Delivery services and charges are important factors in internet purchasing decisions.
Here are the delivery and charges options from three of the UK's leading suppliers of DIY, Home and Garden products and building materials taken from their latest websites for in-stock items coming directly from their depots.
Screwfix.com offer a range of delivery options for their warehouse stock items. Order before 6pm (Sunday 2pm) for next day delivery. For orders over £50 there is no delivery charge for next day delivery. They also promise faster deliveries for a charge, for £5 (£10 for orders of under £50) they aim to deliver before 12 noon next day or their premium service for £10 promises delivery before 10.30am next day. Saturday deliveries are free for orders above £100.
Wickes.co.uk offers next day deliveries for orders placed Monday to Thursday before 6pm. Items ordered on a Friday before 6pm will be delivered the following Monday. Weekend orders are delivered on the following Tuesday. Wickes offer free delivery for orders above £45. For orders under this there is a £5.95 charge. They offer premium delivery with a before noon delivery time-slot or a Saturday delivery for an extra £5.
Aside from delivery matters, Wickes may apply what they call a Packaging and Handling charge at checkout for some products.
Wickes are currently promoting a "Big & Bulky" delivery service for their heavy items, such as bulk bags, with a distance from depot and basket value based charge. For a site about three miles away from a depot, these charges were no charge for orders over £300 but with baskets below this costing £20 to deliver. There are basket value based charges of £5 or £25 for Saturday deliveries of all "Big & Bulky" items.
B & Q Next Day (Nextday.diy.com) offer standard delivery times of next working day delivery for orders placed before 6pm Mon-Fri, in which Saturday deliveries are also included. They have no delivery charges for basket values of over £50, but have a £5 charge for orders under £50.