Empty watch box received from Argos! Help!

lilacclaire

I ordered a load of stuff from Argos just before Christmas, it was delivered in the evening so I just left it until the next day when it was going to be wrapped.

Everything was individually wrapped so I knew everything was there, or so I thought!

One of the items was a watch at £160, so not cheap and the most expensive thing ordered. The watch box and everything was there but there was just no watch, the delivery packaging had not been tampered with in anyway, so it could not have been in there when it was sealed up.

I contacted Argos straightaway by phone and they promised someone would call back, no-one did, several phone calls and twitter messages later and still being told someone would get back to me.

I eventually got the email address for the sainsbury ceo and emailed that, I got a response yesterday saying that the box would have been checked before being packed, so tough luck basically!!

I am beyond angry, the box was either not checked before packing or the person who checked it has half inched the watch!

I have spent thousands (probably like a lot of people) at Argos and will never ever shop there again.

What on earth do I do?

lilacclaire

Just seen another thread asking for method of payment, I paid by Argos card, so technically not paid for it yet as on credit. TIA.

marliepanda

The most important bit is dated which you don’t mention.

Date the item arrived at your house

Date you told Argos the watch wasn’t present

lilacclaire

Sorry, I ordered 22nd, arrived 23rd in the evening, opened on 24th and phoned them within minutes.

marliepanda

Contacting them the day after shouldn’t be ‘too long’

It’s definitely tricky as, as I’m sure you know, there will be people who would lie about this type of thing.

I’d insist they conduct a full investigation as to what happened to your parcel beforehand. The issue is the finance, which, although youbhavent paid, you e agreed to and you don’t want this affectingyour credit...

cajef

Having had problems in the past with Argos selling items that have been used and returned, I now always buy in store and check the items are in sealed boxes if not I open and check them while at the counter before leaving the store.

lilacclaire

Thanks, I wasn't sure how to respond to the last email, I will insist they do a full investigation, apparently the box would have been checked prior to being sent out, but I will ask them to provide proof of this? Do you have to tick a form to say you've checked it/cctv?
I had other stuff I had ordered a few months before that I had paid cash for lying in a cupboard upstairs also unchecked and still in the delivery wrapping, thankfully all ok, it would never occur to me that this could even happen, until it happened!

LadyDee

I wonder if the box belongs to a watch that has been put in the display cabinet? I realise this would only apply if the order is picked instore. Would the order come from a local store, if so, it's just possible it could be an innocent mistake.

robatwork

As it happens I believe you - Argos's shipping department is awful, and the opposite of their in store service that I use and have nothing but praise for.

They probably get dozens of calls a day from people saying their item didn't arrive or the box was empty - imagine you're an immoral thief - it's an easy claim to make. So I'm not surprised their default position is that this is impossible and they aren't at fault.

Sounds like there's no proof either way - you don't have video of yourself opening the box as delivered, and I'll bet they don't have video evidence either.

You have a couple of choices from my viewpoint.
1 - Start a complaint through Resolver.

2 - Send a LBA (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/taking-legal-action/small-claims/going-to-court/taking-court-action/step-one-write-a-letter-before-action/) then go to court. They either won't defend it or it will up to you to state your case then they will state theirs, and a judge will decide whose word to believe.

lilacclaire

I honestly thought as soon as I called it would be resolved, I have never even heard of this happening, im not a thief honestly, I would be nicking something worth more than £160 if I was.
Thats a good point about perhaps the watch being on display, i'll point this out to them. Im not even sure which store the delivery would have come, I presume it would be localish as I ordered it on fast track delivery although there wasn't a slot until the following day.

LadyDee

lilacclaire wrote: »

I honestly thought as soon as I called it would be resolved, I have never even heard of this happening, im not a thief honestly, I would be nicking something worth more than £160 if I was.
Thats a good point about perhaps the watch being on display, i'll point this out to them. Im not even sure which store the delivery would have come, I presume it would be localish as I ordered it on fast track delivery although there wasn't a slot until the following day.

How did you get on?