Frequently Asked Questions

Company Questions

General Ordering Questions

Furniture Specific Questions

Furniture Delivery, Damage, and Return Questions

What are your phone hours?

Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Why buy from Private School Partner?

Private School Partner is a leading supplier of product and furniture specifically chosen for the private school market. All of the goods provided by Private School Partner are discounted as deeply as possible to save schools money better spent on their ministries.

How long have you been in business?

Private School Partner was established in 2013 as a effort to bring our purchasing expertise to the school market. Our parent company Partner Purchasing Group has been doing business as ChurchPartner since 1995 saving Christian organizations thousands of dollars on their furniture and equipment needs.

Do you have a retail store?

Private School Partner does not have a free-standing retail store, but encourages local customers to examine products in-stock in our warehouse as well as picking up “will call” orders from our local warehouse.

What is your local, toll free number and fax number?

Local: (303) 794-4606, Toll Free: (877) 369-8646 Fax: (303) 794-4460

Does your company have Spanish speaking representatives?

Currently Private School Partner does not offer Spanish-Speaking representatives. We apologize for this inconvenience and hope to have it rectified soon.

Does your company have paper catalogs?

Private School Partner offers a variety of seasonal and topic-specific mini-catalogs which highlight specials. We also have manufacturers' catalogs that provide a full product representation. These are available by request at info@privateschoolpartner.com.

Do you sell to non-school organizations?

Private School Partner sells to any organization in need of school specific products. These may include churches, municipalities, recreation centers, home schools, charter schools, and child care centers, and businesses to name a few.

Do you allow customers to act as dealers and resell your products?

Private School Partner has many organizations which purchase products for resale. Private School Partner requires that a re-sellers certificate or license accompany orders or account establishment for dealers to receive non-tax status.

Do you sell and ship outside of the United States?

Private School Partner can ship goods anywhere in the world! Generally, this requires more information than the customer is able to provide while placing an on-line order, so we encourage customers to call us directly to place these orders.

Do you have a newsletter which I can subscribe to?

Private School Partner is currently in the process of developing an on-line newsletter that will be available to any organization or person interested in the latest news about purchasing , product and special pricing available to our customers. The opportunity to subscribe will be available as a link on our homepage.

How can I be removed from your mailing/e-mail lists?

You may submit a request at anytime by calling or using our Contact Us link on our website, and your name and contact information will be removed from any of our current mailing and e-mailing lists.

Are you members of the Better Business Bureau?

Private School Partner is a member in good standing with the Denver Area Better Business Bureau.

Do you have references available from current customers?

Currently, references are not on-line, but are available upon request. Wherever possible, references are provided specific to the products of interest to the customer.

What is your Dun & Bradstreet number?

Private School Partner is a division of Partner Purchasing Group. That Dun & Bradstreet account number is 87-742-2568.

What is your Federal Tax ID number?

Private School Partner is a division of Partner Purchasing Group. That Federal Tax ID number is 84-1219337.

Can we establish billing terms with Private School Partner?

Billing terms may be established for customers who qualify. To apply for terms, click our Forms & Applications link for printable copies of our School, Not-For-Profit and Business applications. These may be faxed in upon completion. You will be notified if your organization receives credit terms with Private School Partner.

Can we prepay an order by check? What type of check do you accept? Personal? Bank? Electronic Check?

Private School Partner accepts prepayments by personal, organizational, cashier, and bank checks. These may be mailed with a copy of your on-line order to the address indicated on the final order screen. Once received you will be contacted to confirm receipt of the prepayment. Electronic Check is also an option. If you wish to do an e-check, please indicate this on your order and a customer service representative will contact you for your account and routing information. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDE THIS PRIVATE INFORMATION WITH YOUR ON-LINE ORDER.

Can we use billing terms on our first order?

Generally speaking first orders do not receive terms, however; exceptions may be made for extraordinary circumstances. Check with a customer service representatives for details.

Do you accept major credit cards for purchase?

Private School Partner accepts payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit and debit cards.

Do you accept purchase orders from federal, state, and local government s, public schools or other public organizations?

