Argos - Do they use our money for cash flow?

p00

I am so furious with Argos.

In August I ordered a garden set in the sale for £149.?? with delivery.

Argos take your money at order point not on despatch.

Delivery was for the 25th September. A couple of days before delivery I had a call to say delivery was delayed and they would ring with a new delivery date.

In October I chased up the order to be told it was stuck in the system for the 25th September and I would get a call to re-arrange the delivery.

On the 31st October I was called to say they couldnt deliver at all and I would receive a refund within 5 days.

10th November chasing refund.
12th November chasing refund

BUT in the mean time I contact Argos via Facebook:

• 
  13:17
  Argos
  Hi Hilary, I am sorry that we were not able to supply your furniture, the information provided to us stated that we would not be able to fulfill your order without you waiting for the stock issue to be resolved by the supplier, however this has been resolved and the table and chairs can be ordered. I am sorry for the convenince caused in this matter.
• Saturday
• 
  14:37
  Hilary Knight
  Im sure thats all fine but its now not on sale for the price I paid and since you have now got stock you should re-offer it to me at the price I paid.
• 
  15:32
  Argos
  Hi Hilary, I can confirm that we would be willing to offer the furniture at the price originally paid. In order to do this you will need to place a new order. We can contact you to do this. When would be convenient? I am chasing the refund on your previous order.
• Today
• 
  10:03
  Hilary Knight
  please contact me on xxxxxxx in the evening to renew the order. Or cancel the refund and deliver the table set since I havent had the refund yet.
• 
  10:10
  Argos
  Hi Hilary, I will arrange for someone to contact you this evening.
• Today
• 
  14:30
  Hilary Knight
  Thanks. Can I have your name for contact please. Also can who ever ringsthis evening let me know if this order is covered by the still outstanding refund please.
• 
  14:35
  Argos
  Hi Hilary, my name is Wendy , however it will be my colleague Stef who will contact you this evening and she will be able to give you the details.

refund still not received 13th November.

I received a phone call this evening 13th November to re-order the table and chairs at the sale price as its in stock ands showing on their site as available to order for home delivery.

However I am then told the table set is actually our of stock and cant be ordered.

I am told someone will ring me later tonight to resolve the issue.

Suddenly the item is 'out of stock ' on the Argos site but I have already take a screen print showing it in stock.

I get another call to say the item is only available for delivery in one area (although it now says out of stock???) and it happens to not be my area -burt they will meet me half way on another order for outdoor furniture, which is not in the sale anymore by the way.

I was furious before when they cancelled the order, I am more annoyed now they misled me into thinking I was going to receive the order at the sale price.

Worse still is that I could have ordered the item online as it said in stock for home delivery, and paid, and they still wouldnt have been able to deliver.

Is this how Argos use our monies paid? Take the money on order then weeks/months later cant supply. Then take up to three weeks to refund - bearing in mind I havent actually received the refund yet.

They have said tonight that it will be within the next 5 days.

I should have known though shouldn't I:

I ordered a sideboard reduced to 1/2 price to end up waiting 6 delivery dates and four months later for it to arrive and then find out the 'sale price' was actually the new price in the new catalogue.

Makes me wonder if they need everyones monies to keep going then take ages to refund. What if you were the sort of person that forgot about it or didnt like to chase it up????

Argos should not take the money until they can despatch.

p00

bluenoseam

they have over £200m in the bank, I would highly doubt they use your money for cash flow.

Sharon87

Sounds similar to a Homebase order a couple years ago. We went to the store to buy garden furniture. The one we wanted was out of stock but said we could order it. So we did, 6 weeks later when it was suppose to be in stock it still, wasn't, waited another few weeks then cancelled it. Not sure how long the refund took, but I believe we did it in store. Only way to get things done!

vuvuzela

bluenoseam wrote: »

they have over £200m in the bank, I would highly doubt they use your money for cash flow.

Exactly. Unfortunately you've suffered a serious of crap events and even worse customer service. I doubt any of it was deliberate though.

Azari

Actually, they do use customer money for cash flow. Any large company that takes money ahead of delivery is doing this.

That may not be the specific reason why they operate in that way but it is a side effect that the accountants will certainly figure into their cash flow forecasts.