Shipping charges
Posted: Friday, 06 January 2006 |
I'm copying the following post from a Scottish island related bulletin board, and hope everyone in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland will join in.
Just curious if anyone else feels slighted by major retailers that will not ship goods to us islanders. I attempted to order a computer from a major online retail store and even when I offered to pay for my (free) shipping, I was told that only mainland shipping was possible. I explained to "customer service" that we do have Royal Mail service and that many other businesses are able to deliver thier goods to the island with no problems. I feel discriminated against....how about you?
My reply was something like this:
Common problem. The worst I heard was about the tool company that levied the 'islands' charge to a customer in Skye - after the bridge was built.
In order to do something about this, I suggest the following:
First, people's experiences should be collected (publicity campaign, local press, other bulletin boards).
A collection of signatures should then be held, and the signatures offered to someone with political clout; an MP or MSP.
A test case could be brought in court against one or more offending companies, which would set a legal precedent.
Anyone else got any ideas?
Comments
There's two sides to every story and from the suppliers point of view. The suppliers who won't supply to the islands tend to use one delivery company or their own dispatch and have a large volume of deliveries usually in a mapped drop delivery system. For them to change this system for possibly one or two orders a year just isn't realistic or cost effective. At the end of the day companies are in business to make a profit. Most of the companies who deliver to the islands have hand picked dispatch so can organise someone to go to the post office or deliver to a secondary delivery company. They all take a hit regarding costs even if it's just administrative costs to change their usual delivery company. That means that even when you pay carraige it still costs the company you are buying from too. I consider myself very lucky that every one of my suppliers will deliver free to the Island as long as I reach a minimum order value otherwise I couldn't stay in business if I had to pay the carraige from Ardrossan alone. If we want the benefits of living on an island you have to take the down side as well. I'm sure there are a number of delivery companies on the mainland who you can have good delivered to and brought accross at a minimum fee. We even have a company here that takes produce to the mainland and then goes to major retailers and picks up everyones orders. That's why every other house you go into has the same swedish designed sofa. Any company can refuse to deal with an individual for most reasons including exessive cost so I doubt a court case is a good idea. I know it can be infuriating but there are ways around these problems.
Sunny from Arran
Why you fool go to the mainland for your computer when you could have got a Dell system - Boom boom. North South or Aird - the choice is yours as we say in the game shows
Hewlett McPackard from Pixel Cottage Habost
Received this comment from Angus Nicolson: Please send any examples of this to the Trading Standards dept at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. In my role as Chair of Environmental Services, I met with the head of the OFT in Scotland in early December with a view to making a super-complaint about non-delivery or delivery surcharges applying for the Western Isles (and the rest of the Highlands). We are trying to gather a portfolio of evidence to prove discimination, so any examples welcome. Most recently, I discovered that Virgin Wines stopped delivering to the Islands wef 1st January. It is important that we get loads of evidence, as the deregulation of postal services is likely to cause even more problems herre.
Arnish Lighthouse from Stornoway
Hewlett McPackard. Maybe I didn't want a Dell. The choice was mine. Boom boom.
McPuter Buyer from Outerspace Lewis
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
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