Got flat pack furniture delivered - slight dilemma

DreamerV

Hi, I moved in to a place about 6 months ago, and have just got round to buying furniture. I needed something of reasonable quality (not necessarily last forever, but a good few years), cheap price. I found a set (wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside cabinet) for £265 all in (inc. delivery) and went for it, knowing a friend of mine said they'd make it. Delivery said 13-15 days, and they phone to arrange, so I thought fine. This was Monday afternoon, and they phoned me late afternoon to say they were delivering next day. I said I wasn't expecting so fast as I was visiting family and not home till Tuesday night, but they said they can try a neighbour, and I said the neighbour's are quite elderly and will struggle as they are getting ready to move too. He said if not tomorrow, it wont be delivered till 20th Jan, and I said that would be fine with me, but he went ahead and said he'll check if the neighbour will take it anyhow, and if not redeliver 20th Jan.

Dilemma is, he delivered Tues (yesterday) and I got back by night. I cannot move any of the pieces myself as I am pretty weak, and my neighbours too old. 20th Jan, they would have delivered straight to my bedroom. I can't unpack at theirs to check it, and any damages or problems are meant to be told to the delivery driver and signed, but obviously the neighbours did not open the flat pack packages. My friend will not be coming up to help till at least next week, perhaps Monday/Tuesday, but possibly the week after. I can't leave the stuff in their garage much longer, and I am not convinced all the pieces are even there. Can 3 wooden pieces of furniture really come in just 3 shallow (although tall) boxes? The boxes correspond in height to the height mentioned to each of the 3 items respectively, same with width, but the depth of the box can't be more than 0.5 feet. Can that be enough space to fit in all the flat pack pieces for the items?

I am concerned that I wont get to check till next week at least, and I can't return after the 1st week, and any problems were meant to be reported to the driver in the 1st place If I do return within a week, I'm to pay delivery and a re-stocking charge of 20% of the initial charge - Guessing that would come close enough to £100 as the place is far, and the packages heavy.

Any advice?

scheming_gypsy

each panel will be 15 or 18mm thick, and they're usually packed so they take up the least amount of room possible. So there'll be a panel with panels standing on top of it so it fits in the box.

Why not open the boxes in the garage to check and carry them as individual pieces rather than a big box full.

27col

You would be amazed at what they can get into 3 flat boxes. As has already been suggested, open the boxes and take the bits out singly.

DreamerV

They're not keen because the people who they have sold their house to are coming to see their house and then they're leaving nowish for Xmas (back Boxing Day). I might go grab a box of chocolates for their inconvenience (postman delivered to them 3 times last week!) and see if they're still there this afternoon, and see if they'll let me do that. I'm sure once unpacked, I could probably manage to move the pieces myself. There's not much space in the garage, but then I don't think I'll need to much space to just unpack and move.

KateLiana27

An amazing amount can fit into a small space when it's flatpack, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Either take the parts out singly, or hire a odd-job man for an hour to help you. (It will probably take him 10 minutes but you'll likely need to pay an hour as minimum - £25 if that).

Or aren't there any other neighbours, friends, work colleagues, etc who could help you for the price of a drink?

27col

This is a job tailor made for a handyman/odd job man. It is the sort of thing that I would have loved to do more often during my time as a handyman.