Private School Partner accepts purchase orders from most government entities including public schools, local, regional, state and national governments as well as park and recreation districts. Orders will be processed only with an official purchase order which may be faxed, mailed or e-mailed to Private School Partner.

Do you have a GSA contract?

Private School Partner does not currently hold a GSA contract.

Do you have an electronic check as an option?

In addition to credit card, account billing, and prepayment, Private School Partner also offers electronic check processing. If you wish to do an e-check, please indicate this on your order and a customer service representative will contact you for your account and routing information. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDE THIS PRIVATE INFORMATION WITH YOUR ON-LINE ORDER.

Do you have leasing or finance options?

Private School Partner does not currently have any leasing arrangements, but have relationship with Hampton Ridge Financial where customers may make application to lease equipment or product with a total value at or in excess of $5000.00. Look to the contact link on our homepage for additional details.

How can I change my account billing and shipping addresses?

Please contact our bookkeeping department to request any billing or shipping address changes. Changes may not be requested on-line for privacy reasons.

How can I register your company as an approved vendor?

Private School Partner must have copies of all applications and W-9 forms to process an approved vendor request. Generally, these forms are completed with 5 business days and returned to the requesting entity.

How do I check the status of, or track my order?

Currently orders may be checked by calling our office and requesting Customer Service. Orders placed for supplies fulfilled in our warehouse receive an automatic UPS shipping link following the day of order placement. Occasionally, these e-mail confirmations may be interpreted as spam mail, so customers should check their “spam” folder if they have not received the e-mail within 24 hours. Customers with furniture orders should contact the Customer Service Department on, or about the estimated shipping date noted on their order confirmations.

How do I place an order with Private School Partner?

Orders may be placed at our internet site www.Private School Partner.com, by phone or by fax

How do we request copies of invoices?

Invoice copies may be requested by phone of our bookkeeping department or by using our Contact Us button on the homepage and choosing the drop down option of Billing Issues. Indicated which invoices you wish to have copies of and how best to get these to you.

How is my personal information protected? Do you have a privacy policy?

Private School Partner has developed a thorough privacy protection policy which may be read and printed out on our website at our Privacy and Security Statement link.

How may I receive discounts?

Discounts on most products are already calculated into our low pricing. Additional discounts may be applicable if the customer has received a paper or on-line coupon for a termed promotional period. Other discounts may apply when purchasing large volumes of product. Check with our customer service department to see if any discounts may apply to your order

Is sales tax collected on my purchase?

Sales tax is not currently collected on web purchases. Private School Partner is currently required to collect tax on taxable customers who reside in Colorado and Ohio only. You may be contacted by a customer service representative for a subsequent payment of these taxes to release your order.

What are my confirmation number and order number? Why are these different?

Orders placed on line receive a temporary Order Number that is replaced once the order is entered into our system with a Sales Order number. Either or both of these may be referenced with our customer service representatives to check order status.

What billing terms do you offer?

Upon approval, Private School Partner accounts will be established with either 15, 30, or 45 day net billing terms. Conditions may vary due to payment history.

Your website won’t accept my credit card. What should I do?

Problems processing orders with a credit card on the Private School Partner website may be due to a variety of issues outside of our control. These may include inaccurate billing information, orders that exceed allowed credit limits, or out-of-country credit cards, among others. If you experience difficulties with credit card processing, PLEASE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AFTER THE FIRST REJECTION. DO NOT RE-ATTEMPT TO CHARGE YOUR ORDER AS THIS MAY APPLY ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Are your fabrics treated with a finish guard? How long does it last?

Most of our fabrics are sold with a factory applied fabric guard. This information is provided on most product pages. Additional fabric protection is available on our partitions at additional cost.

Can we receive manufacturer catalogs, and how should we request these?

Most furniture manufacturers have full line catalogs that are available upon request. Contact our Customer Service Department for details on which manufacturers have this option. Catalogs will be sent out free of charge up to 5 catalogs. You may use our Contact Us link at our website for this also.

