Ready, Aim, Deliver

Like the common grumps about car insurance companies, everyone has a story about the home delivery that never came or the installation that was two days late. Anyone who has ever ordered a new couch or moved and waited for utilities to be turned on knows the frustration--and sometimes the real loss of a day’s pay--caused by a no-show delivery.

A bill by Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) would give retailers, utility and cable companies an added incentive to show up when promised. SB 101 would require that deliveries or installations take place within a four-hour period. To ensure that it would not place an undue burden on mom and pop operations, the bill would only apply to businesses with 25 or more employees.

And what if companies failed to deliver as promised? The disgruntled customer could take it to small claims court and sue for up to $500 in lost wages, expenses or damages. Of course, the small claims court remedy could be used without legislation. But Lockyer believes that this gives the consumer a “hook” into a specific statute that would make it a bit easier to take legal action, if it came to that.

But the whole idea is that it should not come to that. The proposed law is really just designed to force companies and utilities to be more responsible and considerate. There are exceptions if the delay was beyond the company’s control. If there was a car accident, for example, common sense would dictate a phone call to alert the waiting customer.

It is too bad that legislation is needed to encourage what should be everyday good business practice. But if the bill will bring back a bit of courtesy to business transactions--even if for the wrong reasons--we support it. It has passed muster in the Legislature, and it deserves the governor’s signature.