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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or is this a complete outrage?!

111 replies

Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 08:56

This sounds like bullshit but I promise it’s not.

I ordered some fancy, hand painted furniture a few months ago. The delivery date was booked in for yesterday, to coincide with our building work being at a stage that could accommodate a furniture delivery (eg room had actually been built, floor down (albeit covered to protect it), base coats of paint done.

Anyway furniture company came to deliver, as agreed. I receive a call during a meeting from the man saying “we are not delivering the furniture as the room is not finished”. I asked him to explain. He was very rude and explained there were people painting the ceiling and a floor cover on and he just wasn’t going to deliver. I said I would call the head builder as they knew they were coming and would vacate, but that wasn’t the issue, the issue was they didn’t want to put their furniture in a room where ceilings were being painted/the floor was covered/it’s not finished. He said he would come back next week or later when it’s fully finished.

Is this…is this ok?! Surely this isn’t ok? I was in a meeting and was shocked so agreed but it’s been 24 hours and now I’m raging. It’s infantilising and potentially sexist to boot - it’s my fucking furniture! I paid a lot of money for it and surely it’s my bloody decision if I put a sheet over it to protect it or let it get ruined?!

What do I do?!?

OP posts:
LightningAndRainbows · 04/05/2022 10:49

Is this like one of a kind "art work" furniture? I can't imagine paying an artist to paint a picture for me and then when it was delivered asking them to put it in the damp garage, not without them getting offended and potentially refusing.

Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 10:50

If you insist then he should deliver and get you to sign a disclaimer that it was delivered undamaged.
If it’s bespoke and he’s put a lot of time into it I can see him thinking he’s doing you a favour not wanting it damaged. Plus he doesn’t want hassle of you coming back saying it’s chipped, can you touch it up etc.
It’s his reputation too - if people see it looking chipped or damaged where you’ve scratched paint off etc then they might think I’m not ordering from him it’s not good whereas it’s you damaging it.
His communication could have been better but he was probably fed up turning up to a none empty room. Trying to carry furniture in when there’s a man up a ladder paining ceiling isn’t ideal.

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 10:53

This isn’t the artist himself getting upset about his precious artwork, this is the delivery man of the company!

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 04/05/2022 10:53

Were you actually at home when the delivery was made?

Because if you were it may have been you could have signed something to agree and check the fact that the furniture was delivered and it was all in order. Because something could have happened to it - and you easily could have complained and asked for money back.

Of course you know you wouldn't. But he doesn't know that and he could very well fear liability if something did happen

Were you actually there to take responsibility for it or just the builders?

Suzi888 · 04/05/2022 10:54

Quartz2208 · 04/05/2022 09:17

If it is expensive hand made and hand painted furniture that has taken them a long time to complete to a high standard - cant you see why they may not want it to go into a room where it could be finished

In a sense you have bought the equilvalent of a piece of art and the artist doesnt want it to be compromised

But wouldn’t it be covered?

LightningAndRainbows · 04/05/2022 10:55

Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 10:53

This isn’t the artist himself getting upset about his precious artwork, this is the delivery man of the company!

Ah I see. I misunderstood and imagined a kind of one-man-band situation apologies. Delivery driver should just deliver that is their job

Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 11:01

I was envisioning man who made it delivering it. If it’s a delivery man then he will have rules eg probably told not to deliver where could be damaged or where not safe eg carrying heavy furniture when there’s plastic floor cover down isn’t safe. You weren’t there to sign a waiver.
He leaves it, it gets ruined, you complain and want a refund - what idiot would leave it there clearly not safe. His employer is out thousands of pounds and him probably sacked. He slips on floor covering injures knee - off work losing money.
I think you were rude not being there to accept delivery and expecting to be delivered to a room with no proper floor, workmen in on ladders.

chesirecat99 · 04/05/2022 11:34

It is a legal liability issue. Like if a courier leaves your parcel in your recycling bin because you are out and the parcel is stolen, it is their responsibility but if you have nominated the recycling bin as your safe space to leave parcels, it is your responsibility and there is a disclaimer that you have to agree to when you choose the safe space. I guess he doesn't want to deliver them to a room where there is wet paint and ongoing building work without written instructions from you and a disclaimer that you accept full responsibility if it gets damaged, if you weren't there to sign for the goods in person.

Maybe a better analogy is if you had told a courier to deliver your parcel to your recycling bin but the lid had been left open on a rainy day and it was full of water and they still put the parcel in the bin or they leave the lid of the bin open on a rainy day when they put the parcel inside. The courier has a responsibility to deliver the parcel with due care.

user1471457751 · 04/05/2022 11:36

I think the delivery guy was just protecting himself and his company by refusing to deliver. You weren't there so really nothing to stop you complaining afterwards about scratches/paint damage etc, which are likely to occur if you've still got builders working in that room.

barkingdogturfwar · 04/05/2022 11:45

How can so many intelligent people miss the point so spectacularly.

It's the OP'S FURNITURE. It matters not whether anyone else thinks it's 'art', whether anyone thinks it's ever so silly of her to have it in a room with decorating going on in it, or what the courier or designer or seller thinks. OR whether other posters personally think she should have waited for the ceiling to be painted! She's paid for it and wanted it on this specific date!

I mean, would you all be happy with the Morrisons delivery man refusing to hand over 10 multipacks of crisps because he didn't think you were making a healthy choice?

crabbitmaw · 04/05/2022 11:51

The delivery company are within their rights to cover their bases if they suspect they are delivering into a situation/environment where damage may be caused. Had you been present at the location they may have had you sign a waiver, but you were not so they declined to complete delivery.

