Argos watch bought but not in box; accused of stealing

wolvoman

Most bizarre thread I’ve read in ages.

If I’d been saving up for months for an item I so badly wanted there’s no way I would wait to get home before opening even the most secure box in the world, let alone an unsealed one.

OP, whilst I don’t doubt your sincerity, there is simply nothing you can do - just chalk it up to experience.

turnitround

Jacob_Jones said:

MalMonroe said:

Now it's come down to Argos' staff word versus your partner's word. Do they have CCTV? Would it show that your partner was just given a package without it being checked? Surely that is an Argos failing?

The time on the customer receipt could be used to find the incident on the CCTV watching the till. 

Which will show a box being handed over. OP said they did not open the box in store so what good is the cctv footage.

To go to small claim court the OP would need supporting evidence which they do not have.

DanDare999

Jacob_Jones said:

MalMonroe said:

I would also report this to the police as it is a theft and once your partner has a crime number then yes, Argos should take this matter more seriously. 

A 'crime number' is just a date log of a contact with the police. 
It doesn't prove anything. It's just an admin tool for the police to find the time the incident was discussed. 

I could get a 'crime number' by reporting a strange looking dog on my street. 

No, you couldn't. You'd get an incident number if the Police recorded the incident on their command and control system.

To get a crime number, you must report a crime that's recordable according to Home Office recording standards. 

DanDare999

turnitround said:

Jacob_Jones said:

MalMonroe said:

Now it's come down to Argos' staff word versus your partner's word. Do they have CCTV? Would it show that your partner was just given a package without it being checked? Surely that is an Argos failing?

The time on the customer receipt could be used to find the incident on the CCTV watching the till. 

Which will show a box being handed over. OP said they did not open the box in store so what good is the cctv footage.

To go to small claim court the OP would need supporting evidence which they do not have.

Correct and people often confuse the balance of probability against the need for evidence. 

Civil court maybe easier to prove but harder harder to defend. 

diystarter7

DanDare999 said:

turnitround said:

Jacob_Jones said:

MalMonroe said:

Now it's come down to Argos' staff word versus your partner's word. Do they have CCTV? Would it show that your partner was just given a package without it being checked? Surely that is an Argos failing?

The time on the customer receipt could be used to find the incident on the CCTV watching the till. 

Which will show a box being handed over. OP said they did not open the box in store so what good is the cctv footage.

To go to small claim court the OP would need supporting evidence which they do not have.

Correct and people often confuse the balance of probability against the need for evidence. 

Civil court maybe easier to prove but harder harder to defend. 

the highlighted bit, prove what and defend what?

Clive_Woody

Perhaps a friend could order the same watch from the store and see if it is sealed when they go to collect it....taking a photo as it is handed over by the Argos employee. Might be useful as evidence prior to taking them to court if they claim the watches come sealed but they actually don't.

DanDare999

diystarter7 said:

DanDare999 said:

turnitround said:

Jacob_Jones said:

MalMonroe said:

Now it's come down to Argos' staff word versus your partner's word. Do they have CCTV? Would it show that your partner was just given a package without it being checked? Surely that is an Argos failing?

The time on the customer receipt could be used to find the incident on the CCTV watching the till. 

Which will show a box being handed over. OP said they did not open the box in store so what good is the cctv footage.

To go to small claim court the OP would need supporting evidence which they do not have.

Correct and people often confuse the balance of probability against the need for evidence. 

Civil court maybe easier to prove but harder harder to defend. 

the highlighted bit, prove what and defend what?

Your case.

DanDare999

Clive_Woody said:

Perhaps a friend could order the same watch from the store and see if it is sealed when they go to collect it....taking a photo as it is handed over by the Argos employee. Might be useful as evidence prior to taking them to court if they claim the watches come sealed but they actually don't.

That would be evidence a watch came sealed. 

Clive_Woody

DanDare999 said:

Clive_Woody said:

Perhaps a friend could order the same watch from the store and see if it is sealed when they go to collect it....taking a photo as it is handed over by the Argos employee. Might be useful as evidence prior to taking them to court if they claim the watches come sealed but they actually don't.

That would be evidence a watch came sealed. 

It certainly would be if it were indeed sealed, but if as claimed by the OP, it came unsealed then it would serve to support her claim.

DanDare999

Clive_Woody said:

DanDare999 said:

Clive_Woody said:

Perhaps a friend could order the same watch from the store and see if it is sealed when they go to collect it....taking a photo as it is handed over by the Argos employee. Might be useful as evidence prior to taking them to court if they claim the watches come sealed but they actually don't.

That would be evidence a watch came sealed. 

It certainly would be if it were indeed sealed, but if as claimed by the OP, it came unsealed then it would serve to support her claim.

How? Argos have already said they're not sealed. Only to retract that, maybe some are some aren't. Their policy on sealed goods already opened and resold would be better.