Cancellation fee on furniture

booksandbikes

We have ordered a large amount of furniture (£2,600) for our new house back in October 2024, with an estimated delivery date of January 2025. It has been delayed twice so far, and now just had a phone call telling me it is delayed until the end of May 2025. 😵‍💫 They have blamed shipping problems around the Red Sea, but surely it can't cause a 4 month delay?

Last time I was in the store, I noticed a sign that said order cancellations are subject to 15%. Is this something we are stuck with, or is there some legal principle that will allow us to avoid it.

Haven't spoken to them yet, but just want to have my ducks lined up if it comes to that. 

Thanks.

elsien

Did you order instore or online? Is your furniture custom made or from a pre-existing list of standard options? 
There have indeed been long delays through the Panama canal due to drought so this may or may not be fully accurate. 

Ayr_Rage

Read your contract regarding (delayed) delivery.

You'll find the ducks there.

DullGreyGuy

What does your contract state about delivery timescales and cancellations? 

Yes, the problems can add months... for a single journey it can add a month in all but the problem is that with lots of ships taking a month longer there is insufficient capacity on ships to take everything and so stuff is stuck in ports awaiting a ship. So you miss the boat and have to wait for it to do its current run, which takes 2 months longer than normal, and then pick your stuff up and bring it to the UK that also takes one month longer than normal

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/28

If they've missed the first date you may give another that is reasonable and then if they fail to meet that treat the contract at and end for a full refund.

What is reasonable is not defined but as May is their deadline I'd agree and if they fail to meet that treat the contract at an end if you wish.

Is this a national store? If so they aren't going to court to argue what is or isn't reasonable time over £390. Will probably have to go higher up as customer facing staff will likely stick to the script. 

Arunmor

Shipping furniture in from Asia can be a slow process at the best of times and these aren't the best of times.  Not ideal but I would be patient.

Grumpy_chap

If the OP doesn't wait for the ordered furniture, how long will alternative furniture take?

booksandbikes

Thanks for the replies. There was no specified T&Cs that I can find on the paperwork, and their website doesn't state any, so I guess potentially it will revert the link posted by the_lunatic_is_in_my_head?

Either way, I've calmed down a bit, and will be patient. I knew there were shipping delays, but somehow forgot to take into account the knock-on effect of these delays x 100 (or more).

If we purchased elsewhere, some items we can get straight away and others have a wait of another 6 weeks, so in the same boat really. Plus, it's not as nice furniture.

So....we will wait with fingers and toes crossed that this is the last delay!.