Argos - Don't trust them!

niteowl_2

On Sunday 24th June, I reserved an item together with a special offer that came free with it. The freebie was only available as store pickup.

Went to the branch armed with my email and reservation number to pay and collect my items. The items were in stock and at the counter. Just as I was about to pay for them, the manager came along and said "there's been a mistake, some error. The offer has been withdrawn". "We had a notice from head office and as we've not got into a contract with you we're not allowed to sell it to you sorry!" :mad: :mad: :mad:

The item was a sony walkman for £99 (buy any one of them with different amounts of memory) and get free sony cradle WiFi speaker & Subwoofer (advertised on web site at £99 or free with sony walkman). In fact look foryouself
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5135671.htm

I tried quoting my rights, but Argos/Manager would not budge. If the offer was withdrawn, why couldn't argos email me saving me the trip/time and money?

When I got home and checked Argos website again. The offer was still there (4 hours after I'd been to the store). I tried placing the reservation again and had no problems. It closes end of day Tuesday 26th.

I searched on the internet, it appears it was also advertised in the Friday Times, as a large advert "free sony speakers with sony walkman purchase...".

So I say, don't trust reserving items on Argos web site. Even if the offer is running and it's reserved in your name for collection It doesn't mean they'll sell it to you. You end up wasting your time (in my case 20mile round trip and parking fees).

I have reported to Consumers direct (part of TSO). They said they'd investigate further and took all the details. They said it sounded like false advertising and it would depend on how many other people complain as to what happens.

In the meantime, I don't get my sony walkman or speaker wifi cradle, as advertised. At least other people managed to get it from their branches without too much trouble.

That's the last time I'll have anything to do with Argos!

stugib

Make sure you get a screen grab/printout now just in case. The page with the offer and the checkout showing it's for £0.00 (I've just tried it now and still there). Download Screenshotcaptor to take a grab of a whole scrolling web page.

There's mistakes but this isn't a simple pricing error, it's an obvious offer they've had to set up especially.

Any other Argos stores nearby you can try?

vikingaero

It's bad customer relations to welch on you like that.

But unfortunately with Collect & Reserve, there's no contract until you've paid for the Walkman. Equally you don't have to turn up to collect any reserved product and Argos can't make you buy it.

Complain to HO and ask for your fuel and mileage to be reimbursed.

dangeroussports

It depends on the branch and manager.

Last time Argos were running thier 10 voucher days. I placed an internet reserve order to collect in shop. Anyway, I ordered a Xbox 360 core pack - 3 games, memory card and free controller. One of the free games was a brand new chart release. All for £199. Minus the 10 voucher for every 100 spent. So, I brought two seperate lots of £100 vouchers, and got two £10 vouchers. I ordered a £0.49p lightbulbs and ended up with another £10 voucher.

Anyway, the cashier wouldnt accept that there were 3 free games but only two. Anyway the manager came over, saw what I was doing and smiled. He let me have it all for the quoted price. Infact I sheepishly asked for another part of the bundle which clearly wasnt allowed (it was for a megapack £69.99). He let me have that for £39 too.


Anyway, I went to collect and guess what......I saw an XBOX 360 Premium pack with all the trimmings that I had reserved. 10 minutes went by until I asked the collections person if my order was ready. Guess what.....the manager had informed her that because there were no Xbox 360 core packs left I could have the Premium instead.


That was the best ever shopping day.

Cant fault argos. They are briliant.

Even today, I collected two 14.99 scalextrics type (not scaletrixs though) racing cars and track PLUS a free radio controlled Nissan ZX car free with EACH of the packs.

Argos are great.

darwin-rover

I work for Argos . There was a mistake with the ordering system on the website and people were trying to rip the @$$ out of it by trying to buy a cheapo MP3 player (say £15) and tried to get the speaker thing free . The offer was temporarily withdrawn which is unfortunate for genuine buyers .
Maybe try again tomorrow ?

uktim29

niteowl wrote: »

I tried quoting my rights, but Argos/Manager would not budge.

What rights were you quoting?

vikingaero

uktim29 wrote: »

What rights were you quoting?

Exactly. Unfortunately you have no rights other than to push them for some goodwill to cover your costs.

The web offer/collect & reserve was an invitation to treat and there was no contract until you paid for the item. Up to that point Argos can refuse to honour the sale.

niteowl_2

vikingaero wrote: »

Exactly. Unfortunately you have no rights other than to push them for some goodwill to cover your costs.

The web offer/collect & reserve was an invitation to treat and there was no contract until you paid for the item. Up to that point Argos can refuse to honour the sale.

You're right, that's exactly what Consumers Direct said to me, because I had not entered into any contract. I thought that by reserving the item at a given price as long as it is within the promotion period it was offered to me "in good faith" to come and purchase it. I understood that to be a form of contract (obviously not). My stupid mistake for thinking that Argos would sell to me and they didn't even think to email and save me the trip.

It still doesn't change the fact that Argos had advertised the items in some newspapers and also had them on their web site, but decided not to sell to me and possibly to others, yet continued to advertise it on their web site.

I'm not going to waste any more time on it. I'm merely not going to give any custom to Argos, especially since that's how I was treated by them, whilst others were sold the item/promotion. To those who shop at Argos and continue to get good service "good luck to you, I hope it continues for your sake".

niteowl_2

darwin-rover wrote: »

I work for Argos . There was a mistake with the ordering system on the website and people were trying to rip the @$$ out of it by trying to buy a cheapo MP3 player (say £15) and tried to get the speaker thing free . The offer was temporarily withdrawn which is unfortunate for genuine buyers .
Maybe try again tomorrow ?

Thank you for your honesty.

I've wasted enough time on Argos and won't give them any more of my custom.

dangeroussports

You can still purchase that product through the internet with a free cradle.

Its seems you had an unusual incident.

I would try gain if I were, theres no harm unless your traumatised by the managers response.