Postage zones in the UK.

Hello folks,

I ordered a nice tool from a certain tool dealer in the UK and as the sum exceeded that for free postage, I felt I had a reasonable deal, not great, but the dealer has to make a reasonable profit so the price was accepted. That was until they told me that I do not live where I have been living for 30 years!

You see, I live in a AB51 postcode, and many couriers think this is in the Highlands, well it's not. Checking the Parcel Force guide, it is firmly within the bastions of Zone 1, which is the same zone as London, Manchester, Birmingham etc.Oh no it's not, said the dealer, it's in the Highlands because Sid the white van man tariff rate states it. Well, who can argue with Sid the white van man, I tried to explain that the Royal Mail network, whilst not being cheaper in some areas, have the largest network and can, through Parcel Force, give a better than courier rate. The response was, 'oh we don't use them, now you have to pay the postage'. I then stated that if orders are over £60 then it's free delivery, as per their T&Cs, They responded by'Never mind that you are in the Highlands', so to those few who live in the Highlands (and all zone 1's too, yes that's London Manchester etc) the spend over £60 free postage does not apply to you either, they just like to hide the fact as it's not defined in the T&Cs.

So whilst living 'not in the Highlands' or even perhaps in Brixton Town, London, you might not know that you actually live in the Highlands too, especially if Sid the white van man courier thinks so. I live in postal Zone 1, not 2 which is highlands and Islands, or Zone 3 which is Northern Island. So the tools dealer, who has a big advertisement here on this site, is a bit of a self centered business type who portrays a dodgy shape changing allegiance to us hobby machinists and would trick you into paying more rather than using a fair and just system for us all.

Caveat Emptor, I say, I will not be purchasing any more from this bunch as their website is not truthful and accurate, you need to be aware of some of the devious little practises they get up to to wring a bit more brass out of us.

Now, the Royal mail network can be more expensive in some areas that are easily accessable and due to the competition from various couriers, not be the cheapest option, however, when you start getting to the extremities of the UK, couriers are no longer the best option as they have not built up their infrastructure effectively so be sure to check that cheeky little tool dealers are not ripping you off on postage rates whist working at their commission rates from the couriers.

Have a nice day...

Steve- I get this sort of thing all the time, we are AB53. Best answer is buy from someone else, if possible. I recently bought some stuff from England ,free postage, got email saying stuff was on the way. Then another email demanding £10 postage. After a big row I got my money back. I don't mind paying for big items when clearly stated. It is quite a long way to the highlands still.

I don't have this problem as my postcode is Bxx. The problem with ABxx etc is that many retailers don't use RM services any more and they are as far as I am aware the only ones that deliver anywhere in the UK for the same price. The new boys don't, they can also be a lot cheaper for businesses.

I'm not excusing them but many businesses have collections at a certain time every day from a particular carrier. They don't take stuff to the post office. This makes things a little tricky for them if some one needs RM.

Businesses can also arrange the same sort of thing with RM / Parcel Force but maybe the others offer more discount over what we have to pay or don't need so many parcels to be shipped.

John

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I suggest you read their terms and conditions carefully. That is your (and their) contract. It should not be ambiguous and if it is, then as the purchaser, your clearly correct interpretation would stand up in court.

There's no obligation on seller to use Royal mail and if the carrier they use says it's the 'highlands' then they are going to be charged more and are within their rights to pass on the extra cost.

Bear in mind that there is an extra cost to the seller of using a different carrier for some packages - they may miss out on bulk discounts arising from putting all their parcels through one carrier and/or have to make a journey to the Post Office to avoid the collection charge*.

<edit> To echo John's comments, this is one of the consequences of the increased competition in the mail industry which is supposed to benefit us all.

Neil

*Parcel Force describe it as a 'discount' if you drop it off yourself...

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 01/08/2016 12:17:56

John,

That's all very plausible and quite understandable. My issue is with what is stated within the dealers T&Cs where geographically positioned within the 'Highlands and islands' is not correct. The demarcation is determined from a couriers perspective and not RM / parcel force. As RM is used for all packages below a certain weight, the implication is usage of RM. Where the weight exceeds this, then packages over £60 are exempt postage costs, it does not state otherwise. I have taken this up with the dealer but continued custom vs accurate postage is not for discussion. Whether or not the courier collects or the dealer has to make the effort to go to a Parcel Force location - their convenience or my cost.

The postage to some destinations is wholly considered by the courier network and based on not having adequate infrastructure and charges go accordingly, If the dealer uses RM, as stated in the dealers T&Cs then it would be accepted that this service should be used in these circumstances. Clearly I have a choice, to only use dealers who operate the postage tariff as per the RM system. I still say the system is based on limited competition within this type of hobby and leaves few choices for us to shop around to get a fair deal. I live in zone 1, but have to pay for zone 2 with some dealers. I bought a large Yaesu radio, weighing over 10 KGs in a large box from a UK source that came via a courier free of charge, why do tool dealers treat us differently?

