A major retailer’s delivery charges in Moray have been condemned as “shocking” by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Halfords quoted a price of £50 to deliver two car towels, priced at £5.99, to a Speyside-based resident.
Yesterday, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead highlighted the “astonishing” cost of the delivery in the Scottish Parliament .
And he stated: “To make matters worse, the company implied the high charge is to put off customers in the north of Scotland from ordering – so much for the season for goodwill.”
The MSP branded companies as “greedy” for trying to charge rural residents extra in the run-up to Christmas.
Mr Lochhead called on Ms Sturgeon to put pressure on the UK Government to prevent firms from charging over the odds for deliveries.
The First Minister replied: “The level of charge that Richard Lochhead has outlined is shocking. Based on what he has said, it seems vastly out of proportion.
“I am in full agreement that excessive charging for parcel deliveries is unacceptable, particularly when we know that more and more customers are taking advantage of the benefits of shopping online.”
A Halfords spokeswoman explained the £50 charge was applied due to the products being ordered through the firm’s website from an independent supplier and the system is now being reviewed.