Van wouldn't hold all my stuff, buyers getting angry... help!

Section62

Mark_Michalowski said:

In response to my own question in my initial post: "Yes, I have been a bumhole!". And I'm trying to put things as right as I can.

I know this will come across as a load of excuses, but it's genuinely more of an explanation. When it's all behind us, I'm going to do a "What have I learned?" thread about all of this, and your comments and ideas will form a big part of it. Thanks, genuinely.

You are coming across as a decent person who was a bit out of your depth (perhaps due to a lack of practice) and badly let down by people you were relying on to provide you with a time-critical service.  You also recognise you've made mistakes and have not only learned from that, you also want to help others avoid doing the same.

Don't beat yourself up over this, and ignore some of the harsher comments made in this thread.  It's easy for all of us to be wise in hindsight - to be honest I made the neighbour suggestion because I've been in a very similar position helping  a friend move home, and fortunately they had a lovely neighbour who was fine with me leaving my stuff at theirs until I could come back for it.  It is so easy to misjudge things and find yourself struggling to get back on track.

Do your best to get the stuff moved as soon as possible and think about something appropriate you can offer your buyers to show your appreciation.  Then put all this behind you and get on with enjoying your new home.

Good luck!

Dusk1983

A lot of angry people on this forum 

Mark_Michalowski

Thanks Section62 - that actually means more than you might imagine!

Mxx

MysteryMe

We don't need another thread going over the same old ground, just add to the existing thread.

boxofpaws

We were on the receiving end of this - our vendors couldn’t get everything in the removals van either and asked if they could leave some stuff in the garage for a few days. We said yes. They collected a few days later.

The end.

Mark_Michalowski

MysteryMe said:

We don't need another thread going over the same old ground, just add to the existing thread.

It won't be - it'll be about what I've learned through the whole process of selling, buying and moving, for anyone just starting out on the journey.

Mxx

cymruchris

Mark_Michalowski said:

And I'm trying to put things as right as I can.

I'm sure it will all work out in the end - it sounds like you've got a decent communication channel with your buyers, even if they're narked. Don't forget the big box of chocolates or something similar. I'm sure it's been quite a challenging week, and you'll probably not look to move again any time soon....

Doozergirl

Mark_Michalowski said:

Thanks Section62 - that actually means more than you might imagine!

Mxx

You're alright.  You made a mistake, you asked for advice, you understand.   

I hate threads like this where literally everyone has an opinion on it and has to share it,  but those same opinions get stronger and stronger as the thread gets longer and people get more blazé about the anonymity aspect of the forum until it's just plain rude and it's not you being the bumhole anymore.  

It's not about you after the first few replies. It's just people who answer because they 'can answer this one', whether it's needed or not.  

prowla

I think the buyers have been right to be firm and set a time for picking up the old stuff; a bookshelf may well be preventing them putting in their furniture, likewise a roll of lino (depending upon size).

However, the messaging should have shown them that the things were going to be picked up rather than had just been dumped behind.

I'd suggest a nice bottle of plonk or something would be a good gesture.

loubel

When we last moved we had A LOT of stuff (it filled two vans) but the movers had the whole house empty in a couple of hours. They were very quick to empty at the other end too. It sounds like yours aren't very efficient (although I suppose if you hadn't packed in the right boxes that would have slowed things down). Wouldn't it be cheaper and quicker just to hire a van though (not sure if I missed a reason for not doing this?) rather than paying them for a whole extra day?