... to think deliveries need to clearly be AM or PM

[NetworkGuy]

Openreach (BT) engineers are usually tied into a morning or afternoon visit if one is needed.

For changing my Electricity meter, United Utilities which handles a large portion of homes in this area, ask for a householder to be available from 0800 to 2000, and do not give any more info.

A client wants to collect a replacement PC today, but last minute remembered that they are expecting a delivery (new washing machine or similar 'white goods') this time from Laskys in London. Now admittedly they are using a delivery firm, so not under their direct control, but once again there is no specific time.

I know that with the weather today as it is, people may be quite happy to stay indoors to wait, but with many delivery firms, quite a number of stops may be within 20 to 30 miles of their depot, and with computers so easy to use there should be some chance of processing details about the localities and routes planned to allow for giving some 2-3 hour "window" when they are most likely to visit a particular address.

Yes, I am really just having a moan -- the whole day is being wasted as no plans can be made unless an early delivery takes place.

Have others had this type of situation and felt as frustrated ? (Also that with some depots being on industrial estates, there is a significant difficulty if one treied to use public transport to visit if one failed to accept a delivery... I am a non-driver so would find a 20-plus mile round trip both costly and awkward.)



Have others examples of deliveries or gas/electric appointments, good or bad ?

I assume some are reasonable about scheduling though at present I have no plans to move !

[scurryfunge]

I get very annoyed at a company's refusal to estimate a delivery time within a 2-3 hour slot. When ordering anything, the facility to choose delivery times is what is most important to me rather than price.

I have walked out of many a show room at the point of buying due to a shops refusal to tell me when they are going to deliver.

[reup]

I get annoyed too. I had a delivery last week and they gave me a 13 hour window! I have 3 school runs to do. The suggested the leave it outside. It would get stolen round here. It's madness that they can't be more specific when everyone has a mobile phone.

[NetworkGuy]

Never been in that fortunate position of the cost not being most important, but when I make a few million I will do exactly the same, scurryfunge :)

Having this week found out that British Gas charges 20% more in my area than in some parts of the UK, and with EDF having a 100 pound 'credit your account for switching' deal on (closes today), I am sorely tempted to switch (but it may still be United Utilities that comes in the future!)

[scurryfunge]

Didn't mean to sound pompous when talking about price - for the sake of £50 when buying a washing machine, I would choose Tescos, for example who offer delivery dates as opposed to another company that will not even hint at when they can deliver.

[trixie123]

absolutely nuts. In this age of mobiles there is no reason why you can't be given a smaller time slot for deliveries, tradesmens visits etc. How hard is it to say, "am finishing up prior job will be 1/2 hour, or an hour" or whatever? Makes me crazy cos you can't even hang wahsing out or anything in case they knock when you are outside and don;t hear them.

[RandyRussian]

At least you might all get your deliveries.

I bought a book from a well-known online retailer which for some unexplained reason they sent by courier.

Checked the tracking thingy and saw they tried to deliver at 7pm last week which is untrue.

Rang the courier and they couldn't locate/identify my parcel despite me giving them all sorts of details.

[NetworkGuy]

scurryfunge - sorry if I sounded a bit 'underdog' and I fully understand the bigger scheme of things where 50 quid may be a small portion... and getting away from uncertainty... has a lot of 'value'


RandyRussian - thought you were going to explain how you are in N.Ireland or one of the Scottish Islands where there are often higher costs for getting the delivery and extra days too.