Argos wont let me return my tent

Zippy4emma

Hi guys and girls i just joined the forum and ive been having a problem with argos.
Basically i bought a vango avington 500 5 person tent, i got it by home delivery and it cost 299.99.
We set the tent up in the garden and realised it wasnt the right tent. We wanted the avington 500xl which has a bigger living area. It is in Very for the same price so we thought we would send it back and purchase the one from very instead.
Well, what a palarva!
We packed it down carefully, put it away neatly and took it back to a local store. The woman on customer service says,
'has it been used'?
I said no, i set it up and realised its the wrong one. She opened it up and asked,
'did you peg it down'
i said yes to stabalise it, she then says sorry you cant return it theres soil on the pegs and grass on the groundsheet. I was like
'i bought it yesterday, i set it up not realising it was the 500xl we after.'
'She said sorry thats our policy.'
So i left the shop a bit miffed but not defeated and decided to go to another store. (After cleaning the pegs of soil lol)
You guys still with me?
I get to the other store and same questions although i just said i rolled it out and noticed there was only 4 tent poles when the 500xl has 5, so rolled it back up and decided take it back.
'Sorry cant return it, been used'
I was like hang on a minute it aint even used it was unpacked.
'Yea got grass on it!'
I said 'manager please' and i spent about 20minutes arguing with him slowly getting more angry. Hes like, 'how am i supposed to sell a second hand tent with grass on it?'
I was like 'what was i meant do? Set it up in the house! Its bound to have grass on it, i set it up on the grass! (Dry dead grass due to this heatwave) not asif its covered in mud.'
I made him take the whole thing out and inspect the whole thing then made him pack it away again. But he still wouldnt give me that refund!

Sorry for the rant guys, my partner saysi should just leave it but i think im well within my rights to return it. Ive never had a problem returning things before so i dont know what the problem with the tent is.

Can i just say i love the show and all the tips and i read the newsletter all the time.

PasturesNew

To be fair, I'd have made sure every trace of any grass/etc was entirely removed before attempting to return it.

Under "the law" there's nothing wrong with the tent, you bought the wrong one. So then it's down to individual store policy about accepting returns and their conditions.

Can you clean it again and have another go? In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say....

Zippy4emma

Yea i could have a go but i think they will find some other excuse not to accept it.

AndyMc.....

Why did you unpack it if you wanted an xl?

gardner1

Clean it and take back to a different Argos........and when asked "has been opened/used"........say NO

Hermione_Granger

PasturesNew wrote: »

Under "the law" there's nothing wrong with the tent, you bought the wrong one. So then it's down to individual store policy about accepting returns and their conditions.

As the OP stated that they bought the tent "by home delivery" then it's possible that it was bought at a distance and if this is the case, they are legally entitled to return it under the Consumer contract regulations.
If this applies and the OP follows the legal requirements for informing Argos of their wish to return the tent and they return it in accordance with the CCR's then Argos must accept it back.

If they consider that the OP has gone beyond what is required to assess the suitability of the tent then they can reduce the refund (by up to 100% of the selling price), but they can't legally refuse to allow it to be returned.

maisie_cat

I would have said that pitching a tent that is clearly labelled the wrong one goes beyond what is required to assess the suitability.
I've returned tents over the years, it's hard to judge how easy it is to pitch a tent alone until you try. I have mostly pitched a tent inside, but have had to outside using a brand new giant tarp to protect from grass & dirt. It isn't fair to lie and say it hasn't been pitched unless you can completely remove anything that might cause the next buyer to think it's been used. Is it possible that a notation has been put against the order in case a return is tried elsewhere?

Fosterdog

When ou bought it for home delivery did you pay online or in store?

If in store then you have no right to return it if it falls outside their returns policy and you need to just suck it up. Either use it or sell it on.

If online then you do have the right to return it but not necessarily to a store, you'd have to send it back to the online warehouse a they can reduce your refund by a reasonable amount to account for the diminished value by you setting it up on grass.

photome

Playing devils advocate.

If I bought a new tent ,unpacked it and found grass or soil stains, I wouldnt be happy, would you ?

I think you could have checked the size without pitching it, on the other hand you will prob find a store that will accept it back for a refund

NotRichAtAll

the xl on very is actually £329
https://www.very.co.uk/vango-avington-500xl-5-man-tent/1600224480.prd?_requestid=317015&Ntt=vango

and really you should of got rid of all tell tale signs of grass, also compairing the size of each tent there really is not much difference

Aylesbury_Duck

For all in-tents and purposes it!!!8217;s now used. If you bought it in store, you!!!8217;re not entitled to a refund and I can see why Argos don!!!8217;t want to take the hit on a £300 tent they cannot re-sell because of your error.

There is a way to ensure you get a refund but I!!!8217;m not going to explain it because I think you are being unfair expecting the retailer to fund your mistake.