One of the first questions usually asked by our customers is: How long will it be before we receive our Bellman’s Cart?  All of the manufacturers that we work with have different lead-times.  The lead-times below are typically pretty accurate.  Here are the current Bellman’s Cart lead-times per manufacturer.

Bellman’s Cart Lead-Times:

• Monarch Carts – 2–3 business days
• CSL – 3–5 business days
• Ex-Cell Kaiser LLC – 3–5 business days (for most carts)
• Glaro Inc. – 3-5 business days
• Lavi Industries – 2–3 weeks
• Forbes Industries – 3–4 weeks (for most carts)
• Harloff by Forbes – 3–4 weeks
• Architectural Brass – 4–6 weeks

*Please note that the lead-times listed above do not include shipping time.

If you need a Bellman’s Cart quickly, please visit our Quick Ship Bellman’s Cart page.  If you would like to see all of our Bellman’s Carts, please visit our All Bellman Cart page.

Forbes Bellman Carts

We talked with Michael Hewitt V.P. of Sales about what was new with Forbes Industries.  They are now offering diamond textured uprights on some of their Bellman Carts in a polished or satin stainless steel finish.  See #2499DT & #2543DT.

Also new is a rubberized deck.  It’s a great idea!  It lasts longer than carpet, it’s easier to clean, and will hold luggage on the carts better than carpet.  It has a bit of grip to it also.  This new deck can be ordered on any Forbes Bellman Cart that comes standard with a skirt around the deck.  We’ll be adding the rubberized deck option to our website soon.

Forbes Housekeeping Carts

We spent most of the time talking with Michael about Forbes Housekeeping Carts.  Since we are currently building Housekeeping Cart Solutions, we wanted to learn all we could about them.  Forbes offers steel and plastic Housekeeping Carts that are available with MANY different options.  A cool thing that Forbes is offering is motorized Housekeeping Carts.  As heavy as those carts can be when filled, I’m sure the motorized carts make it much easier on housekeepers.  With prices starting at about $400 and going up to $3,000+, you’ll definitely be able to find the housekeeping cart that meets your needs and price range.

We at Hippo Inc are proud to have worked with Forbes Industries for the past 2 1/2 years.  We look forward to working with Forbes down the road as we keep on offering their Bellman Carts and continue building Housekeeping Cart Solutions.  Thank you Michael for taking out time for us at IHMRS.

Well, we’re back from the 2008 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in NYC.  We really enjoyed the show.  It was our first trip to the IHMRS Show.  We were there most of the day Sunday, the first day the exhibits were open.  Over half the floor was dedicated to furnishings and equipment.  That’s where we spent most of our time.  We didn’t spend much time on the food and beverage side of the floor.

We were able to spend some time with the manufacturers that we’re already working with:

• Forbes Industries – Bellman Carts & Housekeeping Carts
  
• CSL (Central Specialties Ltd.)
• Architectural Brass
• Sico

Also, we spent a good bit of time talking and getting to know about a couple new vendors we will be bringing on board soon:

• Rubbermaid Commercial Products
• Infinity Hospitality Group

Stay tuned for highlights from the different manufacturers and vendors…

We’ll be at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show this Sunday, November 9, 2008. According to their website, it’s “the world’s largest showcase and exchange of industry products, trends, and developments, attracts every segment and facet of the industry. The trade show…unveils more than 1,250 exhibitors’ products and services and draws more than 35,000 attendees each year.”

While there, we’re going to visit the vendors that we are already working with:

• Architectural Brass – booth #2446
• Central Specialties Ltd. (CSL) – booth #2639
• Forbes Industries (Harloff ) – booth #2662
• Sico – booth #2810

Unfortunately, a few of the manufacturers that we work with won’t be there.  I don’t think Ex-Cell, Glaro Inc., Monarch, Crown, or Lavi will be present.

But we’ll also be checking out several other booths, possibly bringing a couple new vendors on board with us at Hippo Inc. We’ll have our digital cameras and video cameras with us, so stay tuned for updates with pictures and videos from us at Hippo Inc , home of Bellman Cart Solutions , Housekeeping Cart Solutions , and Hippo Pro Plus .

Are you looking for a Hotel Luggage Cart that will hold up to beach environments or a Cart that will spend time outside?  With all of the Hotels, Motels, Resorts, and Condos that line the shores of the USA, we at Bellman Cart Solutions are regularly asked which Hotel Luggage Carts hold up best under such environments.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a Hotel Luggage Cart for beach, ocean, or outdoor use:

• Stainless Steel Uprights are best suited for outdoor use.
• The Satin Aluminum Finish that is standard on all of our Glaro Hotel Luggage Carts has been a very popular choice for beach environments.
• Stay away from Brass!  It will tarnish.

Here are a few of our Hotel Luggage Cart recommendations for outdoor use:

• Glaro 6440SA High Roller Condo Cart
• Glaro 5500SA Bellman Cart
• Glaro 6135SA Value Bellman Cart
• Forbes #2432 Standard Bellman Cart
• Ex-Cell 780 CPR Supreme Traveler’s Series Bellman Cart

Please keep in mind that none of the Hotel Luggage Carts that we sell are made to be kept or left outside.  But, if they are used outside or your establishment near the ocean, we recommend the above.

