Argos sent me a broke and wrong tv

HillStreetBlues

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Might we eventually see a two-tier pricing system for good like this, where the online price is actually more expensive than the store equivalent, to cover the costs incurred by change-of-mind returns?  As pointed out above, something's got to give.

Or the costs of all products will simply rise to cover the cost.

No, as goods in store should be more expensive because of the extra overheads.
Even with returns it's still cheaper to trade on-line. Amazon is so successful because it doesn't have the upkeep of stores cost (amongst other things) .

WillPS

user1977 said:

Ergates said:

mikb said:

Having bought a "new" TV from Argos and received a customer-returned one (and seen numerous threads on here where people have had this happen with used kitchen items) I know this goes on. My TV was at least the right model, but the screen protector had been peeled (gone), the leads were jumble-tied, not neatly wrapped, and to cap it all, the paperwork for the previous customer that had returned it was still inside the box! ... and it had already been "Initial Tuning-ed" so it was all ready to go with channels for the wrong region (a neighbouring one, because some people point their aerials t'other way!)

The alternative would be for the retailer to take the returned TV and throw it in the tip.  Are you suggesting this would be a better outcome?

Surely the actual alternative is that they get sold as "nearly new" elsewhere? Not sure what Argos do but Amazon have a specific section for such items: Amazon Warehouse: Like-new returned & quality used products

Argos have a chain of 4 stores they use to clearout 'refurbished' (meaning returned but not resellable as new or superficially damaged) as well as general overstocks. They trade as 'Clearance Bargains' and can be found in Stanley, Middlesborough, Walsall and Corby. The range in each is different because they are fed from nearby warehouses, so Middlesborough has more pre-assembled furniture (sofas) than the others because that's where Argos' main depot for those things is.

Well worth a visit if you're near/passing.

Exodi

HillStreetBlues said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Might we eventually see a two-tier pricing system for good like this, where the online price is actually more expensive than the store equivalent, to cover the costs incurred by change-of-mind returns?  As pointed out above, something's got to give.

Or the costs of all products will simply rise to cover the cost.

No, as goods in store should be more expensive because of the extra overheads.
Even with returns it's still cheaper to trade on-line. Amazon is so successful because it doesn't have the upkeep of stores cost (amongst other things) .

I know you said 'amongst other things' but I'd like to interject and suggest the main reason Amazon is so successful is because of the 'other things' (infrastructure and all-encompassing offer to merchants).

E.g. offering warehousing, picking and packing services (and value-added options like labeling/packaging/etc), next delivery delivery, hassle-free returns and a massive captive audience. Plus no ongoing commitment.

It has never been so easy for a merchant to sell a product to consumers (but this is a double edged sword).

Amazon doesn't offer this for cheap though - hence why they are doing well. I speak to many high volume sellers on Amazon in my profession (millions of £ annual t/over) and many trade on Amazon begrudgingly. Returns are a big point of contention (for example in our case, across our non-Amazon return rate generally hovers around 1-2%, whereas on Amazon it's a little over 7%). I think the low hassle and confrontational (or perhaps the illusion of victimless) returns process causes people to be much more likely to purchase something they're undecided on, lumbering merchants with the costs of reverse logistics and the practical problem of unsealed packaging as shown in this thread - which many sellers will opt to sell at a discount.

I'm not disagreeing that Amazon having its fulfillment centres locating in Timbuktu to take advantage of lower costs is not a reason for their success, but I can't see it's of much notable benefit to the suppliers or customers, who oftentimes will trade on Amazon at similar margins to brick and mortar retailers.