To list Highland friendly companies HERE (because I can't think where else to put it)

[idonotliveonanisland]

OK the. The antitode to the name and shame thread. Please name and aclaim companies who have been a pleasure to deal with. If they have used a courier please do nam them, as well. Should make for an interesting comparison.

I do expect fewer replies on this thread as praising is not as much fun as complaining, but please do try!

I'll start:

www.babygurgles.co.uk - fantastic service

Shipping Costs

Our shipping carrier is Royal Mail: -

Free Shipping

Super saver delivery is offered on all products but only for deliveries within the UK. Please allow 3 to 5 days for delivery.

Royal Mail First Class ( estimated 1 to 3 days )

UK only £1.95

UK means UK.

Good idea. In Hampshire myself but can't believe the attitude of some companies to the obviously permafrosted North!

Oh dear, sorry for the appalling typing there. I am one handed, as usual.

www.rainbow-wood.co.uk - they have two shops one in Farnham, Surrey and one in Keighley, W Yorks. We bought a Thuka bed for DS. They were the only company I tried who would even deliver here.

"UK Wide delivery (mainland only) £25
See below for delivery costs for locations within 20 miles of Farnham or Keighley.
For Scottish Highlands and off shore locations such as Scottish Islands, Channel Islands, etc please contact us for delivery costs."

I ordered the bed out of desperation and awaited the delivery charge. Guess what? It was the same, £25. Finally a company who realises that my location is NOT remote.

Incidentally the bed was delivered directly from Thuka - they always deliver directly. So why was this the only UK online retailer who would arrange that delivery?

Achilles Heel (specialist running shop based in Glasgow) offer FREE postage to ANY UK postcode.

I would rule any cheap delivery by Royal Mail once it is privitised - you will be lucky to get your letters once a week let alone parcels

I know. It's a dreadful dreadful thought.

But then there are companies like Amazon who manage to offer free super saver delivery using the Home Delivery Network. Fast enough. And they manage to find our house, a challenge in itself for many couriers.

You can't beat amazon.

Royal Mail sell off will affect a lot of people, most of whom won't realise it till it's too late.

I think the thing I have realised is that you have to shop around for delivery first and only then compare prices. I have lost count of the number of times I think I've found a good deal only to end up refusing to deal with the charlatans. I guess that's why some retailers seem to be cheap on the face of it. As with everything else, living where we live we have very limited choices. I know we have other benefits, but you can't wash your clothes with a view.

It's another thread really, but I'm half an hour outside Inverness.

I have all electric heating (no gas here) - no access to dual fuel discounts, and price hikes always a higher percentage for all electric-type tarriffs

No landline broadband, at all

No analogue TV reception and now it's been switched off no Freeview either, with no plans to provide it

No mobile reception

No mains water

I'm not moaning, I love where I live, but I'm illustrating that lots of people on the UK Mainland do not have lots of things that people elsewhere in the UK consider as essential basics.

Add to that no post and that might be the last straw. And I think that would suit the Government just fine tbh. The Clearances mark 2.

Amazon company: Triang

Their definition of UK Mainland is correct with a standard delivery charge of £4.95 for orders up to £59.99 (although this does seem to have gone up to £9.95 which is a little steep):

"UK Mainland UK excluding BFPO, Channel Islands,Northern Ireland and Outer Hebrides"

We ordered my DS's Xmas present from them. When I discovered it would be sent by TNT my heart sank. It was delivered with no problems at all.

So if TNT and other couriers charge more for the Highlands, how come companies like this manage to offer standard delivery rates and reliable delivery?

Have we exhausted the good ones...?

Haha, quite possibly.

No, I'm sure there will be others...

I am quite addicted to Amazon Prime just now(free month offer).

But I do look out for Royal Mail when ordering, but not all companies let you know who they use.

I linked to Voga on another thread, not "free" delivery but great customer service.

I also like John Lewis, they have never let me down yet, even though we are supposedly remote.

I have used Folksy * and never had a problem, yet, individual sellers, but so far so good.

• no idea whether this particular seller has any delivery ishoos, just loved the tunnock's teacake cushion!

Tesco have never charged me extra to deliver here.

Shop on the Beach, fab in so many ways, also offer free UK wide delivery. And a £9.95 flat rate across Europe!

And Tiso even say they don't think you should pay more, but it may take longer. So you'd expect of them, mind, but good all the same.

"But I do look out for Royal Mail when ordering".

Now you see that's what sparked this whole thing. That Mumsnet partner - JojoMamanBebe, did I mention it? - charging £4 for a Royal Mail delivery, however small and light, and yet boasting about free delivery in Mainland UK.

Good on Tiso. It actually doesn't bother me if deliveries take longer as long as they tell you! It's the big companies, like Argos and Comet iirc) who phone you with a date that turns out merely to be the date it arrives at the local depot. That drives me crazy! Or stores, like Argos, who advertise Express Delivery in our local store and then refuse to honour it.

I think actually that most of the big companies are OK on charges. Apparently Asda Direct have just stopped charging double after they were told they were the only top 50 retailer to do so. But then it is often harder to find good deals with the big ones.

Currys amazed me actually. They phoned with a date and swore blind it was a real date when I quizzed them about it. And it was! They actually turned up when promised!