Shipping Charges to Northern Ireland

[jnm21]

Seems 'fair' (on scan's part). Yep, that's pretty fair.

[ernestrome]

We have already explained this.

Not to my satisfaction.

[MD]

Not to my satisfaction.

I suggest you apologise - the Scan guys are here to help - there is no need to speak to them like this.

The justifications for the NI shipping issues is widespread across a number of different stores.

Fact is - it costs more to get stuff to NI - thats a fact - when compared to hub and spoke delivery systems that work effectively on the mainland the fact is to get next day to you either needs a plane or a great deal of trucking and ferries.

Its a fact you cannot ignore - yes you are part of the UK but take for example TV ads, nearly everyone I see on TV selling something declares not available in NI at the bottom.

Everyone has issues with different things, but the bottom line is apologise and also watch your langauge towards people who are trying to help you.

[ernestrome]

I suggest you apologise - the Scan guys are here to help - there is no need to speak to them like this.

The justifications for the NI shipping issues is widespread across a number of different stores.

Fact is - it costs more to get stuff to NI - thats a fact - when compared to hub and spoke delivery systems that work effectively on the mainland the fact is to get next day to you either needs a plane or a great deal of trucking and ferries.

Its a fact you cannot ignore - yes you are part of the UK but take for example TV ads, nearly everyone I see on TV selling something declares not available in NI at the bottom.

Everyone has issues with different things, but the bottom line is apologise and also watch your langauge towards people who are trying to help you.

I don't understand how i have been rude, or what language i have used that has been offensive.

I was just informing him that i didn't find the explanation complete, i think there are points that we raised in this thread that have not been addressed.

I intended no rudeness.

[MD]

Our problem is they can just ignore the issue. None of their Eng/Scot/Wales customers will care, and there aren't enough of us to worry them. So we just have to suck it up.

I think it is bull**** for Scan and other companies to treat northern irish customers like this.

Where are they with their explanations now?

As above, starring out words doesn't make it any less obvious anymore, and infact nor any less offensive as everyone knows what it means.

I think the point you are missing here is no-one HAS to give you an explanation. In regards to you not being satisfied, this has been discussed SO many times and they have stated the reasons and given you the answer. Short of offering you free postage you wouldn't be satified it appears.

At the end of the day the staff of Scan are here to help you - demanding answers to issues they have covered is not helping you or them - they are busy people.

Scan have stated alternatives to City Link are not possible due to their internal systems - not sure why you all keep beating the same drum with this.

By all means compile your list, but understand they have tried their best and it seems this is not enough for some of you.

[declanh]

MattD,
I started this thread back in January 2006 as a attempt to document the delivery charges levied by lots of companies to Northern Ireland.

I was never meant then (or now) by me as a mechanism to 'bash' any companies - merely to highlight the good and bad from the perspective of a Northern Ireland shopper.
I had hoped that when the weight of evidence suggested than a lot of companies managed to service NI wihout surcharge those who do surcharge would re-evaluate their position with regard to this.

I think we would all be naive to assume that Scan or others would absorb a twenty pound plus loss per order to northern ireland, and I for one would not expect them to.

The reality is however than lots of companies (41 out of 60 so far) appear to be able to use means whereby Northern Ireland customers dont seem to be surcharged. Either they have managed to strike a much better deal with their courier, they are using Royal Mail Special Delivery or they are actually losing money on the shipping charges.

In any of these cases I think the NI customers would be keen to know who does and who doesnt - It certainly affects my purchasing decisions.


Ultimately I really would like to know why some companies charge much more than others (I have placeholders for responses from the companies on my website) but I fully understand that its their prerogative not to elaborate on the reasons for their charging systems. Ultimately the decisions to shop or not shop always come down to the customer and for some retailers I expect that Northern Ireland is more trouble than its worth so they price accordingly or dont service Northern Ireland at all.


Ultimately I had imagined that this being the 'Smartshoppers' forums this discussion was right on topic.

I do hope I have only expressed myself in a clear and cogent fashion. If you think otherwise, or think I have been in anyway offensive, I'd like to know.

[declanh]

Pity MattD never replied....

Anyway There have been some additions to both the red and green list in the last week.

The big news is that scan have been knocked off the top of the list... if you thought over 20 pounds surcharge was untenable then check out what morgan auctions are attempting to charge for Northern Ireland deliveries... a blanket £50 delivery for everything - even things like an SD memory card.

This means their surcharge starts at 30 quid and goes up to a potential 46 pounds on lightweight items. This is just insanity. They obviously dont want any business from northern ireland.

On the positive side there are now sixty five companies on the website and over 2/3 of them dont surcharge at all - this is good.

[Knoxville]

Our problem is they can just ignore the issue. None of their Eng/Scot/Wales customers will care, and there aren't enough of us to worry them. So we just have to suck it up.

I think it is bull**** for Scan and other companies to treat northern irish customers like this.

Where are they with their explanations now?

Am I the only one that finds comments like that to be way ott?

I don't live in N.I so maybe that makes my opinion null and void, but some of the bitching (and it is bitching) in this thread seems unnecassary. I order item's quite regularly from the states/canada, a different scale of international delivery yes, but when I order from anywhere thats not mainland u.k based I expect to pay extra for the shipping.

I can understand that N.I is part of the u.k, but its not on the same island, simple georgraphy and common sense says that it'll cost more to ship it across the channel that divides us. Some companies choose to either absorb the cost, or shift business to a different courier to ensure a better overall rate, some (like Scan) don't. Simple as, order from the companies that offer the better rate and there should be no problem.

You guys aren't being put upon or discriminated against, its simple business and geography. You have a list of companies that don't surcharge, use it, bitching at the guy's from Scan isn't going to solve anything.

[Agent]

Can we make sure this thread stays on track now please guys ?
Lets keep it to simple who does, and who doesn’t charge surcharges for NI. Any company bashing or claims that cant be backed up will mean this thread is closed.

Im going to be sorting the stickys out soon – I can add the list there too, with credit and a link to your site if you like.

[declanh]

Updates to the northern ireland shipping list

additions to the red list
www.staples.co.uk
www.donaldrussell.co.uk

additions to the green list
www.lets-have-a-party.co.uk

updates
www.dabs.com - surcharge changed to 10 pounds

follow the links in my signature

[revol68]

Right well maybe this has all been put to bed but I'd just like to say that I would definately order most of my stuff from Scan if it wasn't for the crazy delivery charges to N.Ireland, I mean 23 quid for a Motherboard is really absurd.

Now I know that Scan has it's reasons but maybe they could reassess their situation and maybe see if they could address this. Of course maybe they have done the sums and worked out that the custom from N.Ireland isn't worth it but as is their cliched response to every issue:

We believe a company really shows its worth in the way it deals with issues that do arise. As they say, it's not so much the problem but the way you sort it that counts the most, and this sentiment very much reflects the Scan philosophy!

So maybe a wee bit of lateral thinking could be put into to addressing the concerns of northern irish customers.

Anyways I know alot of folks don't like ebuyer but they charged me 5 quid on a mobo and harddrive, which should be at my house today (i'll let youse know if it isn't!).

[Agent]

Please start a new thread for any NI based questions / comments.

Scan have their prices for a reason - if you dont like them, there is plenty of other places to shop . Its not really fair to keep on at them over it.