The delivered price is the only price: delivery, installation and the £60 you forgot

Two retailers list the same washing machine at £399 and £419. The £399 one charges £29.99 delivery, £25 for connection and £20 to take the old machine away. The £419 one includes all three. The dearer ticket is the cheaper purchase.

Large appliances

Delivery: free to £30 depending on retailer and speed. Installation: £20 to £40 for a washing machine or dishwasher, more for a gas cooker or an integrated appliance. Removal and recycling of the old one: £15 to £30. Some retailers bundle these on promotion; AO, Hughes and Currys all vary by product and by week. Always compare the basket total.

Tech and small items

Usually free delivery over a threshold (£30 to £50), which pushes you to add something. Don't. Next-day is often £5 to £10 extra and rarely worth it.

Marketplace sellers

The listing price often excludes delivery and the delivery is where the margin is. A £15 item with £6 delivery from a marketplace seller is a £21 item.

Returns

Part of the delivered price is the cost of sending it back if it's wrong. Large-item returns can cost £30 to £60 with some retailers and are free with others. Read the returns policy before buying anything you can't carry.

What we show

Our deal pages show the retailer's product price. Delivery and installation vary by postcode and by day, so they can't be in a feed. Treat our price as the starting point, click through, and compare the basket. If a retailer's delivery charges make a listed deal not a deal, tell us and we'll note it.