Argos don't accomodate pensioners

[wee nell]

My mother with failing eyesight went into Argos in Perth and ordered most of her Xmas gifts and decided to buy a new Xmas tree, when it was delivered it seemed the wrong number had been put on paper an easy mistake for anyone, so in her wisdom my mother went to Argos in PERTH and was told she could not exchange my mother did not want a refund just a green tree for the same price an exchange if you will, and was told point plank no it cant be done, so i phoned the customer helpline if that's what you wish to call it only to be put onto a ringtune with no-one answering it because the lady i spoke to did not like the fact i told her that in PERTH no-one told my mother she could not return tree, as my 20 year daughter was there the customer helpline lady was in no position to argue, so she put me onto a ringtune that no-one answered.

my mother has worked all her day's to be treated like less of a person for buying a tree within her means, i bought a tree today and was told i had a thirty day option of bringing tree back, was that because my tree was more expensive than my mother's so ARGOS DISCRIMINATE in PRICE and AGE on their customer service lines and very much in their stores. my mother's crime seems to be that she is over 66 and partially blind.

[blitz]

All Christmas items are exempt of the 30 day money back guarantee, unfortunately if you do buy the wrong item anywhere you are not entitled to a refund/exchange etc. This is not discriminating against any particular person and applies to anyone.

If someone does have a problem reading a catalogue number staff are more then happy to help you and happy to accommodate any other requests for any disabilities that come through the door.

You are always told in store, in the catalogue and on your receipt that something is exempt from the money back guarantee so if the items where purchased from in-store there is nothing that you can do.

I would be interested to see which tree is returnable as afaik every single xmas item isn't.

[wee nell]

the tree i bought is a fibre optic and has a refundable 30 day guarantee it was £60 i bought it one week ago, when i went back and checked today i was told the same thing i could return within 30 days, i also asked about the situation regarding my mother and it was sorted out in five minutes flat by a rather lovely helpful understanding woman who realised it's easy to make that kind of mistake when partially blind.

 

as for your reply about helpful staff i can only assume you venture around Argos stores checking staff/customer relations i can assure you last time i bought in Perth and had to return the box as it had already been opened and when i buy something i like to be the person opening it when i returned to store with receipt the server was less than pleasant (did not get to speak to manager) i bought from argos often and only two places i have visited was shocking for customer relations when i asked to speak to a manager i was told to leave a number and then was hung up on (for not losing my temper or shouting) so i understand that you work for argos and love your job and your store is very people friendly but i think you must understand that all stores are not like yours unfortunately and as a customer we are treated like troublesome people who are just making the server's job harder.

 

i work with the public everyday and if i spoke to a customer like the lady in perth did to my mother i would be sacked on the spot no questions asked we are all about customer care and making their shopping experience as memorable as possible no matter how busy the store is, the customer is always our priority.

[jailbird]

Hi

 

I too had problems with Argos and in the end emailed their Director. I then had a reply from his secretary who put everything right.

I am disabled and have problems with mobility and explained their attitude towards disabled customers is not good enough.

 

Perhaps a similar email may work......I hope so. I understand only too well where you are coming from and its not good enough

 

Argos Direct E-Commerce Customer Services Team.

Telephone 0870 600 8784

Monday to Friday 8am - 10pm

Saturday 8am - 5pm

Sunday 9am - 5pm

 

Chris:)

[ForestChav]

Surely it's the buyer's responsibility to buy goods which are suitable and to buy the correct goods?

 

If they buy unsuitable goods based on advice from the catalogue or store staff then that is different.

[Bookworm]

That's the inherent problem with Argos, though, is that you see the goods on the catalogue, which is not always sufficient to gauge whether it is right for you. At a regular store, you can see the real thing, touch it, feel it, and are less likely to get it wrong.

 

I understand the 30 days return policy for xmas, though, as some unscrupulous sods will get their trees and decs before and return it after, I'm sure... I also think that store policies should always be guidelines, not set in stone, and that good customer service and common sense should prevail. ;-)

[ForestChav]

So then that's an inherent problem with Argos, as opposed to Argos and pensioners...

 

I fail to see the point. If you buy the wrong item a store is not obliged to do anything, but often will as a goodwill gesture.

[Bookworm]

I didn't say that it was a problem with Argos and pensioners, I certainly don't think it is any kind of discrimination, no. The point I made about policy v goodwill is totally valid, though.

 

What I am trying to say is that someone who buys a xmas tree 2 weeks before xmas and brings it back 2 weeks after, yes, the 30 day exclusion is realistic. Someone (doesn't have to be a 1/2 blind pensioner) who buys one in Novemebr and wants to return it 2 days later because they made a mistake, if I were Customer Services, I'd use my common sense.

[ArgosEmployee:)]

I work at Argos and all our christmas trees are exempt from the 30 day money back guarantee.

So dont go blaming us, its the rules, we arent allowed to accept anything back if its exempt from the 30 day money back guarantee.

Usually if the item isnt taken out the store and you realise its the wrong one then the manager will allow it, although if it has been taken out of the store then it cant. Unless the manager does it our of good will.