate wall paper or paint is another story and opens up HUGE liability!!! We usually will charge $150 or more to take cabinets in to a house. Requires an extra guy and a dolly.

I once heard a story that will explain this well. A UPS driver was delivering a package to a woman's house. They are given strict rules and not to take things in to a house. The woman was an elderly lady so when she asked if the heavy package could be taken inside, he caved and did it. When he took it in, he scraped against her wall and damaged her wallpaper that ran throughout the first floor. The wallpaper, of course, was discontinued. UPS had to pay for the woman's whole first floor to be re-wall papered because this poor soul did her a favor. I think he lost his job because of it too. Anyway, not sure if it's true....I heard this years ago from my UPS guy.

KOMPY

This was a timely post since I just faced exact situation this a.m.! My KD was not clear in communicating that she expected my contractor to carry the cabs into the house, and I never thought to ask - just assumed delivery meant into the house. The enormous truck from Wood-Mode showed up on my narrow street and the driver had to wait until my contractor, his teenage son, and my teenage son showed up to unload. Very stressful!