Delivery charges

I operate a standard delivery charge for sheet music and accessories:
 

UK Second Class for orders under the value of £7.00 - £0.40

UK Second Class for orders of £7.00 or over FREE!

UK First Class £1.40

Europe £5.00*

* subject to certain conditions, such as the size of the order, see terms and conditions page for details.

Small orders are sent by Royal Mail, items over 1K in weight may be sent by courier.
  
Second class post can take up to a week, if you're in a hurry you are advised to select first class instead.
  
  
Post is despatched around midday, if you place an order after 10am your order may be processed and despatched on the next working day, I'll try to get it into the post bag the same day but at very busy times this may not be possible.

Most of my packages go to the post office on foot, but sometimes go by car.  You can see photos of my route on the blog: http://vsmusicsupplies.blogspot.com 

Musical Instruments (except recorders)
 
Instruments are always despatched by courier, normally 1-2 working days after you place your order and make payment.  Please select free second class delivery, they are sent by courier at no extra charge.  Recorders are sent by Royal Mail.
 

Packaging

I use brown wrapping paper for most of my parcels - this is environmentally a good option as the paper is not bleached and can be recycled.   I actually spend more time on packaging than most mail order businesses as a result, but the cost savings generated by wrapping in this way rather than using commercial envelopes are passed to customers through low delivery charges.
  

The packaging I receive from suppliers is recycled in my own parcels, with the small offcuts left over being burned on my fire or composted.  Obsolete books make their way to the paper recycling plant.  As a result I generate very close to zero waste.
  
In my drive to recycle as much as possible, this means that I also use the covers of obsolete books or even CDs  or CD boxes in my packing.  It isn't unusual for me to despatch oboe reeds inside clarinet reed boxes, so if you open your parcel and think you've been sent the wrong thing, don't panic, just check inside!