A display item that looks secure on a showroom floor may not be ready for road transport. For an Edinburgh retailer sending decorative pieces, sample displays or presentation equipment, plan protection around the item’s vulnerable parts and the handovers at both ends. A “fragile” label is a warning, not packaging.
Describe glass, delicate edges, loose fittings and projecting parts. Ask the supplier or a competent packer what protection is suitable for the item. Where components can be removed safely, agree who will do that and how they will be labelled. Do not leave dismantling decisions to the driver on arrival.
Provide the dimensions and weight after packaging. A protective crate may change both the vehicle requirement and the unloading method. Tell BHA if an item must remain upright, cannot be stacked or needs a particular orientation throughout the journey.
State whether the goods are collected from an accessible loading point or need carrying from a shop floor or upstairs store. Give door, lift and stair restrictions and explain what assistance is available. Discuss any extra crew or equipment before booking; two people being present does not automatically make every lift suitable.
Confirm the receiving point and who can accept the load. If the destination is a shop being fitted out, check that contractors have left adequate space for unloading and temporary storage. Transport does not automatically include display assembly, installation or removal of packaging.
Keep a clear pre-collection record of the item and packaging. Identify existing damage and tell BHA about it. Photographs help document visible condition, but they do not replace suitable packaging or establish the absence of hidden defects.
Declare the value and ask what cover, limits and exclusions apply to the proposed movement. If the item is irreplaceable or unusually sensitive, raise that before agreeing the service. Do not assume that a general insurance statement covers every type of fragile article.
See BHA’s Edinburgh coverage within Scotland and retail and artisan delivery information. Send photographs, packed measurements and both postcodes, together with the deadline and handling instructions. BHA will assess acceptance and availability. This is general fragile-goods guidance for Edinburgh customers, not a claim of specialist art handling or a particular retailer relationship. Reviewed 16 October 2026.
