In right as common sense says house not finished , cant take furniture. I.ve been in business decades and deal with similar areas all the time, I.m talking with practical experience versus opinions.
So you speak for all retailers?
Speaking from practical experience, and not opinion, if it isnt in writing, it didnt happen. "Common sense" despite its definition, is not all that common, as exhibited by your posts. What's ironic about your stance is that it also is an opinion. To further illustrate this, as somone who's been "in business for decades", I pose to you a scenario - You are a small retailer with limited space, but you have great prices and service a growth corridor. Due to this your business is doing well. You are about to take a large delivery of stock, however you note that your warehouse is at capacity. You ask your sales managers who have posted great sales figures, how come the warehouse is full when most of the stock shows as sold. they all tell you that their customers are delayed in finishing their houses and need 5 months more worth of storage before delivery. What do you do? Remember, it is common sense that you would hold this for an undefined period of time while your customers finish building...whatever you will do will cost you money, wont it. So as somone whos been in "business for decades" you are now losing money. Great business strategy there.
That said, a retailer would be hardpressed to force somone to take delivery of goods if there is no delivery adress and wouldnt be able to just arrange an impromptu drop off even if there was an adress. If it's a large retailer i think you'll find they're more than reasonable in conversation. Also you will find that many retailers, especially those that have to order goods to be made, such as couches etc have written into their sales terms that delivery needs to take place no later than a period defined in therir paperwork. This is to avoid scenarios like the one above when imports land by the hundreds of container loads.