to think that the Scottish Highlands are in fact part of the UK mainland?

[Habbibu]

I've just ordered some spare parts for my coffee machine, and, on trying to find out more about shipping, read this: "Please note that as from today 26/01/2010 we now ONLY ship to the UK Mainland.

We no longer ship to southern or northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey,Isle of man, Scottish Highlands and Islands or anywhere outside of mainland UK.

This is due to the fact that shipping to these destinations has proved difficult and time consuming.

Please note that there are NO EXCEPTIONS to the rule, please do not E-mail us asking us about this as these mails will not be replied to."

Leaving aside the rather unfriendly and unhelpful nature of this note, plus the PITA it must be to those on the islands, since when was there a sea to cross to get to (say) Inverness? How is it so more difficult to get just that bit further up the A9? (well, yes, yes, I know, it can be a pain, but you get my point). Thankfully it doesn't affect me (though I have seen the odd place that won't deliver north of Edinburgh), but it's a massive pain for my ILs and others - who manage to get themselves up and down the road quite happily.

That's why, expat - am wishing I'd seen earlier and bought from somewhere else.

I think a lot of councils aren't giving staff the holiday. I'll be working that day.

Perhaps someone who hadn't been paying attention to the news .

When I worked for Argyll and Clyde Health Board (when it still existed) the catering manger complained about the staff bringing in packed lunches and asked us why. He was very upset because most staff told him exactly why

Aye, that food was minging. I'd had an epidural, too, so when I got to the ward I couldn't feel my legs.

Then some harridan of a midwife asked why I'd not got up to get my breakfast.

Very grudgingly brought me something to eat, which I ate solely because I hadn't eaten in about 24 hours.

But after that, I had it brought in. Left the next day, though.

Nae telly, bed was like a prison bed (didn't move), food dire, nae walking about with your bairn and too far for visitors.

The young lady next to me had had a CS. No one helped her with her baby and she'd been up all night having her wee one, so of course, the second night (my first on the ward), she was delirious with exhaustion and quite literally passed out.

So, all night, the baby was wailing away and the mum was repeating in her sleep, 'Ah know, it's no' nice.'

I hardly slept a wink.

I was born in Paisley, we lived on Islay at the time though and that was where the Air Ambulance took you.
I have my older 2 in Raigmore in Inverness loved the food..always looked forward to the Spag Bol and the Roast potatoes were soooo good.

Expat The Tarbert ferry runs all year. The Arran ferry to Argyll only runs in summer.

Yes we are getting a Tesco :)

I had my boys in the QMH so missed the delights of the RAH. My friend works there though but not in maternity.

Dr Gray's in Elgin was pretty good - the soup was to die for!

I am impressed that some cooncils are taking a stand albeit for financial reasons and not having a holiday for the royal wedding - dh says he us going to go into work as a protest against getting a day off, I do think with all the cuts and pressures on public services we should not be paying fir a royal wedding or celebrating it by having extra public holidays.

Apologies for typos, I wasn't proof reading!

I wonder if a Perth based company, say, would get away with refusing to deliver to Penzance? Those Cornish roads are a nightmare and far worse than the A9!

This is a huge soapbox issue for me. Will now read thread...

Damn it - got to get to bed and rescue DH from DD. Anyone up for a specific naming and shaming thread? And did anyone find a FB group?

I'd be up for a new naming and shaming thread. Is it allowed though with all the telling off mn is doing of late would we get our knuckles wrapped?

I had to pay an extra £10 to have DHL deliver to my address as I live in the Highlands.

I don't live anywhere near the flippin highlands. In fact it is quite flat where I live

It was the first part of my postcode though that did it. Aberdeen is in the highlands apparently......

[[Definition of Non-UK Mainland
Isle of Man (IM), Northern Ireland (BT), Channel Islands (GY and JE), Scilly Isles (TR21), Western Scottish Isles (HS), Orkney (KW), Shetland Isles (ZE) and postcodes AB31-38, AB40-56, IV1-28 , IV30-32, IV36-49, IV51-56, IV63, KA27-28, PA20-38, PA41-49, PA60-70, PH4-44, and PH49-50. All BFPO locations. ]]

Sorry about the shoutiness of the link but I have changed to Google Chrome and have no idea how to do a tidy link.

Good afternoon from a very wet Argyll :)

DH was looking for something on ebay last night and found a bargain. He was thrilled and was about to buy when he noticed the extra charge to H&I. He didn't buy.

How can the Couriers use the single track road excuse? I'm pretty sure there are really rural parts to Yorkshire too but they don't get charged extra.

Like Saltire, we knew the Borders very well, DH being from Edinbugh.

FILs had an uncle in Hawick and, well, the ILs never took holidays abroad. FIL's mother was a Scottish traveller back in the days when they used horses and carts, so they know many of the roads in the Borders well enough to navigate them in the dark with no problem and passed on the knowledge.

Can't count the number of bendy single carriageways that are the only way into many towns there.

Hell, ever driven to Anstruther? It's hardly just off the motorway.

Yet no surcharge there.

I have to be very careful on Ebay because of this.

Tomorrow, I have to go into Greenock for food and some goods I can't wait for. Costs a friggin' packet.

Gentleotter - we used to live int eh IV31 postcode area. That was a good few eyars aog though, and to be honest there wasn't the expansion of internet shopping like there is now. I assume that means that if we ever ended up in a certain RAF base up tehre (assuming it stays open ) we wouldn't get things delivered.

Expat - exactly , my friend lives off the back road from from Hawick to Hermitage castle and she gets things delivered to her no problem

Ordered somthing off eBay at the start of the week and was charged £9.99 for p&p it might well cost that so wouldn't normally bother me apart from the fact that to deliver it anywhere else on the mainland is free

Why wouldn't they have a fair p&p rate for the whole of the uk how cam they justify this?

i'm going to start asking right now, before i buy, if these ebay sellers are using discriminatory couriers and letting them know, if so, i won't be bidding on or buying their products.

What I would like to know is where the line is? Can you charge extra if you are sending from Edinburgh or is it eg. Manchester or London?

Are Welsh people charged extra?

If I sold something on Ebay and it was going to Cornwall, do I charge extra?

name and shame