Home and garden orders have their own problems. Items are large and heavy, delivery is often by freight rather than by ordinary parcel post, and returns can be slow and expensive. An order of a sofa, a shed or a patio set has more moving parts than one of a pair of socks. This guide helps you see the whole cost and shows where cashback applies.

Measure twice, order once

Before you shop, measure the space, but also the way in. Doors, stairs, lifts and gates decide whether a piece can be delivered at all. Check the packed dimensions and the weight on the product page, which are often listed separately from the finished size. If you plan to assemble something yourself, find out how many people are needed and how long it takes.

Shipping is the hidden price

Large items often have separate shipping rules. Some shops include delivery, others charge by weight, by region or by item. Delivery to the kerb is different from delivery into your house, and an installation service is a third thing. Read what is included and what is not. A low product price can be undone by high freight, so compare totals, not sticker prices. The same applies to gardening tools or plants, which may only ship in some months or to some regions.

Delivery windows

For bulky goods someone must be present. Look at the delivery window offered and how the carrier contacts you. Missed deliveries can lead to storage fees or a new appointment. If you cannot be home, ask whether a neighbour may accept the goods, and tell the shop in advance.

Inspect on arrival

Write on the delivery note if a box is damaged and take photos before the driver leaves. Hidden damage can be reported shortly after unpacking, but the deadline is usually short. Keep the packaging until the item is assembled and checked, since many returns require the original box.

Returns of large items

Returning a heavy item can cost much more than returning clothing. Find out who pays for the pick up, whether the shop deducts a fee, and whether the item must be in its original packaging. Some items such as mattresses or custom made furniture cannot be returned at all. Treat the return policy as a part of the price.

How cashback works on big orders

Cashback is paid when you order through a tracked link and the shop confirms the order. On large orders the amount can be meaningful, which makes the conditions worth reading carefully. Typical points to check are whether shipping charges count, whether assembly or installation services are included in the base, and whether special promotions or vouchers exclude the order. A returned or cancelled order removes the cashback. For high value orders, the confirmation can take a while, since shops wait until the return period has ended.

Compare the whole picture

For each shop note the price, freight, delivery date, return terms and cashback. That is the core of what we do at daily cashback: cashback, current offers and shipping compared in one place, checked daily with the time shown. Some of our shop pages relate to household and outdoor products, for example Fanttik for car and home tools and X-Sense for smoke alarms, and they show how conditions are laid out.

Staged ordering

If you are furnishing a room, order the main piece first, check the fit and then add the rest. Ordering everything at once can save freight but increases risk if the main item turns out wrong. Place items you may return in a different order from the rest, to keep the cashback on the others intact.

Seasons and storage

Garden goods follow the weather. Outdoor furniture and tools are often discussed in spring, but you may find the choice wider before the season than during it. Remember that large items need storage until you use them. If a delivery arrives before you are ready, where will it stay? Plants and seeds have their own timing and may only ship in certain weeks. Think about these practical points before you chase a discount, since a good price on a product that sits in the hallway for a month is of limited use.

Finally, keep the manuals and the invoice together, because warranty claims for large items are easier with documents at hand.

Order day checklist

1. Log in to your free account.
2. Use the shop button on our page.
3. Turn off ad blockers and coupon extensions.
4. Pay in one visit with the same device.
5. Keep the confirmation email and the delivery details.

If the order fails to appear, see missing cashback. Confirmed cashback can be paid out by PayPal from 20 USD. We are an information portal, so the contract is always with the shop.