For all they know, the builders misled you about the state of the build and you would have arrived later to discover a very different scene than expected,. Perhaps your very expensive, hand painted furniture would be damaged by builders or not covered to the standard you were expecting. You sound reasonable so you probably would not have blamed the delivery company but the bottom-line is, they don't get paid enough to take that risk and possibly need to pay for the refund of the furniture or delivery costs, even.

I think the fact he was willing to hold the items and deliver at a later date is actually pretty decent of him.

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 11:52

I think you were rude not being there to accept delivery and expecting to be delivered to a room with no proper floor, workmen in on ladders

there was a proper floor! It was covered to protect it

I understand I wasn’t there but:

  1. my nanny was there to accept delivery
  2. I had sent them an extremely detailed email about the situation and the state of the room (happy to share that here) 3)the builders knew to vacate that room
  3. the problem isn’t even them not delivering it’s the fact it wasn’t even a discussion where I had autonomy over my possessions! He just point blank told me like I was a child.
OP posts:
Discovereads · 04/05/2022 12:01

The entitlement of the OP is astonishing. The delivery personnel had very good reason to not deliver the furniture into an unsafe situation with a high risk of damage to the goods while you were not on site to formally accept them. They were well within their rights to refuse delivery and in fact consumer protection law states the furniture is actually their property until after delivery is accepted by the buyer. The furniture was not yet legally the OPs furniture.

They’ve done her a favour by offering an alternate delivery date free of charge.

I see absolutely no reason to cry sexism, infantilisation etc etc. I just see another privileged rich person throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way.

Herejustforthisone · 04/05/2022 12:06

WeOnlyTalkAboutBruno · 04/05/2022 10:15

I feel like I’m losing my mind here

Me too. Wtf? Why can’t people understand that it’s the OP’s furniture. She can do whatever the fuck she wants with it?! Who cares if it’s ‘disrespectful’ or ‘isn’t the best option’.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?????

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:07

I just see another privileged rich person throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way

this is because of your own prejudice! If I had said the furniture was from argos maybe you would have thought differently.

Please link me to the bit about the furniture being the property of maker under delivered? That bit I am actually interested in as then IABU from a legal standpoint which is relevant and helpful information (not your inverted snobbery).

i just struggle with the principle that I have spent a significant amount of money buying something and someone is withholding it from me because they don’t like the state of my house at present.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:07

@Herejustforthisone and @WeOnlyTalkAboutBruno

thanks for this! Im
also feeling a bit crazy given some responses!

OP posts:
Herejustforthisone · 04/05/2022 12:08

Discovereads · 04/05/2022 12:01

The entitlement of the OP is astonishing. The delivery personnel had very good reason to not deliver the furniture into an unsafe situation with a high risk of damage to the goods while you were not on site to formally accept them. They were well within their rights to refuse delivery and in fact consumer protection law states the furniture is actually their property until after delivery is accepted by the buyer. The furniture was not yet legally the OPs furniture.

They’ve done her a favour by offering an alternate delivery date free of charge.

I see absolutely no reason to cry sexism, infantilisation etc etc. I just see another privileged rich person throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way.

Omg. What?

Someone was there to take delivery. That’s enough to satisfy the requirements. Someone could sign, thus accepting the goods were in the correct condition. They don’t get to decide the condition of the property isn’t perfect so they will refuse to relinquish her paid-for goods into substandard care.

What?? Can they refuse delivery because they don’t think the furniture suits the decor? This is absurd.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 04/05/2022 12:08

Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:07

I just see another privileged rich person throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way

this is because of your own prejudice! If I had said the furniture was from argos maybe you would have thought differently.

Please link me to the bit about the furniture being the property of maker under delivered? That bit I am actually interested in as then IABU from a legal standpoint which is relevant and helpful information (not your inverted snobbery).

i just struggle with the principle that I have spent a significant amount of money buying something and someone is withholding it from me because they don’t like the state of my house at present.

Did you sign a waiver with the company advising you wouldn't claim for any damages to the furniture? If you did, then I see no reason for non delivery. If you haven't, then I can understand why.

Gizacluethen · 04/05/2022 12:11

I think that as he's the delivery guy for the company then he's responsible for the state in which he leaves the furniture. If you ring up and complain that he put your very expensive furniture under a ceiling being painted then he's likely to get a bollocking.

Discovereads · 04/05/2022 12:15

Consumer Rights Act 2015
”2)A contract is a sales contract (whether or not it would be one under subsection (1)) if under the contract—
(a)goods are to be manufactured or produced and the trader agrees to supply them to the consumer,
(b)on being supplied, the goods will be owned by the consumer, and
(c)the consumer pays or agrees to pay the price.”

The goods are not your property until they are supplied, ie delivered to you.

Herejustforthisone · 04/05/2022 12:16

Some people on here are wild.

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:17

The goods are not your property until they are supplied, ie delivered to you

I would feel better about this if I hadn’t already paid for them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:19

The thing is I would have agreed to sign for them. He called me. They would have been there for some time assembling I could have come home and signed. The nanny could have signed. There were any number of solutions but I was just told “we are not doing this”.

OP posts:
MsTSwift · 04/05/2022 12:21

Sounds to be like this is a decision bourne of previous bad experience. You do something for a while you can see what will end up being a disaster. Think you are massively overreaching here about sexism etc.

Discovereads · 04/05/2022 12:22

Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 12:17

The goods are not your property until they are supplied, ie delivered to you

I would feel better about this if I hadn’t already paid for them.

It’s for your own protection that the seller own the goods until delivery to you. If you had ownership from when you paid, then you would have all the transfer risk of damage during shipment to you from the place of production to your home.

So if the furniture arrived damaged or even got completely lost or stolen on it way to you, the seller would not owe you a refund, or replacement furniture.