You may not have known, but Bellman Cart Solutions also offers many Utility Carts.  Most of the Utility Carts that we offer may match the Bellman Carts you already own.  We carry Utility Carts from all of the major manufacturers: Glaro, CSL, Ex-Cell, Forbes, Harloff by Forbes, Architectural Brass, and Monarch Carts.  Our Utility Carts range in price from about $250–$2,000+.  They range in style, including: Hand Trucks, Platform Trucks, Utility Carts, and Condo Carts.

Here are a few of our favorite Utility Carts:

 Glaro 6440 High Roller Condo Cart (more info)

Not technically a “Utility Cart”, the Glaro 6440 can definitely be used as a Utility Cart.  With two removable shelves and eight side containment rails (four removable), the Glaro High Roller Condo Carts are like Utility Carts on steroids!  If you need to use it like a Bellman Cart, remove the shelves and side containment rails on one side and you’re ready to go.

Glaro 5440 Value Condo Cart (more info)

Similar to the Glaro 6440 above, the Glaro 5440 Value is great as a Utility Cart and Bellman Cart.  The differences between the Value and High Roller Condo Carts are that the Value Condo Carts have one removable shelf instead of two and six side containment rails (three removable) instead of eight side rails.

Ex-Cell 788 H-2 Platform Truck

Simple, very inexpensive, ready to go.  What more could you ask for?  The Ex-Cell 788 H-2 is the least expensive Platform Truck we offer.  If you’re in the market for an inexpensive utility cart, check this Platform Truck out.

Architectural Brass Platform Truck with Gate

For those wanting to impress their guests with a “Utility Cart”, look no further than the Architectural Brass Platform Truck with Gate.  With options like Brass or Stainless Steel (polished or hand satin), swinging gate on one side, joints welded instead of bolted together like most carts, the Architectural Brass Platform Truck with Gate is sure to please you and your guests!

Those are a few of our favorite and best selling Utility Carts.  For more information on those and other Utility Carts, please visit our Utility Carts section at Bellman Cart Solutions.

Most of the Bellman Carts and Utility Carts that we sell at Bellman Cart Solutions come with Solid or Pneumatic Tires.  The exceptions are:

• Some Forbes Industries Bell Carts come with soft rubber Cushion Wheels
• Harloff by Forbes Carts do not have a Pneumatic Tire option
• Monarch Hotel Carts come only with Solid Wheels, no Pneumatic option
• Crown Industries Bellcarts come only with Pneumatic Tires

So…Pneumatic or Solid?

Here are the pro’s and cons of each.

Pros for Pneumatic Tires / Cons for Solid Wheels:

• Pneumatic Tires are quieter than Solid
• Softer, smoother ride than solid

Cons for Pneumatic Tires / Pros for Solid Wheels:

• Some customers have said that Carts with Pneumatic Tires can be harder to maneuver because of the tire being wider than a Solid Wheel
• Pneumatic Tires can squat when large amounts of luggage are being transported, making it more difficult to push or pull
• Pneumatic Tires may require some occasional maintenance, Solid Wheels generally do not require maintenance
• Solid Wheels are less expensive to replace than Pneumatic Tires when the time comes

Hopefully this information will help when you’re shopping for a Bellman Cart at Bellman Cart Solutions.

When deciding on a Bellman Cart, one of the more overlooked options is the Bumper color.  For most of our Bellman Carts, you have the option of a Gray or Black Bumper.

The exceptions are:
With Forbes Industries and Harloff by Forbes you have the options of Beige or Brown Bumpers in addition to Black and Gray.  Monarch Carts only come with Black Bumpers.

Which color is right for me?

We recommend a Gray Bumper.  The Gray Bumper used by all of our manufacturers is a non-marking Bumper. If you’ve ever had black marks on your walls as a result of a Bellman Cart Bumper, you know how important a non-marking Bumper is. The Beige Bumper used on Forbes and Harloff by Forbes Bellman Carts would be a good choice also.  Unless it is necessary, try to avoid a dark (Black or Brown) Bumper.

UPDATE: Please see our most recent post for current lead-times on Bellman Carts.

One of the first questions usually asked by our customers is: How long will it be before we receive our Bellman’s Cart?  All of the manufacturers that we work with have their own lead-times.  The lead-times below are typically pretty accurate.  Here are the current Bellman’s Cart lead-times per manufacturer.

Bellman’s Cart Lead-Times:

• Monarch Carts – 2–3 business days (usually)
• CSL – 3–5 business days
• Glaro Inc. – 5 business days
• Ex-Cell Kaiser LLC – 2–3 weeks (sometimes quicker)
• Lavi Industries – 2–3 weeks
• Forbes Industries – 5–6 weeks
• Harloff by Forbes – 5–6 weeks
• Architectural Brass – 6–8 weeks
• Crown Industries – 2–3 weeks

If you need a Bellman’s Cart quickly, please visit our Quick Ship Bellman’s Cart page.  If you would like to see all of our Bellman’s Carts, please visit our All Bellman Cart page.