I've just bought a replacement Zetec engine and paid the seller for delivery.

The courier rang up yesterday to arrange delivery this morning and asked if I could help get the engine off the van, which I agreed to do.

They rang back this morning to say that they wouldn't get involved with lifting the the engine off as it was too heavy for 2 people to lift. I explained that wasn't the case, but they said I need to get a crane or some help to get it off.

I suggested they go back to the seller and exaplin their problems to him.

Is it normal for couriers to refuse to get stuff off their vans?

Stu

If I were in this position I would say, yes I have a crane here, no problem. Then get a mate round for the courier coming.

When he gets to your door, the van driver just wants his load gone, he doesn't care how you do it, as long as his back doesn't get hurt into the bargain.

An undressed zetec is a comfortable 2 man lift.

i think they can if they feel its too heavy, risk of injuly etc.
isn't there some kind of health and safety max weight? 33kg for 1 person or something?

I would think that when they agree to deliver something, they should do it otherwise they shouldn't have accepted doing it.

Although, as i used to work for City Link, They have the equipment at the warehouse to unload and load something that heavy, when they try to deliver, obviously, they cannot have a crane or a fork lift for it.

Still though, this is unacceptable

Argos delivered a treadmill and would only lift it off the van not into the house!!

Health and safety rules said they couldn't carry out anyth lifting that could be classed as awkward!!

Wouldn't of minded but there were two of them both built like houses and once off the van they sat and watched me and the wife lift it!!

All I'm asking is for them to get it off the van, but they won't even help with that.

I've now told them to redeliver on Monday and that I'll get it off. If the driver doesn't help I'll make sure I take about 3 hours to do it!

Stu

if i remember correctly the maximum is

1 person 33kg
2 persons 45Kg
3 persons 55Kg

Obviously for an engine, might need 4-5 at least. Although, me and 3 others managed to lift a 1.8T leon engine with a pallet on a van easily.

Is it on a pallet or not?

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Is it on a pallet or not?
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Don't know.

I picked up the last engine I bought [it was in a crate] and was easlily lifted by 2 , so wasn't expecting major problems.

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oldtimer - 25/9/08 at 08:30 AM

I've never had a driver hesitate from helping - but never for an engine either...

We all seem to be getting unhelpful, or soft, or restriced by health and safety/insurance.

I'm no longer a firefighter, but, one of the first tests was you had lift an inert firefighter of the same weight (90kg) onto your shoulders(difficult), get them out of a window (still on your shoulders) and carry them down a ladder from the third floor...
makes giving someone a hand witha motor seem a small request.

It's not that motors are that heavy but they are awkward.

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Mal - 25/9/08 at 08:57 AM

A Practical Suggestion.
Rig up a temporary table, platform or bench with a similar height to the loading floor of the van and slide the engine onto this. Once the van has gone you can lower the engine in your own time.

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Dangle_kt - 25/9/08 at 09:04 AM

Old timer there with his "thrifty" posting - locost all the way.

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whitestu - 25/9/08 at 09:10 AM

Thanks

That's what I was planning to do.

It seems to me to be a crap service though when you can't actually drop off the item you have contracted to deliver.


Stu

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smart51 - 25/9/08 at 09:22 AM

I aranged for an enigne to be delivered one afternoon. When I got home, the engine was on a pallet on the drive. The driver got there early and lifted it off himself. R1 engines weigh 60 kg.

If its in their interest to lift it, they'll lift it. If they can do their job without then its your problem to solve not thiers.

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whitestu - 25/9/08 at 09:26 AM

I take it all back - they've said they are going to deliver on a tail lift truck on Monday!

Roll on new engine!!

Stu

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zilspeed - 25/9/08 at 12:02 PM

Result.

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mad4x4 - 25/9/08 at 12:08 PM

It the courier agrees to the shipping of the item surely they should have means to get it off the van at the delivery point i.e. tail lift. From then on it you problem of how to get it into the garage or shed.

You wouldn;t order ton bags of gravel and expect them to ask you to supply a crane etc. No you would expect them to be able to lift the item of the lorry it they were delivering.......

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whitestu - 25/9/08 at 01:24 PM

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It the courier agrees to the shipping of the item surely they should have means to get it off the van at the delivery point i.e. tail lift. From then on it you problem of how to get it into the garage or shed.

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I totally agree. Unfortunately the couriers don't see it like that!

Stu

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