Steljes revamps delivery charges

Dodwell-Bennett: Charges have been reduced on some items as much as 60 per cent

In a latest salvo in the war against shrinking margins and a potentially contracting market, distributor Steljes has restructured its deliveries and associated charges.

It will deliver accessories and projectors for free if ordered with items such as interactive whiteboards. However, certain services will now be optional and cost extra – such as school, timed, or specialised two-man delivery or warehouse collection from Iver.

Martine Dodwell-Bennett, group sales and business development director at the distributor, said that previously it charged per item on each order.

“Our delivery charges have now been reduced, by as much as 60 per cent. We have simplified the system to ensure that our delivery services are easier to understand and calculate,” she said.

There will be reduced delivery charges across all product lines, free delivery for selected accessories and projectors, and a flat £7.50 charge for accessory products and projectors weighing up to a total of 20kg per order.

“When you buy one big item, you will be able to add other profitable items free of charge, as long as it’s within our terms of free shipment,” she said.

“People said they would appreciate lower delivery charges generally, and also everyone was speaking about the margin pressures they’re under.”

Customers had said they usually did not need the bells and whistles. So the company had sat down with its logistics partners to work out a way to offer this, Dodwell-Bennett said.

Alex Ward, commercial director at Midwich, said it did not charge per item but per consignment, but practices depend on the agreement with the carrier.

Whether a certain item is in the warehouse at the time of ordering may affect the practicality of charging a flat rate, Ward said.

“But where possible we are trying to reduce the costs,” he said.