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.

With the economy struggling and the hospitality industry hurting with people not traveling like they have in past years, it’s nice to see a new line of Bellman Carts come along at a price that fits almost every budget.

One of the companies that Hippo Inc. works with, Monarch Carts , has just released a new series of modern, sleek Bellman and Utility Carts.

These carts feature:

• 1 1/2” – 2 1/4” Stainless Steel Uprights
• Steel Frame Base with a Black Carpeted Deck
• Full Wrap-Around Bumper
• Load Capacity of 1,000 – 1,500 lbs.
• 8” Pneumatic (air-inflated) Tires – for the Bellman Cart
• 6” Solid Tires for the Platform Truck
• Very Affordable Pricing

Here are the new models available:

Monarch MCL-212S Luxury Bellman Cart

Monarch MCL-204S Bellman Cart

Monarch MCL-207S Bellman Cart

Click on the pictures for more information and to purchase these new and exciting carts from Bellman Cart Solutions .

We spoke with Rus Budde, Director of Marketing & Sales at CSL for some time about the current and new products at CSL.  We’ve been selling their Easy-Mover and Economy Bellman Carts, and also the CSL Utility Carts for some time now.  CSL offers great products for the price.  All of their products ship quickly.  In talking to Rus, you can tell that CSL goes to great lengths in making sure that the customer will be very satisfied with the product they receive from CSL.  We at Hippo Inc, as the dealer, love the commitment to quality and service that CSL has.

What’s new at CSL?

Beginning in early January 2009, CSL will be offering three new carts.  These will be imported from China, whereas the Easy-Mover and Economy Bellman Carts are made in the USA and will continue to be.  As you can see from the pictures, they will be available in a couple different finishes, Titanium Gold Plated and Satin Stainless Steel.  Initially, they’ll only be available in what you see in the pictures.  The Satin Stainless Steel model will be available with gray carpet, black bumper, and black pneumatic tires.  That cart will eventually be available in a Titanium Gold Plated finish.  The other cart shown in the  pictures is a Titanium Gold Plated cart with red carpet, black bumper, and black pneumatic tires.  It will also eventually be available in a Satin Stainless Steel finish.  The third cart is not shown.  It’s a Titanium Gold Plated Hand Truck with red carpet.

All of these carts looks very similar to carts that we’re already offering from Monarch.  See the MCL-204T and MCL-207S.  If the build and quality is better with the CSL Carts than the Monarch Carts, which we expect to be the case, they might replace the Monarch Carts on Bellman Cart Solutions.  We have had great success with CSL for the two years that we’ve been doing business with them and look forward to selling more and more of their products in the years to come.  Thanks to Rus Budde of CSL for spending so much time with us at the 2008 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IHMRS).

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.

We thought our customers would like to know the most popular selling Bellman Carts we sell at Bellman Cart Solutions.  Here is a list of our Top 5 Best Selling Bellman Carts.

• CSL 2005 Series Economy Bellman Cart
• Glaro Glider 6600 Bellman Cart
• Glaro Glider 5500 Bellman Cart
• Glaro 6135 Value Bellman Cart
• Monarch MCL-204S Luggage Cart

Here are some reasons that these Bellman Carts are our top sellers:

• Quick Ship – All of these Bellman Carts ship in 5 business days or less.
• Great Price – The CSL 2005 Series Economy Bellman Cart is one of the least expensive carts we offer.  The Glaro Bellman Carts provide tremendous value for the price.
• Quality – We have had great success with the Glaro Bellman Carts.  Customers love them!  The CSL line of Bellman Carts hold up very well for the price.  Monarch offers the cheapest Stainless Carts out there.

So when you’re looking for your next Bellman Cart, this list will help in showing you what other people are buying.

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.