How to get cheaper VCR courtesy of Argos

greenwich

This might benefit you if you're looking to buy a TV/DVD/VCR from Argos:

In May I bought a TV/DVD/VCR package from the Argos website. The VCR was described as having slow motion replay. When I got it, I found it didn't. This was not a defect: that model just doesn't have slow motion replay.

So I rang Argos to complain. First they offered to send a replacement VCR of the same model. I told them it was pointless as the model just doesn't do slow motion replay. Then they offered to take back the entire TV/DVC/VCR package and make a full refund. I said no as I was happy with the TV and DVD. I have made this brief. As you will have guessed, I had to talk to some very stupid people before someone finally understood that the real problem was that they had sold something on the basis of a wrong description.

To cut this short, I eventually made them understand that since the website says slow motion replay, they were legally liable to EITHER provide a VCR that does slow motion replay OR pay me enough cash to enable me to buy one myself from somewhere else. They can't get away with just making a refund and getting their goods back. A contract is a contract.

So in the end they took back just the VCR and paid me a cash lump sum that was enough for me to buy a VCR from Comet that does slow motion replay. Net result: I got a better VCR for the price of a worse one.

I am not the sort of person who tries to squeeze money out of companies by making complaints. I thought about posting this story here then, but decided not to, out of goodwill to Argos. But today I see that they are still selling the same package for the same price with the same wrong description, even though they told me in writing in May that they would fix it.

If anyone is interested in this, the item is "Bush 28in Flat Widescreen TV, VCR, DVD Player and Stand.", catalogue reference 5360020, price £299.99.