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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:
Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 13:28

@bilbodog

It is an entire room full of furniture and it would be fairly outing for the company

OP posts:
TooManyPJs · 04/05/2022 13:31

It doesn't matter what the vendor thought about the arrangements. It's your furniture for you to do what you want with. If you wanted it stuck in the garden or to chop up to use for firewood that's up to you! It was yours, you'd already paid for it!

bilbodog · 04/05/2022 13:32

@Feelingveryranty thats a shame - sounds very interesting!

that does sound like one reason they didnt want to deliver to a room still undergoing decoration if it was a number of pieces to be assembled.

i would just let it go now and wait for it to turn up next week.

Thethreecs · 04/05/2022 13:38

Well my take on it as we've just finished painting ceilings, is that they probably felt uncomfortable building and leaving it there while this was still happening. Ceiling paint goes absolutely everywhere. It splashes in places you never knew you had.

I get you explained about the work being done etc but from reading what you said it does sound like you gave them the impression that the room would be finished, however, they turned up with the goods to find people painting.

I do understand that it's your right to have your goods delivered to wherever you want in your home and from personal experience having had a hand made item delivered, built etc here I was surprised at the length they go to, with laying down special protective cloth, needing space to lay everything out etc I'm only use to the delivery driver leaving things I buy at the front door. They were probably afraid that you would say it was damaged, they don't know you and if you are honest.

Tbh it would piss me off, I'd probably get a refund and buy something else but I'm childish like that.

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 13:46

Tbh it would piss me off, I'd probably get a refund and buy something else but I'm childish like that

I can’t do that as it was painted to order.

now I’m panicking they won’t deliver it next week either!

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 04/05/2022 13:51

In construction it is quite common for this to happen. And the “delivery guy” (who is actually the installer not just a bloke with a van) will say exactly the same thing to the big hairy arsed site manager. It isn’t infantilising, nor is it sexist.

Your project is running late, they could charge you for a second delivery as the conditions they expected weren’t what they experienced when they got there. Obviously that’s been a communication error. I’m not sure what you want from the situation now. They will re-deliver next week, make sure someone is there who will ensure it is delivered and if you think that needs to be your husband because you aren’t able to do it, then that’s the best course of action.

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

It’s consumer law. If you wanted something different, you should have set up a separate contract of purchase.

LouisRenault · 04/05/2022 13:59

Well my take on it as we've just finished painting ceilings, is that they probably felt uncomfortable building and leaving it there while this was still happening. Ceiling paint goes absolutely everywhere.

And it's not just about possible damage to the furniture; it's also about the delivery/assembly people being asked to work in conditions which they evidently felt were unsuitable. OP doesn't make it clear whether it was just the builders who were going to vacate the room, or all their equipment as well, but quite possibly there just wasn't space for the furniture assemblers to work.

Staffy1 · 04/05/2022 14:04

YANBU. You have paid for it and it’s yours to have delivered where you want and to do with what you like.

Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 14:06

But you were still expecting them to work for some time assembling in a room with paint fumes, ladders/tins of paint. That’s not reasonable.
They sound worried about it being damaged being moved.
I’m guessing kitchen furniture eg island where they normally build and leave in situ. They are worried if builders move it to paint ceiling or lift to remove black flooring and it gets damaged you might complain to them/want it repaired or refund.
All you can do is speak to company re what they require to deliver and assemble. Eg if they need room completely clear of paint and ladders and floor cover removing you can get that done Monday. They deliver and assemble Tuesday and decorating people come back Wednesday. Or delay delivery until decorating finished. If it’s just wallpapering left then there’s no need for floor covered, paint pots in room.

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 14:06

@LouisRenault

I've explained that upthread.it’s literally just a room painted with base coat and cortex on the floor. Nothing else in it. At the time a ladder and some paint that would have taken 1 minute to remove. Not exactly unsuitable working conditions

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 14:07

@Dixiechickonhols

it’s children’s bedroom furniture

OP posts:
Notimeforaname · 04/05/2022 14:07

Sorry where was the sexism In that??

Notimeforaname · 04/05/2022 14:11

but it was his entire tone of voice and attitude that made me feel like a “silly little woman” and I can’t imagine hiM having spoken to my husband in this way

Nah that's on you if you feel like a silly little woman. The man never said that. He was talkin about furniture and a floor. 🙄

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 14:16

@Notimeforaname

tbf you weren’t actually there so you don’t know what his tone was like. DH has now called him to explain the room won’t be 100% finished by Tuesday but they they are expected to deliver then and he has agreed to that. Will make sure floor coverings are up and room is devoid of even a paintbrush and certainly no people and hopefully that will all be fine!

