Delivery service can't be trusted

I ordered over a thousand pounds of furniture from IKEA online a couple of weeks before delivery.

The order consisted of 5 items for my son's unfurnished flat in Welwyn. I arranged delivery for Monday 7th September and took time off work to travel to Welwyn (from Cheshire!) to help assemble the furniture. Delivery was confirmed for between 1:30 and 5:30 that day and we waited in the flat for the items to arrive.

By 5 o'clock we had not heard anything from the delivery team, so I called the support desk and had to wait 50 minutes for an answer. I was then assured the items were out for delivery and would be with us about 7-8pm. We waited but still no furniture turned up and we had no communication whatsoever from the delivery team or from Ikea.

I phoned in the morning and a very helpful lady did her best to help and was very apologetic about the lack of communication which she also felt was appalling. She arranged delivery for the Wednesday (10am-2pm) and the items duly turned up at 8:45 am.

Because of the late delivery I had to take another day off work (which I don't get paid for as I'm a contractor) missing an important meeting and we had two additional days without furniture to sleep or sit on. They sent me a £30 gift card as a "good will gesture" which in no way compensates me for the discomfort and loss of earnings.

I subsequently complained to them directly and was offered a refund of the delivery cost (£35), INSTEAD of the gift card! I told them not to bother.

The furniture itself was good, though there was some very minor damage to the chest of drawers. But I'd recommend hiring a van and getting it yourself if you can, rather than trusting the delivery service.