Damn, I would never buy steel if i had to deal with that kind of attitude. I feel positively spoilt here in Sarf Efrika now.
Went in to the steel merchants I normally deal with last week, placed the order asked for delivery and paid. (For a change free delivery.) Asked when they would deliver, they said next day. Buy the end of the next day I had a small pile of steel in the workshop. Sadly it's not more steel for my chassis. At the rate things are going I will be doing well to have the bottom rails in place by Christmas.
