Argos live chat advisor, AMA

[ChatterboxAdvisor]

Recently left the position but I worked in the large goods department, although I dealt with a variety of queries. I still question a lot of the prodecures myself so ask me anything :)

Hi OP. My question is about stock - why are so many things always out of stock in my area? There was something I was interested in - I'm in Yorkshire - when I looked for the nearest store it came up as one in Somerset! It always seems that at least 50% of a particular item category is not available where I live. How does the stock work and at what point would you take something off the website as 'out of stock'?

Since Argos was taken over by Sainsburys, the stock situation is absolutely dire. Never anything in stock. Our old stand alone store used to be great. Are HQ planning on doing anything about this? I havent bought anything from Argos since well before the pandemic as a result.

I feel you on the stock front @ClariceQuiff @GuidingSpirit, it made booking deliveries a nightmare because sometimes the next slot would be in a month's time. In theory the amount of stock available is dependent on the general sales per store when it comes to collection orders, and the frequency of deliveries from warehouses. Honestly speaking it seems that particular areas are given priority to others. Some stock runs out quicker than expected due to customers returning dented items etc that can't be put back for resale.
It takes a long time for an item to be taken off of the site completely, it wouldn't be done until the store is given the say so from the supplier/manufacturer.
I didn't work here pre covid so can't speak on that but I know this has been flagged multiple times in which case I'm guessing HQ aren't in a rush to resolve unfortunately.

My question (and the reason I no longer shop at argos) is why there isn't a grace period for reservations.

I've had a few issues where i've reserved something at price X, gone in the next day (or whenever i've got the text to say its ready) to collect and suddenly it's price Y...

Surely the price should be reserved for a certain grace period ? (i think the collection window was 2 days of the top of my head) The few times its happened its just been a waste of everyones time.

Waste of my time because i've driven there and ended up walking out without the item and ended up having to order online anyway.
Waste of the staffs time who had to collect the item, process it, get the manager when i've questioned why the price increased, put it back on the shelf, cancel the order ect.

Just because the website says "For products reserved online for store pick up or any other reservation service the price you pay is the price in store on the day of collection." doesn't make it right.. wondering what the mindset is as I no longer shop there because of it and neither do my friends or family after having similar experiences

Thanks for your reply, OP. Yes, it is frustrating!

Another odd thing I've noticed is that sometimes the same thing (or apparently the same thing) will be listed as 'clearance' with a v. low price but seemingly hardly any in stock across the UK; and also at full price - why is that?

@ForcingSmiles

My question (and the reason I no longer shop at argos) is why there isn't a grace period for reservations.

I've had a few issues where i've reserved something at price X, gone in the next day (or whenever i've got the text to say its ready) to collect and suddenly it's price Y...

Surely the price should be reserved for a certain grace period ? (i think the collection window was 2 days of the top of my head) The few times its happened its just been a waste of everyones time.

Waste of my time because i've driven there and ended up walking out without the item and ended up having to order online anyway.
Waste of the staffs time who had to collect the item, process it, get the manager when i've questioned why the price increased, put it back on the shelf, cancel the order ect.

Just because the website says "For products reserved online for store pick up or any other reservation service the price you pay is the price in store on the day of collection." doesn't make it right.. wondering what the mindset is as I no longer shop there because of it and neither do my friends or family after having similar experiences

Yes Argos are funny when it comes to price changes/discounts, and not in a haha way. The collection window is 7 days unless extended under request and the price reduction should definitely be honoured from the point of purchase, I agree. But I'm also biased because we had so many store colleagues misadvising customers and we would have to deal with the backlash, so if someone was forced into shopping at Argos, I'd advise to opt for delivery whenever possible and avoid store collection. We would have a similar issue with deliveries in that a customer would place an order and the price would go down the next day - we would have to tell them that we can only honour the price at the time of purchase and would have to cancel and refund so they can place a new order for the discounted price!

@ClariceQuiff

Thanks for your reply, OP. Yes, it is frustrating!

Another odd thing I've noticed is that sometimes the same thing (or apparently the same thing) will be listed as 'clearance' with a v. low price but seemingly hardly any in stock across the UK; and also at full price - why is that?

Sorry, do you mean it's a low price but still the full price? Argos are notorious for not updating the site on a live basis and prices can end up changing at the time of purchase as well - we would often find ourselves emailing the team to let them know of changes in prices etc.

What I've seen is the same item listed twice on the website (but with a different reference number for each) - one on 'clearance' and reduced, one full price.

Why are the Q&A answers from an Argos representative SO long winded?

Instead of: 'The height is 62cm. '

They'll say some waffle like, 'I have thoroughly investigated your query and I can confirm that the height is 62cm'

@Hairyfriend

Why are the Q&A answers from an Argos representative SO long winded?

