Case study: ‘I refuse to use these firms now’

David MacBeth, 57, a Coastguard from Stornoway, went online to buy a dog brush costing £3.19 and was quoted a delivery charge of £3. However, when he entered his postcode the charge went up to £16.

“I phoned them up and was told: ‘That’s our policy, it’s not us, it’s our couriers’. I said to send it by post but they would not do that.

“I found the same brush elsewhere online at the same price with no delivery charge, so they are losing out.”

He has also been quoted £11 to deliver a £3 memory card for a camera and, a few years ago, £200 to deliver a suite to the island.

“It’s just discrimination and it’s not fair,” he said.

“I just refuse to use these companies now. I tend to use online shopping a lot, and while some companies don’t charge for delivery, every now and then you get one that does.”