Can we request custom imaging and logos on our furniture?

Many of our products may be customized with your organization’s logo or unique symbol. To request this, contact our Customer Service Department for a quote.

Can you do custom sizes on your furniture?

Most of our manufacturers can customize their standard pieces to your specifications. Generally, this adds lead time to the production schedule and requires that the customer approve drawings prior to production. Contact our Customer Service Department for details and a quote.

Are there additional discounts available for large orders? What is considered a large order?

Additional discounts are available on large orders or where you are considering furniture for multiple areas of your facility. This is common when furnishing a new or renovated facility. Private School Partner can help by developing budget numbers when estimating costs for a new building as well as bidding entire facilities. Call our Customer Service Department for details.

Do you offer finish cards and fabric swatches?

Most manufacturers who offer fabric and finish options have cards that feature fabrics high resolution digitized images or actual fabrics and finishes. These may be requested at our Contact Us link on the homepage or by calling our Customer Service Department.

How do I know the warranty for the furniture I am considering?

Most warranties are listed on product pages. If not available contact our furniture experts for this information.

How high can I stack my chairs?

Different chairs stack to different heights. Classroom chairs may generally stack to 8 or 10 high but may become unstable when attempting to move stacks. High density stacking chairs can be stacked up to 45 high in some cases, on specially designed carts which tip chairs backward. Consult chair and cart pages for specifics.

How many chairs fit on the chair cart I’m interested in?

Chair storage varies based upon the style of chair and cart. Check with descriptions on cart pages for specifics. If not listed, contact our Customer Service Department.

How many people can sit around the table I’m interested in?

Seating at round and square tables vary depending on the size. When using standard classroom chairs, round tables accommodate the following: 48” Diameter – 6 persons, 60” Diameter – 8 persons, 72” Diameter – 10 persons. Rectangular tables generally seat 1 person for every 18” – 24” of linear distance on the side of a table. For instance, a 96” long table accommodates from 4 – 5 people per side. Classroom tables may vary due to the size of the student’s chair being used. Some product pages will have diagrams illustrating their seating capacity. Call our Customer Service Department if you have questions.

How many tables can be stored on a table cart?

Folding tables can be stored on edge or flat. Generally carts handle up to 8 to 12 tables safely depending on design. In excess of this presents stability problems. Round tables tend to be thicker in most lines than rectangular tables due to added support hardware under the surface. Check table cart pages for specifics.

How much room does a table or chair cart take up in my storage closet?

Most carts have a “footprint” of a certain number of square feet which it takes up. Calculate this by multiplying the length in inches by the width in inches of the loaded dimension of a cart, then divide by 144 (number in square inches in a square foot) to determine floor usage. A handy fact for many facilities is that standard floor tiles are 1 foot square. Using this method does not guarantee that cart footage and storage footage match due to the need for passage space in the space as well as odd shaped rooms.

How many people fit on a riser unit or set?

Riser capacity varies with design. Generally 18 linear inches is required per person on a straight riser standing shoulder to shoulder. Request one of our riser layout guides to assist with this process from our Customer Service Department.

How much weight does a stage or riser hold?

All Private School Partner stages and risers are ANSI/BIFMA tested to support 200 lbs/sq ft.

How quickly can I get risers?

Depending our layout and configuration, we have risers on quick ship programs (ship in 48 hours or less) from all of our manufacturers. Less common layout pieces and surfaces generally change lead time to around 4 weeks.

How should the fabric on my chairs be cleaned?

Most of our fabrics are some combination of olefin which is best cleaned with warm water and mild detergent. Our children’s carpet products must be carefully cleaned with dry carpet cleaner. Contact us for additional information on cleaning.

Is it possible to supply my own fabric?

Customer Own Material (COM) are an option on most of our furniture. Where some manufacturers import furniture, this may be limited to large numbers of a product. Call our Customer Service Department for additional details.

What are ANSI/BIFMA standards?

