Reserving items at Argos

dartiss

Hi,

I've just got off the phone to Argos customer services as I queried an issue that I've come across twice in the last couple of weeks.

In the first instance I'd reserved a camera from their website. It was selling at £80.90. However, when I went into store to collect (using my reservation number) they attempted to charge me about £130. I pointed out the discrepency and they checked on a nearly computer (in preference to their till) - they confirmed my reservation price and charged my the £80.90.

This week I reserved a childs slide for £24.99. In store they tried to charge me £29.99 until I pointed out the price difference. Again, they checked their PC and charged me the original reservation price.

I spoke to the manageress and she said that the issue was that the till only shows the current in-store price.

Today I spoke to customer services and they confirmed this was the case. The till doesn't know I reserved it at a different price. It was recommended to me that I should always tell them in this situation if the price is different.

Really? Is it really up to me to tell them they're attempting to over-charge me? Shouldn't it be policy in-store for reservations to check the reserved price? Apparently, it's not but they will look into it.

So, if you reserve an item at Argos, check the price you're charged when you pick it up! I should also add that if the price goes down in store, it's probably not worth mentioning it

David.

dartiss

I don't think Reggie Rebel was aiming that at me, but the quote from Argos Customer Services (or, at least, I hope so )

I do wonder whether this is a trading standards issue - attempting to charge me a greater sum than it was advertised at?

David.

Outpost

dartiss wrote: »

I do wonder whether this is a trading standards issue - attempting to charge me a greater sum than it was advertised at?

Not really. Just a mistake like any other. Not a premeditated attempt to con you.

lizziem_2

I have found the following on the Argos site in the FAQs section:

How can I check latest prices?


We're always lowering our catalogue prices and running special offers. With so many great deals, you might find that many items are cheaper than you thought! Luckily, Argos.co.uk always has the latest prices. Wherever you see a price advertised on this website, you can be sure it is the latest price available. Alternatively, there's now a fast and easy way to check product prices using our Price & stock checker located at the top of your screen. Simply enter the catalogue number you're looking for and we'll provide you with the latest price available.

Please note that prices can change on a daily basis. If you reserve an item for store pick up using our Check & Reserve service, the price you pay is the price in-store on the day you collect & pay for the item.

dartiss

lizziem wrote: »

Please note that prices can change on a daily basis. If you reserve an item for store pick up using our Check & Reserve service, the price you pay is the price in-store on the day you collect & pay for the item.

Hmmm. Interesting. Neither the store, the store manager nor Argos customer services appear to believe this to be the case.

In fact I've looked at the email I received with the reservation details on and it echoes the above from their site - they can charge you higher when you get to the site.

Besides... and to use my own real life example... I reserve an item one day at £80.90 then make a special trip the next day and Argos can then charge me £130? In this case I could only order it this way, as it wasn't available in store.

David.

Reggie_Rebel

dartiss wrote: »

I don't think Reggie Rebel was aiming that at me, but the quote from Argos Customer Services (or, at least, I hope so

You are right, it could read both ways so apologies for that

bcl999

lizziem wrote: »

If you reserve an item for store pick up using our Check & Reserve service, the price you pay is the price in-store on the day you collect & pay for the item.

This was the first thig that sprang to my mind when I read the original post. Nice to know otherwise and I must remember for the future.

david39

A similar point was raised last year with Tesco's reservation system.

It is possible to reserve an item (at one price) and collect it next morning and have to pay a higher price because the price has been increased overnight. The price you are required to pay is the price on the day of collection, not the price on the day of ordering.

I'm not sure if Tesco have changed this policy but there was quite an extensive thread about it on here some 12 months ago.

bcl999

Yes but the interesting thing here is that the OP didn't - he/she got the item at the (cheaper) reserved price not the (higher) in-store price when collection was made.

dartiss

bcl999 wrote: »

Yes but the interesting thing here is that the OP didn't - he/she got the item at the rserved price not the in-stroe price.

And that's the policy according to Argos staff and customer services.

David.

trumpton

This has been raised a few times before I think, but usually the Argos store have refused to honour the price. I agree that it is wrong - if you have reserved at a certain price that's the price you should pay. I can also see that the till would come up with the current in-store price, but clearly it would not be difficult to check what price it had been reserved at and charge that.

Currys and PC World often have a different price in-store, usually higher than the online price, but they always charge the price at which you reserved it.