Surinamese people in the Netherlands may be surprised: the refrigerator they bought is not taken upstairs

Surinamese people are used to having white goods such as refrigerators delivered by suppliers in their own country, but they might be surprised in the Netherlands.

Research by GFC Nieuws Lifestyle shows that most major suppliers, such as MediaMarkt and Coolblue, will not lift large white goods, such as American fridges, in buildings without stairs.

The Coolblue website clearly states: “We place your refrigerator horizontally in the desired location on the first floor and connect it. Due to the size and weight of the American refrigerator, we are unable to lift it up the steps.”

This policy also applies to other major white goods suppliers in the Netherlands. If you have stairs, a normal (i.e. smaller) fridge will be delivered to the fourth floor.

A member of our lifestyle editorial team discovered the issue when they saw a social media post from an affected customer and contacted us.

“I was about to move and encountered this problem while looking for a new fridge,” the victim told us.

In Suriname, it is common for deliverymen to be willing to do extra work for a tip, such as carrying heavy equipment upstairs.

However, the situation is different in the Netherlands, which has strict occupational health and safety regulations. These rules are designed to ensure the health and safety of employees, which limits the services that suppliers can provide.

Lifting heavy items over stairs can cause injuries and health issues for delivery drivers.

For those who still want to carry a heavy refrigerator upstairs, there are outside delivery companies that specialize in moving heavy items.

These companies can provide the required additional services for a fee, but this obviously requires additional costs.

Photos for illustration.

Jennifer Atmo is the Editor-in-Chief of GFC News. She describes herself as a true Surinamese expert, passionate about lifestyle and entertainment topics. In addition to her role in the media, Atmo is also the President of KIVC, an organization that promotes social affairs.

Contact: jennifer@gfcnieuws.com