Announcing... Home Delivery!
Early March: before gloves, before masks, before social distancing (other than what you usually find in Stromness at 7pm)
Kirkness & Gorie has been closed for 14 days to allow all staff a period of self-isolation after we shut on March 21st. From Friday 3rd April we will be launching a delivery service for food and wine
Many customers have sent messages while we’ve been closed asking for wine and other things, so we are pretty sure we will be kept busy. Which is what we like to be… And if a few tasty things make this period of enforced social-distancing bearable, we’re happy to help!
We have always delivered wine and other produce on request, but this is the first time we have made it the main focus of our business. (Our shop remains closed: please do not come in meanwhile.)
We have worked out some guidelines, after talking with other stores already making deliveries, to help the whole thing go smoothly. But please bear with us while we get up to speed!
Our price list and order form can be found right at the bottom of this blogpost. So have a look at that first, see what you fancy, then come back and read about how to order and the other necessary stuff listed immediately below.
WHEN WE PROCESS ORDERS & WHEN WE DELIVER
We will accept orders at any time. But – IMPORTANT! – please order before 11am for delivery the same day to Kirkwall, Finstown, Stromness and surrounding areas.
Orders received after 11am, will be processed for delivery the following day. Orders received after 11am on Friday will be normally delivered on Monday
We will deliver to further-flung customers as quickly as we can, but, depending on demand, it may take us an extra day or two.
Isles customers can have their orders dropped off at the Hatston Depot as usual.
We will deliver every afternoon, Monday to Friday, and be closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Delivery is free – except of course for isles customers, who will have their usual charges
HOW TO ORDER
We have drawn up an order form showing all the goods in our initial offering. It’s quite a big form and – IMPORTANT – you will need to navigate between the different categories (e.g. wine, homebrew, cheese) by using the tabs at the bottom of the sheet (on a PC) or at the top (on Apple devices.)
The easiest way to order is by filling in the order form, and email it back to us: kirknessandgorie@breckan.scot. You could also print it out, write in what you want, and send a photo of the completed page(s) to us.
The second easiest way is for you to write us an email with a list of what you require.
Our least preferred way of receiving orders is by phone. It is much quicker and more accurate if we can get a written order from. But if you have to phone, for whatever reason, our number is 01856 888792. Leave a message if we don’t answer and we will reply as soon as possible.
However, you order – IMPORTANT! – include your name, phone number, email address and delivery address.
To make packing and delivery as quick and easy as possible, we have a minimum order quantity for wine of six bottles (see notes about the cases we are offering.) For food, we are asking for a minimum order of £10.
HOW TO PAY
1. When we have your order ready, we will phone you to confirm your delivery slot, and to take payment by card.
2. If you can’t pay by card, we can discuss alternatives over the phone, such as BACS. We will not accept cheque or cash payments at this time.
Yes, we have pasta!
HYGIENE & LICENSING LAW
All goods will be delivered in cardboard boxes. We will be wearing gloves and a nice scarf. No, sorry, we will be wearing gloves and carrying anti-virus wipes at all times.
We will arrange with you on the phone in advance exactly how we should deliver. Usually we will lay your order down outside your door, knock or ring, then step back, leaving you to take the goods inside.
We can only deliver alcohol to over 18s. We cannot leave it with anyone younger than that – e.g. children if parents are out. Therefore, we must have sight of anyone accepting a wine delivery. If you appear to be under 25, we will ask for ID, to prove you are over 18. No exceptions.
We can leave a food delivery in a designated location if you are going to be out. But we would prefer not to, just to ensure you get it safely.
PROBLEMS
We remain the same friendly bunch we always have been, so if you have any problems or questions, just let us know and we will sort them out as best we can.
The delivery service is being handled by just two of us, Lauren and Duncan, so please be patient with us. This particularly applies to the first week or two, when we will inevitably be on a steep learning curve.
We have reasonable stocks of everything on our order form, but of course we may sell out of certain lines, and will not be able to get new stock in of most things quickly. If we run out of something you want, we’ll phone and ask if you want an alternative. We won’t make substitutions without checking first.