As I mentioned last month, BCA’s delivery charges have gone up quite a bit recently. I’m sure this is a reflection of increased fuel and other costs rather than simple profiteering, but whatever the reason, for single vehicles self-collection can now be more cost-effective.
Accordingly, when BCA wanted £268 to deliver a VW up! from Blackbushe, I chose to collect that, too. A train from Peterborough to Blackwater (the nearest station to Blackbushe) was £39, then the taxi from there was another £15. Then add in £30 for fuel back, £20 for food and drink, and the total cost of self-collecting comes out at £104. By my reckoning that still leaves £164 as wages for about eight hours work. Not bad, especially bearing in mind that for about half of that time you’re sat on a train and can, if you want, do other laptop-based work!
There are, of course, downsides. The obvious one is the risk of a breakdown on the way back, and in this context bear in mind
