New blog post, 3 March 2025, Reijer Staats
The SEUR delivery guy
I'm standing beneath the garage's roller door at our Villa Merise. A large white lorry awkwardly blocks the street, and two burly, hairy Latin American hombres, whom I recall from the earlier chaotic delivery of the broken fridge, are now busy packing it for return. Turning my head to the right to somewhat avoid their workman's cleavages, I wonder if I can help and let slip a "Necesitáis ayuda?".
When we took ownership of our new ático Lolapaluza in Salobreña, we made quite a few online purchases. After the bottle holder in the Villa Merise fridge broke for the second time, and the guests – by their own admission – had to finish a newly opened bottle of Spanish white wine in one evening, we promptly ordered a new fridge online.
However, the delivered appliance didn't cool or freeze after a night plugged in. All contents thawed and spoiled, and since Johan managed to find a new, identical bottle holder for the old fridge online, the return and refund process was swiftly arranged. A full day's work: all deliveries and returns, trips between our four casas, couriers who were routinely late or didn't show up, and their unintelligible chatter on the phone... How do you manage that with a regular job?
The words "Hola, soy el chico de SEUR. Tengo un paquete." come through the phone. It's the courier with the bed headboard for Lolapaluza. I rush home because the SEUR delivery guy is always punctual, calls neatly half an hour ahead, and by now knows exactly how to find us – despite the illogical Spanish house numbering, the inability of route planners to locate us, and the absence of a house number at the gate of our development. Oh yes, also the fact that the intercom bell system at our small development hasn't worked since we've lived here doesn't make things easier.
The box is damaged, repaired with tape reading REPRECINTADO, and with a deadline looming – the first guests are almost at the door – I have to try to fix about fifty loose slats between the top and bottom of the bed headboard. This proves impossible without the screws and mounting template that are missing from the damaged box. Johan hears me swearing, comes upstairs shaking his head, and stares at my flushed face. Only then do I accept a new return shipment – thankfully, the SEUR delivery guy will collect this package.