Any company that installs big fridge freezers to 1st floor?

itm2

Tea_Pea_Dee wrote: »

I would still try the route of a removal firm. Order your FF from a company that offers disposal of your old one and arrange for both to arrive at the same time. Removal men and new FF at your gate, removal men bring old one down, new one goes up via removal men and the FF delivery men take old one with them. Yes, it will cost you, but if you get 14 years service from the new FF then it will be worth extra outlay. I see it as hobson's choice.

Yes I did consider that, but it's complicated by the fact that retailers will only quote 4-hour delivery windows at best, so I could end up paying removal men to hang around for 4 hours.

You're right in that it might well be Hobson's choice, but I can't imagine how hacked off I would be if I went to all that trouble and expense and the new fridge-freezer turned out to be hellishly unreliable (I've read alot of horror stories). Alot of appliances are just not "made like they used to".

I also didn't have much choice of models, as there are very few that match the 620 litre capacity of the Maytag, and the ones that do are from manufacturers who don't have great reliability records (or don't have ice-making facilities, which are a must for us). Maybe if we looked at £2k+ we'd find more, but that's a crazy amount to be spending on a fridge.

At this stage I'm thinking that keeping the Maytag on extended life support, at whatever cost, is the lowest stress option. If I happen to come across someone in the future who can do the lifting/shifting/recycling at a reasonable cost, and is flexible on time, I could reconsider a replacement.

I had no idea it would all be this difficult.

Tea_Pea_Dee

Right, one last stab at this, and then I am gone Just seen this company (I do not work for them nor have any connection to them whatsoever) and they seem to imply in their delivery notes that they deliver up a flight of stairs. Give them a call. Free delivery over £25 (if you get an American style FF for under £25, order two for me please ) and a tenner for disposal of your old appliance.

http://www.appliancehouse.co.uk/shop/delivery.html

"If the premises have restricted access, potential parking problems or flights of stairs, this must be noted at the time of ordering. Clear access for the delivery vehicle will be required as close as possible to the entrance of the property."

itm2

Thanks - appreciate the feedback. It looks like they only have one that comes close to the Maytag storage capacity. It's a £1500 Electrolux with only 1 year warranty. The one I'd ordered was some £400 cheaper and came with 5 year warranty (sod's law). I'll give them a call anyway as I'd be interested in their delivery policy. I suspect it's the same as the others - i.e. at the discretion of the driver. I suppose that's fair enough in principle, but I don't understand why they won't take a look at photos of the site to assess the delivery before the customer commits to the purchase. Otherwise it just wastes everybody's time.

Incidentally the ao.com website that I ordered from actually asked for the exact number of steps to be navigated (so they clearly do deliver up stairs). I think the problem is that there's a 90 degree turn near the top. It makes it more awkward but as I said it's been done twice before without any complaints. I told both Currys and ao.com about this on the phone beforehand, even offered to send photos, but neither were willing or able to pass it on to the delivery company.
Deep joy.....

namecheck

Hi itm2

Wonder if you have looked at the CoOp Electrical website?

I have bought several electrical items in the past and the delivery drivers have been great, and with a text message to say when they are due to arrive.

The website says they will deliver to "a room of your choice"...not specified if this needs to be ground floor, but perhaps worth enquiring.

They remove the packaging and there is a disposal service (for a charge) of the old appliance.

puppet1984

Could you perhaps and i know you've already paid delivery but sweeten the deal with the delivery driver with perhaps a crisp £20 note.

It's worked for me in the past for less amount but that was a few years ago.

Wi88le

I'd be tempted to pick the fridge freezer that you want then see what a local delivery firm can do, See if the old unit could be removed and taken to their yard then the new one delivered there before being brought to you.

Or could the fridge freezer be taken downstairs beforehand with the new fridge freezer then being delivered with the delivery firm coming later that day to lift it up the stairs?

itm2

Wi88le wrote: »

I'd be tempted to pick the fridge freezer that you want then see what a local delivery firm can do, See if the old unit could be removed and taken to their yard then the new one delivered there before being brought to you.

Or could the fridge freezer be taken downstairs beforehand with the new fridge freezer then being delivered with the delivery firm coming later that day to lift it up the stairs?

Yes it looks increasingly like more of a job for a removals firm than a delivery firm, so I'm faced with paying a steep cost for it one way or another. FYI the Coop's response was pretty standard: "Sadly we cannot guarantee a delivery can be made, all deliveries are at the discretion of the drivers at time of delivery, we will always attempt to make a delivery but if the drivers feel it is unsafe to do so we cannot complete this sadly."

I think I'm going to patch up the Maytag for now, hope it lasts a few more years before the next surgery, and watch out for bargain offers on new ones with the required capacity (i.e. where the discount would offset the premium I'd be paying for delivery/recycling).

robatwork

Have you tried Euronics? They are more local so would tend to be more flexible.

itm2

robatwork wrote: »

Have you tried Euronics? They are more local so would tend to be more flexible.

Have just had a look at their site. Not an American Fridge freezer in sight unfortunately. Thanks anyway.

paddypaws101

oh gosh you have just reminded me of the nightmare I had doing a similar swop a few years back.
Tears, removal of front door and a hefty cash tip got the new freezer (from Currys)upstairs...and old one deposited in front garden ready for council to collect.
Except it was gone by the next morning...loads of vans pick up scrap metal round here so it was snapped up.
More recently I have got rid of old FF by contacting local second hand shops who are happy tpo pick these things up, repair them and sell them on. i even got some cash for one!