Odd courier problem

[julianthegypsy]

I have an odd problem. I have to get a stove to Scotland for a customer coming from France. So far so good, but he's only coming for a week, touring, and staying at a rental place, and he's worried about being out when they deliver, so he's asking about post restarted, which might work for small parcels but not for a 25kg stove in a box.
It's going to Plockton. Does anyone have any idea of a service I could use? Or even anyone in the area who could take it in return for some beer tokens?
All advice gratefully received!

 

[gaz1]

well if there touring ask them for possible travel stops as you may have friends that can hold the stove in the area for him

hes still got to get to plockton from somewhere

 

[DanZac]

Why not just send it by courier but to a pick up point instead of the address. (DPD parcel point or whatever).

I often change the drop off point from home to a local collection point if I know I'm not going to be in and most things I order have that as an option from the sender so it should be fairly easy to arrange.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Why not just send it by courier but to a pick up point instead of the address. (DPD parcel point or whatever).

I often change the drop off point from home to a local collection point if I know I'm not going to be in and most things I order have that as an option from the sender so it should be fairly easy to arrange.

The size and weight are the problem

 

[cheb]

The Post Office do a post restante service but you might need to check sizes and weights. Parcelforce will take up to 30kgs from memory. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/poste-restante

I don't remember there being a PO in Plockton, the nearest would be Kyle of Lochalsh or in Mcrae Jones Stores in Reraig. The latter might do other parcel services too.

 

[Other Daniel]

Could you not ask the courrier to hold it at their local depot, and your
client collects it from there ?

ETA: @cheb just beat me to it

 

[julianthegypsy]

I normally use parcel2go, and pick whichever is cheapest on the day. It varies a tremendous amount. I've never seen an option to keep it at the depot, whichever one I've picked. I'll have a look again and see anyway.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Find the number for the local depot and give them a ring.
Most Apc depots (for example) are happy for you just to use the depot as the delivery address for the customer to collect.
Probably because they get paid for the delivery without doing anything but I'd guess most carriers with franchise depots work on the same basis.

 

[cheb]

What's your timescale for this? You could ask the holiday cottage owners if they would accept and store it? If they aren't local to it then they'll have a person that does the changovers who might do it.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Or if it's somewhere out in the middle of nowhere (ie safe) you could just use a carrier that will leave it as instructed.

 

[octo0072000]

is he going back to france is so what about a meet up on the way back

 

[julianthegypsy]

I've asked if they have details of the property to identify a safe place. Failing that I'll suggest a meet up en route or return. Bit of a pain from cirencester as they'll be going up the other side of the M25, but it should be doable.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Problem solved. Got the details and spoke to the very nice lady who does the caretaking. It will be delivered to her, which means I can get it out of my place and it will be waiting for the customer when he arrives. I am much relieved!