You have bought a dining table two counties away, sold a wardrobe to someone who does not own a van, or a shop only offers kerbside drop and you live up three flights of stairs. Parcel couriers will not touch it, and hiring a van for one item feels like overkill. This is what a van delivery service is for.
LMD Logistics collects and delivers large and bulky items anywhere in the UK from our base in Birtley. This guide explains how it works, what to have ready, and how to decide between a delivery service, a courier and hiring a van yourself.
What a van delivery service actually does
In simple terms: a van, a driver, and if needed an extra person, go to the collection address, load the item, bring it to the delivery address and carry it in. The difference from a courier is that the item travels on its own route in a van sized for it, rather than through a sorting depot.
If you are not able to help with lifting and carrying at either end, we can send an extra man so the job does not depend on you or the person you are buying from.
Typical jobs
- Marketplace, eBay and auction house purchases collected from the seller.
- Furniture shop purchases where the shop does not deliver, or only delivers to the kerb.
- Moving one or two items between family members' homes.
- Appliances such as a fridge freezer or washing machine for a relative.
- Business deliveries: showroom items, stock, trade supplies.
Courier, van hire or delivery service?
A courier is cheapest for anything a single person can carry in a box. Hiring a van yourself works if you have a driver, a helper and a free day, and are comfortable with the insurance side. A delivery service suits everything in between: items too big for a courier, and jobs where the cost of a hire van plus fuel plus your time adds up to more than having it done.
If you are torn between hiring a van with our You Load service and a full delivery, the key question is who is doing the lifting.
What to have ready before you book
- The item, with rough dimensions, and a photo if possible.
- Both addresses and postcodes.
- Stairs, lifts or narrow access at either end.
- Whether the seller or recipient can help lift, or whether you need the extra man.
- Any time restrictions, such as a shop's collection hours.
Making marketplace collections go smoothly
Confirm with the seller that the item is ready, that it has been measured, and that someone will be home. Ask whether it comes apart, because many beds, wardrobes and tables travel far better flat. Agree payment with the seller before the van arrives so the driver is not waiting while a bank transfer clears.
Our guide to marketplace and auction collections covers this in more detail, including auction house collection windows.
Distance and pricing
We collect and deliver locally across the North East and to anywhere in the UK. Longer jobs are often priced more sensibly when they fit a run we are already doing, so flexibility on the day can help. Each delivery is quoted on its own details and covered by our goods in transit insurance.
We work Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm, so weekend collections are part of the normal week rather than a special request.
Common questions
Related services
- Collection / Delivery in Stanley — Bulky items collected and delivered anywhere in the UK.
- Single Item and Furniture Delivery in Stanley — One sofa, one bed, one appliance. Two people, the right van and a time you can plan around.
- You Load Services in Stanley — Hire the van by the hour and load it yourself — driver provided.
Areas this applies to
- Stanley — DH9
- Gateshead — NE8 / NE9 / NE10 / NE11
- Sunderland — SR1 / SR2 / SR3 / SR4 / SR5 / SR6