Frequently Asked Questions About Ercol, Vintage Furniture & Delivery

You can purchase furniture directly through our website by adding the item to your basket and completing checkout using the available payment methods.

If you prefer, you can also send us a message with the item you would like to buy and we can arrange the order with you directly and send an invoice.

UK delivery is available, and we can provide a delivery quotation based on your location.

Yes! We don’t have a retail shop, but you’re welcome to view any item by appointment in our workshop. One thing we always have is coffee...

We’ll do our best to accommodate any requests - get in touch and tell us what you need.

All prices shown on the website are in GBP(£). The price does not include delivery.

We carefully remove the old lacquer and varnish, nourish the wood, and bring out the depth and colour of the original grain.

We only use professional, trade, and made-to-order products on our furniture. And we’re not giving you any more detail than that...

Only to crop and adjust the brightness if necessary. We don’t edit out any blemishes or imperfections - the item in the picture is exactly the item you’ll receive.

Yes. We sell genuine Ercol furniture and clearly describe each piece as accurately as possible. Most items are professionally refinished in our Derbyshire workshop, while some original-condition pieces are left largely untouched where we feel the original finish should be preserved.

We try to retain original Ercol labels wherever possible. Occasionally, a label may come away during the refinishing or sanding process.

Any replacement parts, repairs or other points worth knowing about are mentioned in the individual product description.

We take care to protect each piece for its journey. Furniture delivered by Retro Cactus is carefully wrapped, loaded and secured in the van. Where a specialist furniture carrier is used, we agree suitable protection and handling for the item before dispatch.

International delivery may be available by arrangement. Please contact us with the item and destination before buying so we can confirm the delivery options and cost.

Delivery for furniture bought from Retro Cactus is quoted according to the item, destination, route and access. Send us the piece you’re interested in and your postcode, and we’ll confirm the cost before booking. Any delivery included with a purchase will be stated in the listing or agreed quotation.

We deliver across the UK, including Scotland and the Isle of Wight. See our furniture delivery information for purchases from Retro Cactus.

Our separate Isle of Wight furniture collection and delivery service is quoted for each job, including furniture bought elsewhere.

Yes. Please agree the collection arrangements with us before booking your courier. Use a carrier experienced in transporting vintage furniture, with suitable goods-in-transit insurance. We do not accept network parcel carriers for furniture collections.

Yes. Collection from our workshop in the Markham Vale Environment Centre, North Derbyshire, is by appointment. Please arrange a time with us and bring a suitable vehicle, protective materials and enough help to load your furniture safely.

Yes. We usually deliver furniture ourselves. For some destinations, including overseas deliveries, we may arrange a specialist furniture carrier. We’ll confirm who is delivering your furniture and the arrangements before booking.

Yes. Retro Cactus makes regular furniture collection and delivery runs between mainland Britain and the Isle of Wight.

We can collect furniture on the mainland for delivery to the Isle of Wight, and collect on the Island for delivery back to the mainland. The service is available for furniture bought elsewhere as well as pieces bought from Retro Cactus.

See our Isle of Wight furniture collection and delivery service for full details and to request a quote.

No. Our Isle of Wight collection and delivery service is available for furniture bought or sold elsewhere, including items from private sellers, shops, auction houses and online marketplaces.

Send the item details, dimensions, collection and delivery postcodes, and any access information so we can confirm availability and provide a quote. If you buy furniture from Retro Cactus, we can also arrange island delivery as part of your purchase.

Yes. By prior arrangement, another furniture courier can deliver an item to our mainland depot for us to take onwards to the Isle of Wight on a suitable run.

This can be useful when the collection is outside our normal route or another courier is already covering that area. The same arrangement can also work in reverse for items travelling from the Isle of Wight back to the mainland.

Yes. We can arrange collections from the Isle of Wight for delivery back to the mainland when they fit with one of our regular island runs.

Send us the collection and delivery locations, item details and approximate dimensions and we can advise what is possible.

We regularly handle antique, vintage and modern furniture, including larger, fragile and valuable pieces. Jobs can range from a single item to larger loads, depending on space and access.

If you are unsure whether an item is suitable, send us a photograph and its approximate dimensions and we will take a look.

We cover the whole Isle of Wight, including Ryde, Newport, East Cowes, Bembridge, Seaview, Shanklin, Ventnor, Freshwater and Yarmouth.

Send the collection and delivery postcodes so we can confirm the arrangements and next suitable run.

We make regular trips to and from the Isle of Wight, with dates depending on existing collections and deliveries.

Some customers book the whole van for a dedicated, quicker delivery. When that happens, we may also have space available for furniture travelling in the opposite direction.

Contact us with the item, collection and delivery locations and we can tell you about the next suitable run.

Yes. When we quote for an Isle of Wight collection or delivery, the ferry cost is included unless we specifically tell you otherwise.

The quote is based on the item, collection and delivery locations, access and how the job fits with one of our regular island runs.

Yes. If we agree to buy your furniture, we can usually arrange collection ourselves.

Collection timing will depend on your location and our delivery and collection routes, and we’ll discuss this with you before confirming anything.

We’re in the Markham Vale Environment Centre, in Derbyshire, just off M1 Junction 29A.

We buy vintage and mid-century furniture in a wide range of conditions, including pieces that may need refinishing or repair.

Please send us a few clear photographs, your location and any information you have about the item.

We’re unable to take every piece of furniture we’re offered, but we will always let you know if the item is of interest to us.

The easiest way is usually to send us a WhatsApp message with a few clear photographs of the furniture, your location and any information you have about the piece.

You can also contact us through the website or by email. If you’re local to us, we may be able to arrange to view the furniture in person.

We’ll take a look and let you know if the item is of interest to us.

If you haven’t heard back from us, please feel free to give us a call after 10am.

We receive a lot of enquiries and I’m sometimes away on furniture collection and delivery trips, so occasionally a message can be missed or take a little longer to answer.

A quick phone call is always welcome.