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 14:18

If that’s all that’s in room then no issue for you to move it before Tuesday. I’m not seeing big issue. Just ring them and confirm room will be clear and to deliver/assemble as paid for. They are willing to come back and don’t appear to have charged you extra.

BigRedDuck · 04/05/2022 14:23

Some of the responses here are batshit.

OP you are definitely not being unreasonable. It's your furniture that you have paid for and can do what you bloody like with it 😂

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 14:25

If that’s all that’s in room then no issue for you to move it before Tuesday

their issue was the room not being finished. It won’t be finished by Tuesday!

OP posts:
doorknobknock · 04/05/2022 14:50

We obviously cannot ever prove this to be true but I bet you the delivery man would not have told your husband/partner he could not have his furniture. Absolute bloody piss take . I'd be fuming too.

Thatswhyimacat · 04/05/2022 15:34

It isn't infantilising at all, unless you also get upset at clothes labels telling you not to wash them on high heat. It's a reasonable assumption that you don't want the expensive furniture you just bought to be immediately ruined, especially as you weren't even there and so he had no real confirmation that you understood the risk, not having eyes on the room, nor were you available for the furniture bonfire pps say you're entitled to. Having principles is fine but unless harm has actually been done what is the point in complaining about these things? Your room wasn't ready for the furniture, the furniture is coming later and is protected from potential damage. Everybody wins. You're choosing to have unnecessary hurt feelings about it.

donquixotedelamancha · 04/05/2022 15:34

If paint dripped on your furniture or the furniture was damaged while moving it to lay the floor I'm sure you'd be screaming at him for delivering before the room was finished

why would you be sure of that?! Because it’s expensive furniture so I must have money and therefore be a raging bitch?!

You are getting this sort of response a lot. It's nothing to do with you being rich, it's about two things:

  1. It doesn't sound like you replied to this bloke that you wanted it delivered anyway (I know you'd told the shop that).
  2. You seem to be making a massive deal out a minor issue.
  3. You use hyperbolic language and react aggressively to disageement.
The vast majority of people just wouldn't be 'completely outraged' by this; which makes them wonder whether your view of the situation is accurate.
donquixotedelamancha · 04/05/2022 15:39

*clearly my post above should say three things.

Hankunamatata · 04/05/2022 15:43

I can see this from delivery company's view. Your nanny signs, furniture gets damaged by decorators then you turn round and say well I didnt sign for it. The delivery company doesnt get paid or is sued for costs of furniture.
You put delivery company in an impossible position

Bednobsbroomsticks · 04/05/2022 15:43

Lmao the posts on this thread honestly. Yanbu

Hotzenplotz · 04/05/2022 15:46

Eh?!

Original poster
Feelingveryranty · 04/05/2022 15:53

It's a reasonable assumption that you don't want the expensive furniture you just bought to be immediately ruined

that was their assumption, yes. Despite me emailing them re the readiness of the room, despite me then telling him on the phone it was fine and him flatly refusing. Why continue to assume when I’ve told him how it is?

It doesn't sound like you replied to this bloke that you wanted it delivered anyway (I know you'd told the shop that).
You seem to be making a massive deal out a minor issue.
You use hyperbolic language and react aggressively to disageement

I initially told him to deliver it regardless but I was shocked by him just flatly refusing and disagreeing so just accepted it. I see what everyone is saying about it coming anyway next week - it’s not the solution I have a problem with, it’s someone telling me what I can and can’t do with something I’ve paid for. As I said, the room won’t be ready next week so what do I do? I would really like to see where I have been aggressive, and of course I am “making a massive deal” because I am upset. For you it’s minor, for me I’m 38 weeks pregnant and want my nursery finished and the furniture in there before the baby comes. It’s not my fault there have been huge delays on this project.

im very stressed and maybe that’s coming across as aggressive. I asked if I Was being unreasonable and of course some (most) people seem to think I am. That’s fine. What’s not fine are posters calling me entitled and making assumptions about me “screaming” at delivery people when I’ve stated repeatedly I was going to cover the furniture and it’s all my responsibility.

i do think MN has a bias about people buying expensive things and I really do wish I had lied and said it was something from IKEA where I had paid for assembly or whatever, but I wanted to give an honest picture.

OP posts: