Argos/Homebase 49p telly discussion thread

elvis_bloggs

Long Live MSE.

rowantoad

'The Register' have wrote a piece too

Argos pulls 49p TV deal
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/01/argos_snafu/

And they mention the site and gave a link back to here too.

Phonix

You must understant I am all for people taking on companies, and within the law pushing them to the extreme. Trying to grab bargains and freebies, and play loopholes. Companies try and manipulate us targetting apathy, inertia and ignorance all the time. We need to target them back.

I think what people (like the previous poster) may be taking issue to is the mentality that we should "take companies on".

I agree that we should strive to find the best way to save people money at every opportunity and we should also hold corporations accountable through the actions we take as consumers which includes action taken through the information found on this site and indeed the creation of sites like these, to force a change in the behaviour of corporations toward something more ethical.

However I also think that we should balance this with a respect for corporations when they serve our needs (as they do so everyday) and appluad them, even publicise them through this site when they give us the benefit of the doubt in certain matters and respond to our needs. Particularly when they buck this trend that those of us who want to take on companies have such a problem with.

Morelike engaging with corporations rather than be seen to be fighting them.

System

Consumer expert Jonathan Woodroffe, of the solicitors Ashley Wilson, said: "The contract is void. If the deal is too good to be true, it is."

I want to thank the original poster for posting the offer. I knew that the chances of this tv for 49p was slim, i only ordered two as i felt greedy requesting for more than this and i knew my finances will be very stretched this/next week due to our impending family holiday. Rule number one in moneysaving - only buy what you can afford to pay for.

My only regret is that i didnt put it on my cashback credit card as i would have had a miniscule amount of money back because of it, and also, i would have had a whole month to get the money back whereas now, i have used my debit card and i am not gaining interest on the money they have taken but i will learn for the next time.;)

I wish you well, you who take it further though - its something i aint prepared to do, i have better things to do with my time and money.

biglugs

They have not responded to any of my emails - these emails are genuinely very polite and very short

If Argos had to respond personally to 10,000 people who ordered these TVs then it would take days, if not weeks, to process them all - and given their concentration on sending out 10,000 letters it's not surprising they haven't responded.
Personally I think we should accept that Argos have been pretty well behaved really - someone made a mistake, they spotted their error, closed the loophole, contacted people and told them what was wrong and are arranging refunds. To complain that they are an appalling company because they didn't spot the mistake quickly enough, or because they let you order something despite you knowing you probably weren't going to get it, and took your money because you didn't read their T&Cs in haste to order, and have been holding onto your £5.44 for all of 5 or 6 days really is whinging a bit too much.

Let's just accept that this was a bit of fun while it lasted, we've all helped to get MSE on the telly, then get back to looking for the next big deal.

Better to spend the next few days getting down to Tesco and snapping up some beef if there's any left, or planning how you're going to use that fantastic Dell Dimension 5100 you ordered at the weekend.

whitty999

Here Here,could not of put it better myself,Lets put it down to experience,At least the site will be growing from all the publicity.
Maybe just maybe one day we can all get a great bargain like this,But Martin how about everyone donating there 49p to a good cause see how much they would gain?

Phonix

Quote:
They have not responded to any of my emails - these emails are genuinely very polite and very short

I recieved a letter from homebase as may have others but I haven't read the whole thread so wouldn't know. A nice little letter to explain the problem and how they could not honour the price.

BritBrat

I applied for two TV's one from Argos and one from Homebase, never thought I would get them but hoped I would.

Now the problem as I see it and the reason for most of the comments is they took the money. If they had not done that, would it not have been better for them and us?

Some company's do not take the funds untill dispatch and I think this should be the norm and Argos (GUS group) should revise their T&C and Policies regarding that, after all it would have saved them a lot of trouble trying to refund everyone.

Just my thoughts.

Bogof_Babe

I almost never venture onto this board (Old Style and Discussions are my main haunts), but thought I'd have a look after seeing this shambles on the evening News.

Have to say, having read the whole thread, that I am grateful to Martin for not blowing a blood vessel at the sheer greed being displayed by those who have £ signs where their hearts should be.

I know Argos is a big firm, but it won't be for long if people want to insist on exploiting a genuine error, and at some point it might not even exist if enough people are determined to bankrupt it.

I have worked in price control for a manufacturing company, and the odd over- or undercharge did occur, but I always attached a correction invoice or credit note to the original, and I never once had any comeback, because my customers knew the realistic price of the goods they had bought.

There is a big difference between finding a bargain and exploiting a genuine error. Get real, 49p for a TV? :rolleyes:

biglugs

Get real, 49p for a TV?

I reckon the telly in my kitchen must be worth about that much, if not less! But I'm not selling it