Are These Unreasonable Delivery Arrangements?

Am I being unreasonable, or is the business?

I bought something offered as a deal on OzBargain. It was $299. Including shipping.

The seller refuses to do anything to arrange delivery until I commit to being home all day on a specific day to take delivery, whatever time the courier comes. So I'm in Adelaide, and the item has been sitting in the seller's premises in Melbourne for the last two months.

As I see it, if we all had to agree to be waiting home for delivery all day on a business/work day for anything we bought online, it would destroy the practicality and economic benefit of purchasing over the internet. And might I point out to PayPal, to whom the matter has now escalated for arbitration, that would destroy the viability of that company's business model.

This is not the seller's problem. It is the courier company's problem. And it's a problem their business processes and model have learned to cope with. The seller should be leaving it to be arranged between the courier company and me. They should be passing the item to the courier to first get it to Adelaide, then once it is there for the courier to notify me on what day they can deliver and the approximate time they expect to, and if I'm not there then to leave it at my risk or leave a card telling me to come pick it up at their depot.

This company has got right up my nose by refusing to even arrange delivery.

Comments

  • +16

    Depends what the item is maybe. Context would be helpful.

  • +6

    Yes it's unreasonable from the other party. But how to get around it now is not automatically clear. Maybe consider picking it up from the courier's Adelaide depot.

  • +10

    What would happen if you say you commit to being home all day on a particular day and then you are not home that day when they come to deliver?

    • +5

      Exactly. Not up to the seller once courier picks up the item, what happens to said item. It's up to the courier company to either leave the item unattended or leave a card for the buyer to work out how they will pick it up/arrange re-delivery

  • +1

    Really depends on the item. If it really bothers you then just cancel and purchase off someone who deals with deliveries better.

  • +4

    I bought something offered as a deal on OzBargain.

    Like everyone has said, it depends on the item. I'm sure you're not the only person who bought this, might have comments in that deal too about this.

    The seller should be leaving it to be arranged between the courier company and me.

    The courier's customer is the seller, not you.

  • +5

    Is this the Soniq 55 inch TV?

    It would be reasonable for you to be at home that day… It would be a pain for them to deliver that item otherwise, as it likely isn't even coming through the normal postal system.

    • +6

      If it's a TV then I think it's perfectly reasonable to require a delivery date to be nominated.

      The delivery driver could turn up again and again, wasting time and money, because no one is home.

      I'm surprised the seller hasn't cancelled the sale. I would.

  • Did you buy gold bars OP?

    • +1

      At $299 for a gold bar, I would be buying too :-)

      • Its gold plated*

  • +1

    I’m in Melbourne and can pick it up for you

  • +4

    It is a bit unreasonable but you say it's not the sellers problem but it is. Under Australian Consumer Law the seller, not the courier, are responsible for ensuring you receive the delivery.

    Any reason you can't get it delivered to work or a friend/family member who is at home at the required time?

  • +2

    item has been sitting in the seller's premises in Melbourne for the last two months.

    So the seller wants you to be at home all day for the delivery, and you're saying no and somehow this has gone on for 2 months? Most people would have changed their mind after a week. I take it you live alone, and the item is too large to be delivered to your workplace? No neighbours who could be home all day that could hold the item for you?

    • +7

      There seems to be more to the story, clearly OP doesn't want the item that badly if they are in a stalemate for 2 months over this.

  • +1

    what if you were at home all day as per the demand from the seller…but you had food poisoning and was stuck on the toilet when the courier came by?

    Why is ATL not an option ..like pretty much everyone else?

    • +3

      "stuck on the toilet when the courier came by?"
      Leave all doors open so can yell out
      .

  • +7

    The seller refuses to do anything to arrange delivery until I commit to being home all day on a specific day to take delivery, whatever time the courier comes. So I'm in Adelaide, and the item has been sitting in the seller's premises in Melbourne for the last two months.

    Jesus Karen, why are you making it hard as well? Just give them a day, be home or not. Once it is with the courier you can go pick it up from a depot etc.

    Surely you can pull a WFH/RDO/Sickie day or have a family friend hand around.

    Get it delivered to work or another friend who WFH all day?

  • +7

    Get it delivered to a trusted neighbour.

    Get it delivered to an Australia Post parcel locker (free to use). Assuming the item is less than 50x50cm…

    Get it delivered to work and tell them it's a one off event.

    Pick it up at the depot (assuming you are physically able to do so).

    Take a day off work. Your employer should be understanding if this is an unusual event.

    This really shouldn't be so hard. If I was the seller I would have refunded you the money long ago. It's more hassle than I could deal with.

  • +3

    sounds like something that could have been resolved with a quick phonecall.

  • +2

    rediculous youve left this for 2 months, grow up

  • +1

    Can't you just waive liability and have them leave it at your door?

  • It’s a TV

  • If you're willing to have it left there at your risk, then why can't you go ahead with the delivery, and if you're able to be there, good, otherwise they leave it? Have they said they can't leave it?

  • If it's "couriers please ".. U will never see your item.. it will just be in an endless loop of reps making up rules and policies to avoid delivering. Better off cancelling the order and just buy in store

  • A lot of couriers and freight companies dont have storage areas or if they do its minimal the smaller ones prefer less handling also the more the item is handled the greater the risk of damage.

    So assuming they can store it till its convenient for you to pick up just doesn't work.

    Some small frieght companies the storage area is the actual truck. Some that do have a storage area dont have staff on hand waiting for people to pick up.

    Some companies do offer storage fees to hold the item.

    Freight is a very competitive industry with a lot of cost pressure's.

  • +1

    Just saw a story on tv about crocodiles as pets.

    Is it a crocodile?

    Courier might not want to store crocodiles until they can deliver

  • Depends on the item and the courier company. They may not want to have the risk of item being stolen and not have a pick up process.

    I would have thought it would be easy enough to just say what day you can have the delivery and go from there?

  • +1

    Why the mystery? You're hiding details for a reason, what is the item, where are you, where is the parcel, what is the size.

    You're intentionally being deceitful for positive response.

  • I often wait at home all day for a delivery & it still doesn't arrive.

    Just cancel the order. Do a chargeback.

  • I have never ever in my decades of buying online ever had a business pull this on me: "The seller refuses to do anything to arrange delivery until I commit to being home all day on a specific day to take delivery, whatever time the courier comes."

    How do they even try? You conduct all the purchasing and payment on a website. How did the business even contact you to demand youre at home on a day of their choosing?

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