ANSI (American National Standard Institute) refers to a voluntary consensus standards that are developed by the industry – in this case the furniture industry - to allow the consumer a level of quality, durability and safety when purchasing furniture. BIFMA (Business and Industry Furniture Manufacturers Association) is a similar group of like-minded furniture manufacturers who wish to assure the customer that products meet minimum performance standards when furniture is designed , developed, marketed and shipped.

What is steel gauge, and how can I determine the gauge used on your furniture?

Steel gauge refers to the thickness of the steel used. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. Generally speaking, thicker steel is used in the areas of a piece where direct downward pressure is applied such as in the legs, while lateral pressure generally requires thinner or higher gauge steel. Most product specifications are listed on product pages. Where these are not available, our furniture specialists can locate this information for you.

What is the difference between a lightweight blow mold and a composite table?

Both blow mold and composite tables are created with the intent of providing a lighter table than a traditional laminate wood core table. Blow mold tables are formed by injecting air between sheets of ABS plastic while heating the material to form a rigid support pattern for the table surface. Additional steel reinforcement is usually needed to maintain product rigidity. Composite tables utilize similar plastic, but are formed by combining this with either wood or aluminum to create strength and rigidity. These laminates are generally bonded together with strong adhesives and polymers to allow for maximum strength.

What is the weight limit for your chairs and tables?

Weight limits vary with the chairs we offer. All of our advertised products meet or exceed ANSI/BIFMA standards for furniture durability. Please call our Customer Service Department if weight limits are not included on the product of interest.

Can I refuse all or part of a delivery?

Yes, if damage is severe or you know that what is damaged will not be at all acceptable, you may refuse all or a part of an order. You must contact us immediately in either case. Should you refuse an order without evidence of damage justifying that decision, you may be liable for shipping costs both to and from your facility as well as any restocking charges applied by the manufacturer. If you have questions about returning product, please contact us.

Can I reschedule a delivery when the carrier calls me?

If the delivery time or day in inconvenient, you may request a delayed delivery. Generally, carriers can hold goods for a day without additional storage charge, but check with the carrier prior to committing to a delay. Call our Furniture Traffic Department if you have any questions about delaying a delivery and call if you know that a delivery needs to be delayed beyond the expected delivery date.

Can I return furniture if I decide I don’t want it?

Most of our furniture is returnable. An exception to this rule is a product that has been customized to your request. Examples include custom finished desks, special fabrics for seating, custom logo or etching work. Furniture must be in re-saleable condition and be in its original packaging. Manufacturers accept the return as re-saleable only after they receive it in good condition.

Can the carrier pick up my damaged furniture when my new furniture is delivered?

Carriers who deliver replacement furniture are not the same carriers who are hired to pick up damaged product. Our Customer Service Department will advise you of when and how to prepare damaged pieces to be picked up. In many cases, the manufacturer may not wish for the damage piece to be returned due to the cost of transporting it back.

Do you offer any suggestions about how to prepare my organization to receive a large order?

Private School Partner send our Furniture Check-In Procedures with every furniture order. We ask the customer read through these suggestions which address organizing staff and volunteers, as well as how to inspect boxes, notate damages, and timelines for contacting us with any damage or shortage issues.

How long does it take for my furniture order to ship?

Most of our standard furniture ships within 2 weeks of order. Our quick ship products can ship within 48 hours of order. Custom stained and upholstered furniture can take up to 6 weeks to produce and ship. Most product pages indicate when products ship. These do not include time on the road due to varying distances.

How long does it take to get replacement furniture if there is damage?

Replacement times vary by what you purchased. In-stock product can be shipped within a couple of days. Custom product may take as long to create the second time as it did the first. We will work with the manufacturer to expedite any replacement.

If I need my order quickly, do you offer expedited shipping?

Expedited shipping is available. Request this from our Customer Service Department. Please have item(s), destination zip code, and delivery deadline ready when you call. This service cannot be done with on-line orders and must be called in.

If I refuse an order that is not damaged, what costs will I have?

You are assessed the same costs associated with returning useable merchandise, a re-stocking fee plus costs to ship both to and from your location.

If my furniture breaks after I purchased it and is within the manufacturer’s warranty period, what should I do?

