Argos refuse refund - help appreciated thx

somethingcorporate

savingqueen wrote: »

If you choose to reply to this post, I won't be bothering to reply.
I have better things to do with my time.

Like replying to threads telling us you will no longer be replying. Thanks.

I am sure the irony is wasted on you.

gordikin

Why do you assume that people who totally disagree with you work for Argos...that's just plain wrong!

savingqueen

Jo_F wrote: »

I can assure you that I do not work for Argos, but I have spent a lot of time working in retail, and I know that a sellotaped back together box would render that item unsellable, also, I have a gazebo, and I knew from the moment that I bought it that wind could and would be a problem (I do a lot of outdoor events), we spend a lot of time holding the gazebo against the wind, they are never meant to be used in strong windy conditions, mine can just about tolerate a moderate wind.

The item is not faulty, the same would apply to a gazebo bought anywhere, in fact I am sure that it says in the instructions for mine that it is not intended for use in windy/very wet conditions (we found out the other week that it is indeed shower proof, but definately not monsoon proof)

Not that it matters to this post much but for the record the box wasn't sellotaped together. It was as I originally said, opened very carefully, contents put back together very carefully, box & contents completely intact, nothing damaged in any way. The end was lightly sellotaped for the purpose of keeping the contents in perfect condition and the box ready for the contents to be inspected (as we assumed they would be to verify their condition).

I don't know how a store selling stuff from a catalogue can really expect people to be 100% sure of the product they are buying without either seeing it on display (impractical for many items, partically for something like a gazebo where there isn't adequate room to display in your average Argos store) or daring to (carefully)take it out of the box, look at it (carefully) and put it back in the box (carefully in original, undamaged condition of course).

I have bought several different things over the years from different shops, including Argos that have been opened before and repacked, sometimes quite badly and I don't get two figs about the condition of the box (unless of course its a gift like jewellry) as long as the contents are perfect. Whats more important to me and I would of thought many consumers is that you are able to return items that don't suit you or aren't 100% as described.

THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ANY FUTURE POSTS FROM ANYBODY ACTUALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH ME BUT I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH MY TIME THAN ARGUE OVER A GAZEBO SO WON'T REPLY ANY MORE. LIFE'S TOO SHORT.... PLUS THE LAUNDRY PILE AWAITS. HAVE A GOOD DAY ALL

glider3560

savingqueen wrote: »

I don't know how a store selling stuff from a catalogue can really expect people to be 100% sure of the product they are buying without either seeing it on display (impractical for many items, partically for something like a gazebo where there isn't adequate room to display in your average Argos store) or daring to (carefully)take it out of the box, look at it (carefully) and put it back in the box (carefully in original, undamaged condition of course).

Argos will let you see a product, for free, before you buy it. Most staff will even open the (sealed) box and show you the actual product.

achtunglady

glider3560 wrote: »

Argos will let you see a product, for free, before you buy it. Most staff will even open the (sealed) box and show you the actual product.

Yes, but will they assemble it and take it outside to see if it can withstand windy conditions??

Fuzzy_Duck

savingqueen wrote: »

I can only assume from those who totally disagree with me that you work for Argos. Obviously there are employees in chains like Argos who sit in their offices searching for rants against them who log on pretending to be genuine MSErs.

"Consumer revenge"??? I think some people have switched to the other side! ha ha

Never mind my parents will never spend another penny in their local Argos (they live in Spalding).

If you post on a public forum you have to accept that you're likely to encounter lots of people who disagree with you. The fact is the customer is not always right, and in this case, Argos do not have to refund because you simply don't like the product- they only have to refund if the product is faulty. In my experience, gazebos are useless in windy weather as Jo_F says, so this is almost certainly not a design fault of the gazebo. You could try to challenge this, but I don't think it will be worth it considering how far away your parents live.

Also as already said, other customers would most likely complain if they received a box with the staple removed and sealed with bog-standard sellotape, so they'd be taking a risk if they agreed to refund and tried to sell it to someone else. Most people do not want items they know have been opened and tried by someone before them. If Argos were able to simply put the gazebo in a new box then it might not be such a problem, but they can't.

I think your only hope is to try another branch, as some managers are more likely to refund just to avoid all the hassle. However if Head Office have confirmed that what the manager at this specific branch did was correct, and state they back their staff in these decisions, it might still be a waste of time.

fb1969

The OP has said the gazebo cost £40, so I assume it was Argos item 650/2904 (or one very similar).

Not only are the dimensions given, but it also states "NB: Please note this item should not be used in high winds."

DVardysShadow

savingqueen wrote: »

I can only assume from those who totally disagree with me that you work for Argos. Obviously there are employees in chains like Argos who sit in their offices searching for rants against them who log on pretending to be genuine MSErs.

"Consumer revenge"??? I think some people have switched to the other side! ha ha

Never mind my parents will never spend another penny in their local Argos (they live in Spalding).

There are such posters for some organisations. I doubt that Argos do it. But even if they do, I doubt that any such person has posted - all the post counts appear too high and shills tend not to last very long without being jumped on. If you would name the person and show from other posts that they were shilling for Argos, I would be more inclined to take note.

Googlewhacker

savingqueen wrote: »

I can only assume from those who totally disagree with me that you work for Argos. Obviously there are employees in chains like Argos who sit in their offices searching for rants against them who log on pretending to be genuine MSErs.

"Consumer revenge"??? I think some people have switched to the other side! ha ha

Never mind my parents will never spend another penny in their local Argos (they live in Spalding).

Right, so because people disagree with you makes them automatically an employee of Argos, wow there must be alot of Argos employees we don't know about!!!

As has been said before the packaging is now damaged so they cannot sell as new can they?

adam.mt

To be honest I'm not sure why the OP has posted other than to vent their frustration.

They have no legal right to a refund unless the goods are faulty. Argos' 30-day money-back guarantee is IN ADDITION to their statutory rights and as such they can impose any reasonable T&Cs they like.

OP says they returned the goods in good condition, the store manager disagrees. Since it's being returned under Argos' policy and not statutory rights that's perfectly their entitlement and they don't have to refund or give credit.

OP - if you wish to argue this, talk with their head office; I see you have done and they've backed their store up. Thus, bad luck. There's effectively no recourse. Move along and get on with life. Perhaps time to think more carefully before buying goods (the description does provide measurements and warns about wind). You're only other option is to try a different branch, and if this is too inconvenient then basically tough; what do you expect anybody on here to do about it?

Argos are within their legal rights. No body on here has seen the goods and can say whether your description of the goods and packaging is correct or the manger's is!

It might not be what you want to hear but it's the TRUTH and further, Neil's comment is no more rude than your own posts.