I didn't realise that Aberdeen wasn't on the mainland.....

Perhaps Aberdeen is situated somewhere near that country of East Angular ?

When I lived in Switzerland I sometimes ordered clothes from Long Tall Sally, being taller than most Swiss. Because it was coming into a non-EU country I had to pay import duty and companies would put the value of the goods on the parcel so that the cusoms could calculate the duty. Long Tall Sally, however, no matter how many times I phoned up or emailed, always put the total of the goods PLUS postage on the form so that I ended up paying import duty on postage as well.

It bugs me that sometimes on Amazon there is 'free UK delivery'.

I proceed to order, and then find an exhorbitant delivery charge to me here in N.Ireland.
Honestly, we are in the UK.

We have a small business north of Inverness and delivery charges are the bane of my life. It is so annoying after ordering something the delivery charge suddenly dramatically increases when you put your post code in. I just come out of that site and try elsewhere. Or they don't deliver here. The Highlands council were collecting data about this but I don't think they have achieve anything. Some companies manage next day delivery. We use Royal Mail if possible.

Hmmmn.....Aberdeen? sounds vaguely familiar, where is it exactly?

I had similar problems with M and S when I ordered two hampers at Christmas for my 2 Aunts. They live in Angus 20 miles from Dundee. M/S said they didn't deliver to remote areas!! and their call centre too thought Dundee with on one of the Western Isles! I explained my Aunts were both in their 80s and the hampers were just right, then the call centre person asked if they were on an Army base !!!!!

AB42 could not possibly be described as marginally separated from the mainland; Peterhead is well this side of the Great Glen. I take the point about delivery costs, but the words should be better chosen.

Perhaps they are aware of an earthquake that is going to separate the north of Scotland from the south {grin}