Annoying Argos

Marker_2

Getting rather narked at Argos.

There is a pushchair on the argos website I want. It would be perfect for me to take on holiday and is currently half price at £49.99.

When I first saw it I tried to order it, not available for home delivery so tried my nearest store. Its not available there or the 10 nearest stores. So try a little further a field and again no luck.

So then it dawned on me as this has happened before. There will be no stock in any of my desired stores until the price shoots back up to full.

I tried other places over 200 miles away that relatives could pick up for me. Tried 3 different stores and the 10 nearest to them.

Even tried London, North Wales and Edinburgh and not available there.

In total I must have checked over 100 stores. Unless the pushchair is permanently out of stock I know it will be back on the shelf in all 100 of those stores once the price goes up.

As I've said this has happened to me before, and I made a complaint then as I have now, but I was mugged off the last time.

wealdroam

Not sure what your question is, but perhaps you could report your issues to Trading Standards.

On the other hand, if this is just a rant it should be on the Praise, Vent & Warnings board.

Fosterdog

If the offer on the pushchair is that good they may have just sold out, do you know how long it's been on offer for?

Marker_2

Apologies i have posted on the wrong board. Not sure how long the offer has been on for but i saw it approx 3 - 4 weeks ago. Very frustrating.

Dogger69

It tends to be the opposite case, that the goods which are massively reduced are old stock, hence being in low supply.

Is it the Koochi? If so it is old stock, over two years old.

If it is the Mamas & Papas there is lots of stock in Nottinghamshire, if that helps?

Dogger69

Marker wrote: »

Apologies i have posted on the wrong board. Not sure how long the offer has been on for but i saw it approx 3 - 4 weeks ago. Very frustrating.

So they could have had lots of stock 3 - 4 weeks ago?

battleborn

Probably just sold out and no one has bothered to remove from website.

stugib

Marker wrote: »

So then it dawned on me as this has happened before. There will be no stock in any of my desired stores until the price shoots back up to full.

Their sales promotion leaflets go straight in the bin now, I just assume anything on sale is unavailable unless very lucky.

It's a marketing ploy IMO, and I'm sure I remember they were criticised for it recently (officially, not by someone on here!) but I can't find who by now.

ELC/Mothercare do similar - seen toys at the top end of a range on sale be out of stock until the day the sale ends, when they miraculously find some in the corner of the warehouse

Marker_2

Dogger69 wrote: »

So they could have had lots of stock 3 - 4 weeks ago?

I first saw it and tried to purchase it 3/4 weeks ago and have tried to purchase it ever since.

Yes it is the Koochi, lovely colour and perfect for holidays. I hope it is the case that they are permanently out of stock rather than holding their stock until the price goes back up. Have a few months until I need to get a new buggy so will keep an eye on this one.

If it does come back in stock and price up I will make another formal complaint and write to Trading Standards.

stugib

stugib wrote: »

I'm sure I remember they were criticised for it recently (officially, not by someone on here!) but I can't find who by now.

Might have been Watchdog I was thinking of, referencing that the ASA found against them for advertising a camera on sale that there was no stock of.

Personally I think if they followed up on their response of removing items where stock had run out, they wouldn't even bother doing them in the first place, as I'm more inclined to believe the ASA found them out rather than it being an odd mistake.

Marker_2

Thank you for that stugib. Should it turn out that there is stock of this item ... just not when the sale is on, I will contact watchdog myself and highlight both times where this has happened to me.