Roofbox problem

conneechiwa

I ordered a roofbox online on 15th March. The company took 0ver £170 that day and I have been waiting for it to be delivered. Yesterday lunchtime I received an email from the company saying they wanted another £30 for delivery as I am in the North of Scotland. They said that on their shipping page there was a bit saying about surcharges. I went to that page and it only mentioned Eire, Channel islands, Isle of Man and Scilly Isles - not the Highlands. ( I am on the mainland)
I cancelled the order as I have now found a company that will deliver here and is only £3 dearer than the original price.

Is it normal practice for a company to take your money, keep it for a week and then decide they wont deliver :cool:
I got a Worldpay email this morning and the money is back in my account but I am still cheesed off that they took a week to realise where my postcode was. I had been emailing one of the sales guys too asking for advice on sizes etc and told him where I lived when he invited me to the warehouse to try a box on my car.

vikingaero

It's certainly bad business practice for the unnecessary delay and failing to inform you.

But with all due respect, the Highlands does normally attract a premium for parcels and delivery so it shouldn't have been entirely unexpected.

conneechiwa

The first thing I look at when ordering online is the Shipping T&C's though.
After being in email dialogue with them, explaining where I lived etc I didn't expect this.
I'm more annoyed about the money being out of my account for a week though.

focae

Don't be too surprised, after all, Jade Goody didn't even know where East Anglia is.

I'm not surprised that you have to pay extra. After all, there are only 10 of you live in the Highlands....so where would the delivery driver leave it if you were out

Joking.........honest!

jammin_2

The point is the OP's address was not part of the list of addresses which incurred a surcharge and he checked this before buying.

conneechiwa

jammin wrote: »

The point is the OP's address was not part of the list of addresses which incurred a surcharge and he checked this before buying.

Thankyou, my point exactly and the fact they had my money a week before they decided not to deliver is making me

I know the Highlands get treated as outlying and that is why my first point of call on any shop website is the shipping page.
Incidentally, Royal Mail standard parcels would have cost £15.69 insured to the value of the roofbox :think:

custardy

conneechiwa wrote: »

Thankyou, my point exactly and the fact they had my money a week before they decided not to deliver is making me

I know the Highlands get treated as outlying and that is why my first point of call on any shop website is the shipping page.
Incidentally, Royal Mail standard parcels would have cost £15.69 insured to the value of the roofbox :think:

i would think the roof box would exceed RM's standard parcels size limit
plus theres no tracking

conneechiwa

Standard parcels are up to 1.50 metres and 20kg, this is a short roofbox at 139 cm and 12 kg so could be sent by RM standard parcel service. Parcelforce would have been £20.50 (with tracking)
I'm an Ex Postie too

But thats not really my gripe, they had my money knowing full well where I lived and took a week to say they couldn't deliver/wanted more money.
My original question was whether that was standard practice - taking money before even dispatching, I've shopped online loads of times and this has been the first, any other time the company take payment at time of dispatch.