Help - how to handle roadside deliveries?

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Hi

Posted on Chat too (more traffic) but it 'disappeared' to half way down the thread within about 10 mins! so thought I would try back here :)

We are renovating a house. Thankfully coming to the end and the last job is the bathroom. We have finally decided on the (very heavy and big) shower tray, shower glass and bath and I was just about to order ... except I see that they only do roadside deliveries (some times on pallets!)

Now, dh is away for pretty much all next month and even if he wasn't, I am not sure how we would get it from the lorry to the house. We are moving to a new area so know absolutely no-one locally that we can call in to help.

What on earth do I do? Any ideas please? REALLY fed up with this all now ......

Thanks smile

[lalalonglegs]

Have them deliver it to your builder/plumber and they can bring it in in their van? Have them deliver it on a day when your workers will be there?

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Thanks lala but dh is planning on doing almost all of it except the actual plumbing in (he's a very good all-rounder but doesn't have the time). Our builders have left ... (not very good planning!)

[slowmotion]

I just had a pallet delivery of wood flooring to my new flat (3rd floor). The delivery company said it was policy not to take it inside, but when the driver saw it was just me (5 ft 2, 8 stone) he helped me unload the pallet and we both took the items into the building. I had to take them all upstairs though by myself, one pack at a time! They were heavy but manageable.

I think that most drivers will give you some help if they can see you can't manage it alone, even if it's not strictly their policy especially if you offer a friendly tip.

[PigletJohn]

last time I had some timber delivered, the driver was a smallish woman, so don't depend on it.

[andubelievedthat]

they specify "nearest to building" i.e. usually kerbside nearest house for various reasons > a)insurance b) volume of work for driver taking into account his other deliveries c)flashing a winning smile and a £20 note at said driver usually , from experience works a treat d)or, ask re same when ordering or insist on "into house" delivery, times are hard , they dont want your business?e) sign delivery note "not checked for damage" f) long one this> go to local pub , speak to bar manager who will, no doubt know someone who wants to earn £20f)other tradesmen you have employed ,i.e. plumbers, will prob. not be keen to find themselves asked to do said work

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Hi

Thanks all. Our drive is quite large (can definitely fit a lorry in) so am wondering if the garage is the way to go. Then dh can decide how / what he does with it afterwards. There is a pub over the road, andubelieved that, so that's a great idea.

Thanks all

[Cosmosim]

Pft, last time I had a delivery, they didn't even load to kerb. The palette was loaded sideways so driver couldn't use manual lift to unload to kerb. Had to knock on several doors to find shears string enough to cut the metal bits that tied the bits to the palette and basically do 80% of the unloading. Oh and I'm a woman and so was the driver. Had a crying baby strapped in pram while I did this too. And she told me I should consider myself lucky as most drivers wouldn't have bothered and would just drive off saying it was "undeliverable" and they'd come back to attempt a redelivery. I held my tongue.

[ireallyhavenoidea]

Oh Cosmo! I have a (very active) just 4 year old and have visions of him running out into the road. I am glad I could arrange for a day my dh is close so he can come back and help. And the website says they will only attempt delivery once.... Grrrr (isn't that what we pay for?)

Polter ... fingers crossed they are nice (most people are in my experience)