Uni Kit Out - reliable?

[VerySweatyBetty1]

Son starts uni in just over 2 weeks. We're very very tight for space in our car. Thinking of placing an order with Uni Kit Out for the bedding and kitchen basics, to be delivered direct to his halls on the Friday before we arrive on the Sunday.

Reviews are more good than bad but the bad ones exacerbate my fears: eg we'll arrive on Sunday evening to find no package. DS is autistic so wouldn't cope well with having to wait to take himself off to Argos the next morning (it just wouldn't happen).

What are other people's views / experience on this? (it's for the convenience rather than the quality and I realise it's not cost-effective but that's not my primary concern).

Which university? Can't you do it on your arrival there?

I'd suggest just buying on arrival, or ordering through some mainstream retailer.

Would the Uni/Halls be happy to store a large delivery for you for 2 days? I would imagine that they will be pushed for space as well.

I would rather take the bedding etc in the car with you than pay over the odds and with the slight risk of the stuff not being there. We were also tight for space (Skoda Citigo haha) but managed by vac packing all the bedding, towels and jumpers. Also, just take the essentials, it's very easy to overpack, you can send stuff later if needed.

This, just do you own click and collect order to Argos / Asda / Tesco. Then you know it’s there before you leave home and it’s much easier to return anything that’s not suitable.

We don't have a big car either so we are just taking the essentials and the rest of the stuff we are going to buy when we get there. For us, as long as she has her bedding, clothes and toiletries and all the bits and pieces for her room and stuff to use and make meals on the first night then everything else can be picked up when we have arrived and helped her unpack.
I personally wouldn't trust ordering stuff and having it delivered in case the delivery doesn't arrive. But that's just me.

Also why have you booked a slot for a Sunday evening ? A late arrival just Makes everything more stressful .

I think Uni Kit Out are pretty good and halls are used to receiving them. My colleagues have used them loads and they have only had 2 go astray and one turned up in the wrong room because somebody asked to be moved last minute, and the other they were extremely apologetic about and refunded immediately. I would think you'll be fine. If you are dumping and running I suggest you identify where the nearest Argos or Tesco or whatever is beforehand just in case.

Do a click and collect order for the nearest Sainsbury's with an Argos. Halls will not have storage for duvets etc though some universities do have a bedding option (really aimed at overseas students but no reason why you can't)

I'm a university lecturer and I would HIGHLY recommend trying not to bring or buy loads of stuff new.
We have containers and containers full of dumped stuff (an area about the size of 20 cars is fenced off for bringing your stuff to, and is there all year round) at the end of the year. If you can rent bedding, that sounds excellent, I'm not sure we have that system. For plates/pans then if you can, buy in a charity shop local to you and take them with you. Please do not buy new stuff that will only get dumped! Now would be a good time to train your DC in charity shopping if they aren't already used to it. My DCs' Cub leader is a bin man and he brings in all sorts that are just dumped in the waste bins (the full containers are for things the students choose to donate rather than dump). I seem to remember he got enough rechargeable lamps literally binned for the Cubs to use one each on a nighttime event!

Edit: unless he's already an experienced cook, he only needs two saucepans, one frying pan, a couple plates/mugs/bowls/cutlery, a nice knife for chopping, chopping board. Very little as the most adventurous he will do will probably be spag bol or a stir fry! Space in student kitchens is at a premium and in some there will be no space at all.

You can vacuum pack bedding,towels etc.
I got ours all cheap as chips at Matalan, Argos etc.
I would do a click and collect.

Why do they need storage? Can’t they just put it in the room?

You can't rent bedding @worstofbothworlds because of the hygiene implications. Even a boiling hot wash won't get rid of bedbugs. The amount of discarded stuff swilling about is horrible I agree but it's tricky to find a way round it when you turn up somewhere having to make your bed up and sleep in it that night. Kitchen stuff you could wait to get and share with flatmates / buy from a reuse fair or charity shop.

They usually don’t have lots of extra staff to run around the building delivering huge orders of bedding, pots and pans etc to rooms. They are busy on reception checking in new residents, dealing with enquiries from anxious parents and lost students and explaining where the nearest supermarket is to someone who has just arrived from Ghana .

Arriving on Sunday just as the shops are closing!

But short let accommodation supplies bedding, surely it's possible to provide this in University accommodation (as we all had when we were students!)

Yes, the halls are a recognised 'partner' so it's fine.

It is changed from when I went to uni. We got bedding and towels provided that you could change for clean once a week. My DC found washing and drying her bedding and towels a pain, and not cheap. Not sure why hygiene wise supplying these is any different to what hotels do. (Obviously rent would reflect the additional cost). She did have what looked like a new mattress protector on her bed though (that we covered with one we bought).

Honestly if he is autistic a load of new stuff wotn be ideal.

Can you instead hire a slightly bigger car? It will be so much for him to deal with starting at uni that at least familiarity with what he is taking would be good.

We arrive too late for shopping and I think DS will want us to drop him and clear off immediately! I am considering staying overnight so that I can collect / shop for some stuff on the Monday morning but I need to seek his approval first. Really don't want to cramp his style.

Bit judgey! FYI work, travel, elderly father due to have an operation at the opposite end of the country 3 days before and DS himself not wanting to be there too long before the action starts. That ok with you?!

Thanks! I could stick in a towel and a sleeping bag in case something goes astray and I'm sure someone would went him a cup and a bowl in worst case scenario, i guess.

I have sussed out the nearest Argos - definitely very useful for anything he needs, I agree!

Not intending buying loads of stuff. The standard kit is duvet, pillows, linen. Beds are different size to the one at home so we need to buy new anyway. Kitchen kit is very basic too. I'm a bit pushed for time for shopping so getting it delivered there would be handy, I'm just worried in case they're unreliable!

I would, only that requires me to stay the night (in a hotel, which isn't necessarily a problem) as we will arrive too late in the day to collect on arrival.

Yeah, I'm a bit sceptical too! Are you staying long enough to shop locally?