Cabinet shipping damage should be checked before and after unboxing. The package may show crushed corners, torn wrapping, moisture marks, impact marks, or missing labels before the cabinet part itself is visible. These signs should be recorded before the cartons are moved, opened, repaired, or discarded.
Not every mark confirms a transport issue, and not every damaged package means the cabinet part inside is unusable. The practical goal is to keep clear evidence: packaging condition, labels, carton numbers, part codes, photos, videos, and notes that help the buyer, supplier, logistics provider, or project team review what happened.
Start with the carton, crate, pallet, straps, corner guards, edge protection, and wrapping. Look for crushed corners, punctures, torn packaging, broken straps, open seams, missing labels, wet areas, stains, or signs that the package was dropped or pressed during handling.
Photograph the full package first, then take close-up photos of labels and visible damage. If several packages arrived together, record the package count and keep each carton number or room label connected to the photos. This helps prevent confusion after the items are moved indoors.
Moisture marks, swelling, softened carton areas, or water stains should be recorded before unboxing. After opening, check whether the cabinet panels, edges, back panels, doors, shelves, glass, mirrors, or hardware bags show signs of moisture exposure. Do not assume the inner part is damaged only because the outside carton has a mark; inspect and document both.
Impact damage may appear as crushed packaging, chipped panel corners, cracked finish, bent metal parts, broken glass, damaged mirror edges, or misaligned tracks. Hidden damage is easier to identify when the package label, part code, and damaged area are photographed together.
Open one marked carton at a time where possible. Compare the part inside with the packing list, room label, cabinet code, or approved drawing. Check board surfaces, door panels, exposed edges, corners, hardware holes, rails, tracks, hinges, drawer slides, glass, mirrors, and accessories.
Door scratches, finish marks, chipped corners, swelling, loose hardware, bent tracks, missing screws, missing handles, or damaged glass should be recorded clearly. A short video can help when a door rubs, a drawer does not slide smoothly, or a panel appears warped, but the video should include the part label or nearby package information when possible.
Shipping damage checks should include missing or mixed parts, not only visible breakage. Count hardware bags, rails, panels, doors, shelves, accessory boxes, glass pieces, mirror parts, and special fittings. Missing small parts can delay installation even when the main cabinet panels are complete.
If a problem is found, record the carton number, part code, room label, photo name, damage type, and whether the part appears usable. Keep packaging and damaged parts available until the issue has been reviewed through the normal supplier, logistics, or insurance process.
Before unboxing, check carton condition, pallet condition, straps, corner guards, edge protection, labels, package count, moisture marks, punctures, tears, and crushed areas. Photograph the full package and the label before moving or opening cartons that look damaged.
After unboxing, check cabinet panels, door fronts, exposed edges, corners, shelves, glass, mirrors, rails, hinges, drawer slides, handles, screws, and accessory bags. Compare the parts with the packing list or cabinet code, then record any scratches, chips, cracks, swelling, missing parts, or operation problems.
No. Package damage is a warning sign, not a final conclusion. The cabinet part inside may still be usable, or damage may have another cause. Record the package condition, inspect the part carefully, keep the evidence, and let the responsible project parties review the issue under the agreed process.
