Nina Ballantyne of the CAS said: “This new data is stark, and shows that people in the northern half of Scotland are hit by delivery surcharges which can be difficult to justify.
“In addition, many online retailers are not transparent about the charges. So consumers are unable to make informed choices.
“We believe that any delivery charges should be up-
“We are committed to finding solutions for consumers and are working with delivery companies and other consumer groups to reduce delivery costs and improve transparency.
“We hope to identify suitable trial projects in the coming year, in partnership with the Scottish Government, local authorities and communities.”
Western Isles pay 50% extra for parcel deliveries says new report
5 December 2017
People in the Western Isles pay up to 50% in parcel delivery costs compared to the rest of Britain according to new research.
A study by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said consumers in northern Scotland fork out at least 30% more, on average, for delivery than consumers elsewhere in the UK.
This rises to 50% more in the islands.
For heavier items, people in the Highlands and Islands can be asked to pay almost four times as much as the rest of Great Britain.
Over 80% of consumers affected do not think the extra price is fair, with 83% saying they’d buy more online if it weren’t for the charges.