SOGA - faulty microwave from Argos

BlueC

Hi all, seeking some advice as to what to do next...

I bought a microwave ("Cookworks", Argos own brand) from Argos in Oct 2007. It developed a fault where the plate wouldn't spin around but then it started working again, then it was intermittently working, and now it's broken again.

We don't use it a lot and considering it cost £70 (i.e. isn't the cheapy cheapest microwave available, although not the king of microwaves either!) I expect it to last longer than 20 months.

So, I returned it to Argos, but they refused to do anything about it, saying that since it is out of warranty (12 months) I must "prove" that this is a manufacturing fault. I read up on SOGA and it seems that this may be the case (?), but

a) how do I "prove" this? do I need to get a qualified person to look at it?

b) if it costs me to "prove" it, do I get refunded the cost of obtaining the "proof" should they find it was due to manufacturing/design fault?

c) is there anything else I can do? any other way to encourage them to fix/replace this microwave?

Thanks
Chris

4743hudsonj

BlueC wrote: »

Hi all, seeking some advice as to what to do next...

I bought a microwave ("Cookworks", Argos own brand) from Argos in Oct 2007. It developed a fault where the plate wouldn't spin around but then it started working again, then it was intermittently working, and now it's broken again.

We don't use it a lot and considering it cost £70 (i.e. isn't the cheapy cheapest microwave available, although not the king of microwaves either!) I expect it to last longer than 20 months.

So, I returned it to Argos, but they refused to do anything about it, saying that since it is out of warranty (12 months) I must "prove" that this is a manufacturing fault. I read up on SOGA and it seems that this may be the case (?), but

a) how do I "prove" this? do I need to get a qualified person to look at it?

b) if it costs me to "prove" it, do I get refunded the cost of obtaining the "proof" should they find it was due to manufacturing/design fault?

c) is there anything else I can do? any other way to encourage them to fix/replace this microwave?

Thanks
Chris

yes you do have to prove the fault

and yes this is with an engineer of some sort

as for whether you should, i dont think so

you see.. you will not get refunded the cost of the report, they dont have to, and even if they do then give yiu a refund, this will only be partial as you have had 20months use

i would think you would get £20 maybe £30 back if that

so its really not worth it, sorry

regards josh

BlueC

Bah, thanks josh.

I think I'm gonna write to Argos anyway... a nice letter can't do any harm I guess.

4743hudsonj

BlueC wrote: »

Bah, thanks josh.

I think I'm gonna write to Argos anyway... a nice letter can't do any harm I guess.

true

they may offer some vouchers


i mean its jsut one of those unfortunate things where the cost of using your rights costs you more than doing nothing

BlueC

yup... i guess if this was a £1000 tv then it would be worth getting an engineers report but as it is a £70 microwave its just not worth the bother.

I won't be buying an argos "cookworks" microwave again though!

scullster

If its worth anything, 4743hudsonj's advice is spot on, exactly as I'd have written.

There is never any harm in writing a nice letter, bear in mind a human being is reading it and sometimes the nicer letter gets a better response - some complainants even resort to poetry or comedy. You may get a sympathetic response!