The message
from Roger contains these words:

The message
from Appin contains these words:

Sadly it doesn't answer the problem of those in the Northern half of the
UK where, even on the mainland, there is NO free delivery from
Screwfix, no matter what the order. Hence Screwfix is on a list of
non-preferred suppliers.

Not what it says on the website. You just don't get next day delivery.

"Premium delivery options not available for other zones".

Not quite so -- though I note that their charges HAVE changed within the
last few weeks. They've obviously lost most of their customers in the
northern half of the UK. They have now changed, I see, to free carriage
for orders over £100 for those areas. Which means they may get some
more of my orders.



Other zones appear to be Scilly Isles, Isle of Man, NI and Highlands and
Islands of Scotland. The latter being the Northern half of the UK only
on a matter of length, a significant amount of which is open sea. In
terms of area not more than the Northernmost quarter.

It is nonetheless extremely aggravating to find many suppliers
advertising free delivery to UK Mainland and then finding that much of
the UK Mainland is excluded.

Screwfix seem to have learned at least something over the last few
weeks. Actually what they've done is what I've several times written
them suggesting they consider.


It beats me, though, how some companies like Argos and, believe it or
not, even more so, Woolworths, of all people, manage to lick the problem
of deliveries to the most remote of islands, yet others simply can't get
their heads around it.

The dreaded Argos has struck deals with specialist carriers who, I
think, get a cut on the goods through acting as agents. Woolworths can
manage to operate a store in Stornoway selling goods at the same prices
as on the mainland and, more important, handling catalogue orders.
Companies which have licked the transport problem have very little
compettion and can make a killing.

Lidl can manage to operate a store in Orkney -- with the same prices as
elsewhere. Of course the British HQ is in Livingston, which may help.


It's a strange situation when it can be cheaper to order goods from
overseas than from England, if you happen to live in the North of
Scotland.