In shipping, bulky goods are items that cannot be sent as a standard "parcel" due to their size or external characteristics (e.g. because they are not cuboid-shaped). Parcel service providers such as DHL, DPD, UPS, GLS, or Hermes define exactly how large and how heavy a parcel may be.
At DHL, shipments are considered bulky goods if one or more of the following characteristics apply:
- Exceeding the maximum parcel dimensions in at least one dimension (DHL parcel 120 x 60 x 60 cm; roll* up to 5 kg, length 120 cm or diameter 15 cm)
- Neither cuboid-shaped nor roll-shaped
- Protruding parts
- Packaging made of a material other than cardboard or paper
For clocks that, due to their size (e.g.
grandfather clocks), must be shipped by freight carrier, we charge a surcharge of €90.00 within Germany. International shipping for these clocks is available on request.
How do delivery times change?
A package is considered bulky goods as soon as it is "non-sortable" or "not suitable for conveyor belts." This is because parcel services have optimized their parcel centers, processes, and delivery vehicles for the parcel sizes they specify - parcels pass through automatic sorting systems (sorters), allowing them to be processed, distributed, and delivered quickly. Under normal circumstances, bulky goods may take about one week to deliver. At present, this timeframe is often exceeded, and there are bulky goods parcels with delivery times of 2 or even 3 weeks. All bulky goods items are marked with a yellow sticker. This sticker is attached to the top of the parcel.
What is curbside delivery?
If a shipment is delivered "curbside," this means that the freight company or supplier may leave the shipment at the roadside. The delivered goods therefore do not have to be brought to your front door, let alone into your home.
As the buyer, you are therefore responsible for making sure you can get the ordered item from the "curb," i.e. from the roadside, into your home. As a rule, the freight carrier informs you of the delivery time so that, as the buyer, you can arrange in advance for enough people to help transport the goods further. When the goods are handed over, a signature is then used to confirm that they have arrived and are undamaged.
What is home delivery?
In general usage, home delivery means that the sender bears the cost of delivery to the destination. How far the delivery goes is usually specified in the delivery terms. The phrase "home delivery" is merely a cost-bearing clause
. Beyond that, the clause has no further meaning.
Sources:
https://www.grassl.de/lieferung-frei-bordsteinkante/, https://cargoboard.de/logistik-abc/frei-bordsteinkante/, https://www.dahag.de/c/ratgeber/zivilrecht/warenlieferung/lieferung-frei-haus