Before this sounds like all tool dealers treat us this way, many treat us fairly and abide by the RM rates, this one does not and will only be used as a last resort for my requirements and having spent in excess of £15k in the last two years in this area perhaps I am meagre in their eyes, I look forward to being treated as a valued customer and not some one who resides in an 'inconvenient area'.

I live beside a main trunk route, A96, and hardly a back road meandering up a hill somewhere.

Steve

Thanks Neil,

Disregard the customer completely, we have no obligations to anyone!, Brilliant never thought of that one.

Steve.

Correct, but I need the tool so have to pay, my issue or rant is, I am not in zone 2, I do not live in the Highlands, but am classed as living there. In this day and age, conciseness would be nice but based on legal tort, I might have an legal advantage, but I can not be honestly bothered for the sake of £12. The T&Cs were obviously not authored by someone in the legal profession as I know it as it appears to have some holes in it.

I have had my rant, thanks for reading, I will go and climb a mountain in the Highlands now to cool down... Oh wait, they are over an hours drive away.

Steve.

Clearly (to me) the problem arises from the difference between the Royal Mail's and the courier's definition of the zones. For fair competition this should be standardised. I suggest a complaint to Trading Standards and your MP.

Swings and roundabouts Steve!

Remembering that there are lies, damn lies and statistics:

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Aberdeen are 3.05% lower than in London
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Aberdeen are 26.83% lower than in London
Rent Prices in Aberdeen are 56.16% lower than in London
Restaurant Prices in Aberdeen are 6.33% higher than in London
Groceries Prices in Aberdeen are 3.51% higher than in London
Local Purchasing Power in Aberdeen is 41.09% higher than in London

And remember what a filthy place London is!

My insurance costs jumped by 10% after a postal reorganisation. The new postcode apparently means that my rural village is part of a big city, ho hum.

Cheers,

Dave

Personally as I understand RM has a charter which states that they must deliver to all of the UK at the same cost I feel that the competition should also have to work to exactly the same rules. There is no reason why they shouldn't have to do this. In fact a so called free market should involve a level playing field.

I believe that the RM have one difference in some areas of the UK - it can take longer. The rest could work the same way. I suspect that part of the reason for some companies splitting costs as they do is down to the actual size of some countries - the UK is small in comparison.

John

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Hello folks,

I have won my case, we are now back in zone 1, no longer in the Highlands and the courier coming here does not charge extra based on the huge amount of business conducted here.I am now back in the free delivery zone without having to pay for rent in London, although I don't know how that got into the conversation..

Speaking to someone who can make a difference rather than being fobbed off by a sales person is recommended here, a lesson learned for me.

Apologies for being grumpy, I can beat the best when it comes to being grumpy!. All sorted, at least for the time being until I learn that we no longer live in the vibrant North East, and now have to pay a charge comparable for Alaska by the next courier with an out of date atlas.

Till then, thanks for reading and keep all the debates and news rolling.

Steve

Edited By Steve G on 01/08/2016 15:34:57

You think you had problems you should try the Isle of Wight

.

Well done, Steve

MichaelG.

Better make the most of it while you are still in the same country

Rod

Rod,

Ha ha, I hope that never becomes the case but a good reply nonetheless. The North East, does not in general, support the separatists. But I hope we remain in the UK and the Brexit situation turns out to be a success. Just think of all the cheap tools we will get from China, whether or not they are any good.

Many of us moved up here (from England) in the 80s to support the oil industry, I was one of them. And many of us remain and do not want to be separated from the rest of Britain. Although SNP are currently in power, they would not have been successful had Labour not been so fragmented at the time, they took their votes. Worrying times.

Steve

Hello Steve .

You have my sympathies, carriage charges have always been a problem here in the highlands (excessively so) but things may now improving as a major carrier (Menzies) has bought out two local courier companies recently.

I had cause to send a 20kg package to Sussex . The Post office wanted over £40 to deliver, however Menzies did the job for around £16 and collected the parcel as well. Brilliant! ( no connections with Menzies , just a happy customer)

I am quite certain in my own mind that some of our M.E.suppliers are very good, however, there are some who are taking unfair advantage

Kind regards

Anna

You've won. Quite likely someone, somewhere, sometime watches these fora. Likely to end in a call for 'name and shame' if it went to any other conclusion. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for you) it was likely an advertiser on these very same pages, and were tipped off to watch out for possible impending

trouble. Not an outside bet that it might be someone who might not want to 'rock the boat' or have the boat rocked? It is something I have noted on at least a couple of occasions, since joining the forum.

I didn't 'tip anyone off', but I know several of our advertisers read the forums regularly, although only a handful post regularly. Some have a 'no posting' rule, I know because I have encouraged them to be active participants.

If this means that the suppliers better understand the needs and wants of customers, all the better.

Neil