Argos and Baby-G watch

edtheduck_2

OK, so my watch was going to be a year old in November 2013 but it broke in October 2013. The screen went wonky - black bits , bits of numbers etc and then it stopped.

I brought it back to Argos who said they would send it off for repair and it might just be the battery. I explained that I have owned several Baby G's and the battery should last longer that 11months. I asked them to ensure it was seal tested too.

It came back and I asked what they had done? Replaced the battery. I said if this goes again I'd be back, as I'm not convinced it was the battery - they didn't really say anything. It worked up until the end of March 2014 and it just did the same again.

I brought it back to Argos (mid April) expecting them to replace it for me as it was the second time it broke. They fobbed me off saying it was outside the guarantee and it sounded like the battery..Again??

I said surely they attempted a repair within the guarantee period, so really it was not fixed correctly and they should give me a new watch?

They totally dismissed me and I left the shop saying I would contact Trading Standards.


I have a Baby G sitting on my table that's 2 years+ old with the original battery so I don't accept this, and am of the firm opinion that the watch has a fault somewhere.

I would be grateful if someone could tell me if they think I have a case to take this any further and any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

wealdroam

In MSE's Consumer Rights guide it says:

When goods are faulty, if you return them within six months, then it's up to the shop to prove they weren't faulty when you bought them. After this, the burden of proof shifts and it's up to you to prove they were faulty when you bought them.

Before you can take this any further with Argos you will need to prove that the watch is inherently faulty.

This is usually done by getting an independent report confirming it.

cajef

edtheduck wrote: »

They totally dismissed me and I left the shop saying I would contact Trading Standards.

Trading Standards don't deal with consumer problems they will just pass you on to the CAB.

TSI is a membership and training organisation and does not give consumer advice - you need to contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, which does handle consumer enquiries.

JJ_Egan

How to
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/protection_trading_standards_e/reporting_a_problem_to_trading_standards.htm

lijaloo

http://sogahub.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

powerful_Rogue

edtheduck wrote: »

OK, so my watch was going to be a year old in November 2013 but it broke in October 2013. The screen went wonky - black bits , bits of numbers etc and then it stopped.

It came back and I asked what they had done? Replaced the battery.

Im presuming from your post that when you got it back in October 2013 after they had replaced the battery, the watch was working fine - no "black bits" or "bits of numbers"?

If so, it does indeed sound like the correct remedy was applied, aka replacing the battery.

Before forking out on independent reports, id recommend getting the battery changed.

vuvuzela

edtheduck wrote: »

I brought it back to Argos who said they would send it off for repair and it might just be the battery. I explained that I have owned several Baby G's and the battery should last longer that 11months. I asked them to ensure it was seal tested too.

You have no idea how long it had been sitting on the shelf before you bought it. I very much doubt there was a new battery put in the day before you got it, it could easily have been a couple of years old.
Personally I'd try another new battery - the one they put in might well have been cheap or faulty.