If you have damages that are related to the manufacture of the product (examples include accelerated fabric wear, stitching coming loose, broken welds or rivets) these are generally covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If the purchase was recently made (one year or less) the manufacturer will usually replace the product. If the purchase was later than one year, generally the manufacturer will pro-rate the warranty. For example, a 5-year warranty where breakage occurs after one year would be an 80% proration and you may need to pay 20% of the cost to replace the item. Damage showing evidence of abuse will not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

What are the costs of returning my order?

Most of our manufacturers have a certain percentage that is charge to restock the product. These are costs they incur which are associated with receiving, inspecting, re-boxing and re-shelving product. This can range from 15% to 40% depending on the product. You are also responsible for the cost of shipping the product to you and back. Private School Partner will provide you with necessary shipping costs to return your product.

What do I do if I have a construction delay and cannot receive my order when I expected it?

As soon as you are aware of any issue that may prevent you from receiving your order as planned, please contact our Customer Service Department. We can schedule to have an order held at the manufacturer’s facility until you have a definite delivery time.

What do I do if my order arrives damaged?

If you receive packages with damage indicated on the boxes, please open the box immediately and inspect the product. If it is damaged beyond use, you may refuse the product. If you find multiple issues with the order, you may refuse the entire order. You MUST make clear notation of damage on the driver’s paperwork before signing off on the order. Contact Private School Partner immediately to report the issue and we will get a replacement order started.

What if I signed for my order not noting damages, and I opened the order and found hidden damage?

If you have signed the order as free and clear of damage and found damage after opening the box, this is called Concealed Damage and must be handled differently that visible damage. Contact our Customer Service Department immediately, and we will discuss options with you. Generally, these require some form of visual proof to process a freight claim, so a digital camera is helpful. Concealed damage generally will result in some costs being shared with Private School Partner, the freight carrier and the customer. These details will be determined prior to finalizing the claim.

What does ‘Call Before Delivery Notification’ mean?

Most of our larger furniture pieces are shipped by common freight carrier and are dock-to-dock delivered. As many of our customers do not have receiving docks, customers are responsible for receiving goods at the tailgate of the delivery truck. We request a call 24 hours prior to delivery so that you have time to prepare and schedule the delivery. This service is included in your freight charges.

What is Dock-to-Dock Delivery?

Dock-to-dock delivery means that a carrier loads furniture from the dock of the manufacturer’s facility and delivers it to another dock. Generally furniture is palletized and requires a fork lift or pallet jack to move larger quantities. As most schools, preschools, and other child related businesses do not have dock facilities, their responsibility for the furniture begins at the end of the truck where the driver passes the goods down to the customer.

What is Inside Delivery?

When a customer does not have a receiving dock and is unable to receive goods at the tailgate of a delivery vehicle, inside delivery may be requested at an additional cost. This service is generally limited to “first floor inside the door” placement with the driver unable to move product into offices and to other floors of the building. Call our Customer Service Department for details.

What is Lift Gate Service?

Where furniture is of a delicate nature or significantly large and heavy, or the customer is unable to receive goods from the tailgate of the truck and has no receiving dock, a lift gate may be requested which allows goods to be lowered to street level for easier and safer handling. This is an additional charge for the customer and should be requested at time of delivery. This cost currently is not calculated into on-line order placement and may be requested as a second payment.

What should I do if the driver is rude or impatient?

If a driver exhibits rude behavior, refuses reasonable requests, or wishes for you to rush the process of unloading or checking furniture, you may either notate this on the paperwork, or contact us while the driver is there and we will handle the situation on your behalf. Under no circumstances, should the driver attempt to coerce you into not performing an inspection or completing a hasty inspection of your goods.

Our organization has limited delivery hours. Can I request a delivery during these hours?

When placing your order on-line a comment box allows you to explain limited delivery hours. Our order processors will include any information about limited hours when the order is placed with our manufacturer. Every effort will be made to honor these, but no guarantees can be made without additional cost for time sensitive delivery. Contact our Customer Service Department for details on this service.