Shops that deliver to Highlands and Islands

[Hoosey]

My wonderful foster mum who lives in Shetland is now on a pension and as much as she would love to shop local she can’t always afford the prices on big items. We have just sorted her out with a laptop but we have found when she went to order a washing machine that loads of places won’t deliver. Can anyone suggest shops that deliver to the Highlands and Islands (any products, as she will need other things) and don’t charge a ridiculous delivery charge. So far John Lewis and Amazon look like they are good options. Any others? We’d love to make a list for her so she doesn’t have to keep searching every time she wants to buy something.

Wow. I can't imagine being so isolated. I do hope you find somewhere to deliver to her. Is the cost of living much higher on the island? Do they have a post office and such?
Sorry if that's nosy.x

Feel free to ask- she’s actually not isolated at all. We used to live rurally but she now lives in Lerwick which is just like a town anywhere. Lots of shops, post offices etc and a lovely leisure complex. They have generally resisted big chain shops but have Tesco etc. The issue is lots of shops either won’t deliver there or levy a huge delivery charge- we found a washing machine for £400 plus £250 to deliver!

Just realised I ignored a question. It doesn’t cost a lot more. The weather means you spend more on heating generally. Petrol is a bit more expensive and it obviously costs the fly off the island or to get the boat. Day to day living costs pretty much the same.

@onetimeposter, there are over 20,000 people living in Shetland. There are several post offices.

You need to ask around locally to find out what other folk are doing. I know people on another island who get things delivered to an address in Glasgow, where the island courier picks them up and brings them over. Recent example washing machine was £40 delivery rather than the £250 the seller wanted. There will be several - ask around to find who's most reliable and going to Aberdeen or Glasgow most regularly.

Thanks. Sorry if it sounded stupid. Is Shetland the farthest north or is that the Hebrides? I can't imagine being so far north, perhaps I might go sometime.
I remember watching a programme on the Isle of Wight about poverty on the Island, and having to go to mainland for a job. Is it similar in some cases?

@onetimeposter it’s very different to the Isle of Wight and we’ll worth a visit. It is the farthest north of the Scottish Island. The Hebrides are on the north west coast but Shetland is way off the north coast, above Orkney. Poverty levels are low, employment is very high. A small number of people work on Mainland Scotland but there are lots of jobs on Shetland.

@youmeandconchitawurst thanks. She has used a local company to bring a fridge up before but there were some issues that were hard to resolve when it was faulty as the original company wouldn’t collect so she paid delivery three times over. There are some companies who will deliver so we’re just trying to work out who they are. We will ask around too.

My aunt uses shetlandtransport to get things delivered. Mainly ikea stuff.

You can order online from a local company grdirect.co.uk & they normally price match to. Or John Lewis.

onetimeposter Shetland is a 14 hour ferry ride north of Aberdeen. It’s nothinglike the Isle of Wight.........

I’m on the mainland but in the sticks near John ogroats, John Lewis have always been fab, in terms of delivery and pick up for broken items etc, but to echo others, ask around and see what others are doing

Wow. I can't imagine being so isolated.

I have a relative who lives in Aberdeen and has had companies charge extra to deliver to the Highland and Islands.

OP, Amazon won't delivery perfume to Shetland.

I'm in the Hebrides and use Superdrug for all toiletry shopping. Free delivery over £10.

Geography was always my weakest subject. 14 hours, wow that's far. How long does it take by plane?
Clearly I'm not Scottish. But the country fascinates me, it's so diverse.

Sorry, I know it's not helping your problem, but how would one go about getting a job in the Shetlands? What are the largest employers?

I’ve flown from Aberdeen to Sumburgh on Loganair if I remember correctly it took just over an hour.

Same as everywhere else. Just apply! Council has a breakdown of jobs by sector on their website www.shetland.gov.uk/news-advice/Shetland-Employment-Survey-2017.asp

Not islands but west Highlands curries deliver to for washing machines.. would need to check Shetland. Good luck. Speak to neighbours and see if there is someone local.
Quite a few companies look like they take deliveries further for you off the mainland but I understand you don't want returns issues.
www.google.co.uk/search?q=ehich+companies+deliver+to+shetland&oq=ehich+companies+deliver+to+shetland&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.11384j0j9&client=ms-android-huawei&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Its an absolute nightmare to get stuff delivered and I’m on the Mainland in the Highalnds. Once lost the rag with a man at customer service in next that I’d go down there and drag him up here to show me the body of water I cross to get here when he kept saying I live in an offshore postcode.

I often end up giving up and getting stuff on amazon but do order a fair bit from John Lewis as well. The problem is so many places aren’t up front about delivery costs. I ordered an electric piano can remember exactly what delivery was but I had to put in my postcode to calculate it. 2 days later got an email asking for another £45 to deliver it. Actually must have been £15 originally because it ended up they wanted £60 to deliver it. Cancelled it ordered the piano that was my second choice from another seller and ordered through amazon. Delivery £8.95 and the piano was in my house the next morning so it can be done most places just don’t even bother to try.

I'm Highlands and Currys or John Lewis are decent for deliveries up here

Next for furniture - £4 delivery.