From Our Workshop to Your Garden: Why We Deliver Every Metal Planter Ourselves
- i01017
- Oct 28
- 4 min read
At Metal Planters UK, we take pride in every part of what we do — from the first sheet of steel right through to the moment your planters arrive at your door.
That’s why we handle almost every delivery ourselves. No couriers, no third parties — just us, our vans, and your planters, carefully packed and personally delivered across the UK and Northern Ireland.
It takes time, but it means your order arrives in perfect condition, on the day and time we’ve agreed. And to us, that’s worth every mile.
Why we don’t use couriers
We’ve tried using couriers and pallet services before — and while they’re great for parcels, they’re not great for planters.
These are big, solid, sometimes heavy pieces of craftsmanship. They’re not made to be thrown around in the back of a van or stacked on a pallet in a depot. That’s why we decided years ago to take care of delivery ourselves.
When we load a van, we know exactly what’s inside, where it’s going, and how it should arrive. It’s a simple way to make sure every planter turns up in perfect condition — and never at the wrong address.
Packed properly, handled with care
Before we set off, every planter is wrapped and protected.
Powder-coated planters are covered in bubble wrap, then wrapped again in thick moving blankets.
Galvanised planters are also wrapped individually for transport.
Our vans are fully carpeted, so nothing slides or rubs in transit.
It might sound excessive, but it works. We’ve delivered thousands of planters this way, and every single one has arrived safely. In fact, we’ve got a 100% damage-free delivery record — and we intend to keep it that way.
Reliable, personal, and on time
When you order from us, you’ll get a two-hour delivery window (agreed a week or so before delivery) — and we stick to it. If we say we’ll be there, we’ll be there.
Deliveries are officially kerbside, but we’re always happy to lend a hand where we can. If it helps to get a planter through the house or into position in the garden, we’ll usually be happy to give you a hand.
In the busy summer months, we can cover over 2,000 miles a week — from Cornwall to the Highlands — but it’s one of the best parts of the job. Meeting customers, seeing where our planters end up, and knowing they’ve arrived exactly as they should makes it all worthwhile.
Delivery charges explained
We offer free delivery to many UK mainland addresses for orders over £120.However, because we personally deliver across the whole of the UK (and sometimes beyond), there are a few areas where a delivery charge applies. This isn’t to make life difficult — it’s simply to cover the extra time and cost of reaching the more distant or trickier spots.
Here’s how it works:
Isle of Wight (PO30–PO41)
Fixed delivery charge: £250 + VAT (to cover the ferry and extra time cost).
Northern Ireland (BT postcodes)
Please get in touch for a quote. The cost depends on the order size and how we can fit it into our van or van-and-trailer setup.
Chargeable Zones (£250 + VAT)
For more remote areas and places that are a two-day trip from Hereford, such as parts of Scotland, including postcodes starting with:ZE, IV, HS, KA27, KA28, KW, PA, AB, DD, PH, FK, KY, IM and selected G7 postcodes.
Zone B – tiered delivery
Some areas are further from our Hereford base but still on our regular routes. These include:KA, ML, EH, TD, DG, NE, CA, DH, SR, DL, TS, YO, IP, CT, NR, TR, CO, HU, PL, PE36, G1
Delivery charges vary depending on order value (ex VAT):
Under £666.67: £100 + VAT
£666.67–£833.33: £50 + VAT
Over £833.34: Free delivery
Everywhere else on the UK mainland qualifies for free delivery once your order is over £120 (ex VAT).
You can check your exact rate by entering your postcode in the basket — the message updates automatically so there are no surprises at checkout.
Doing things the right way
Could we make life easier by using couriers or pallet networks? Probably.
Would your planters arrive in the same condition? Probably not.
We’d rather spend the time doing things properly — loading carefully, driving ourselves, and making sure every delivery goes exactly as planned. Because to us, how your planter arrives is just as important as how it’s made.
Ready to order?
Explore our full range of British-made metal planters — designed, built, and delivered with care by Metal Planters UK.