Instead of: 'The height is 62cm. '

They'll say some waffle like, 'I have thoroughly investigated your query and I can confirm that the height is 62cm'

Unlike chat and phone advisors they're not on a time limit and probably have a lot of time to fill

Regarding stock - or the lack of it:

Why is it not possible to input one's post code before searching and have only items come up that are either available within a preset distance or at specific preselected stores, or available for delivery to one's address?

It is beyond frustrating to go through the entire process of choosing what I want and putting it into my basket - only to be told at checkout that it is not available at my local stores or for delivery.

I've told Argos this several times - no response. I have pretty much stopped shopping at Argos...

Nothing, and I mean nothing, is available for delivery from my local Argos.
I live in London (ie not in one of UK non-delivery postcodes), not that far from my store (but some things are obviously not practical to collect).

So now I just don’t bother using Argos.

@FlowerArranger

Regarding stock - or the lack of it:

Why is it not possible to input one's post code before searching and have only items come up that are either available within a preset distance or at specific preselected stores, or available for delivery to one's address?

It is beyond frustrating to go through the entire process of choosing what I want and putting it into my basket - only to be told at checkout that it is not available at my local stores or for delivery.

I've told Argos this several times - no response. I have pretty much stopped shopping at Argos...

To be fair you can filter it on the site to show what's in stock using your postcode, but sadly nothing ever seems to be in stock anyway. I've also given up shopping with Argos, seeing how little the management care about taking on feedback is appalling.

Sorry another stock question. Why do they only stock 1 of each item ? When buying things for our new house we had to get all different pillows, duvets, lampshades, etc as they only had one of each thing in stock

I have got an Argos voucher, I've had it for about 2 years, how can I tell if it's still valid ? Thanks

@ClariceQuiff

Hi OP. My question is about stock - why are so many things always out of stock in my area? There was something I was interested in - I'm in Yorkshire - when I looked for the nearest store it came up as one in Somerset! It always seems that at least 50% of a particular item category is not available where I live. How does the stock work and at what point would you take something off the website as 'out of stock'?

This happens to me all the time. I couldn't get one present from my local Argos because everything was out of stock. I don't bother looking on there anymore .

The Q&A people seem to know an awful lot about the products, are they just adept at reading the information properly or are they running round the warehouse opening boxes and wielding a tape measure?

@Redshoeblueshoe

I have got an Argos voucher, I've had it for about 2 years, how can I tell if it's still valid ? Thanks

If it's a gift card voucher you can check it by logging in on the argos site and there's a gift card checker once you click on account. All cards are invalid after 2 years

@ExtremelyDelighted

The Q&A people seem to know an awful lot about the products, are they just adept at reading the information properly or are they running round the warehouse opening boxes and wielding a tape measure?

A combination of reading the info and contacting the suppliers/manufacturers for specific details. You would be surprised how many queries we receive on live chat when the information is right there in the product spec.

RE stock I'm not too sure on the ins and outs of it, as lowly advisors we weren't given the reasoning for many issues, just given a general script of what we could tell customers if an issue arose. It's really shit and by the end I found it hard to defend the company, a huge reason for why I left.

Hi OP. 2 questions from me if you don't mind

1. can you see what we're typing as we write it before we send the message?
2. why are some products available in stock in a shop 5 minutes away but not for home delivery?

It's really shit and by the end I found it hard to defend the company, a huge reason for why I left

I expect this thread is making you congratulate yourself on your decision!

I like reading the Q&A for items I'm vaguely thinking of buying and there are some truly daft questions.

The Argos Q&A people were excellent sports about the Mumsnet Raven!

@fruitsaladyummyummy

Hi OP. 2 questions from me if you don't mind

1. can you see what we're typing as we write it before we send the message?
2. why are some products available in stock in a shop 5 minutes away but not for home delivery?

I don't mind at all :) we can't see what you're typing, it's similar to other apps where it'll say "fruitsaladyummyummy is typing..." and we can tell when you've switched browsers or minimised the chat but not cut off as it'll say "fruitsaladyummyummy has disconnected". LC advisors also can't see anything that you've said with the chat bot.

Some items are just made to be store collections and aren't stocked in the warehouse for deliveries, and vice versa. Deliveries also depend on driver/slot availability so if the staff isn't there then home deliveries in that area may be thin on the ground! That said, when I first started I had a customer that ordered a kettle and it was classed as a 2man (large goods) order, and all I could visualise was two grown men walking down the path, holding a small kettle between them to be delivered

@ClariceQuiff

It's really shit and by the end I found it hard to defend the company, a huge reason for why I left

I expect this thread is making you congratulate yourself on your decision!

I like reading the Q&A for items I'm vaguely thinking of buying and there are some truly daft questions.

The Argos Q&A people were excellent sports about the Mumsnet Raven!

I'd read the Q&A sections sometimes during quiet periods for the laughs What's the Mumsnet Raven? 😲

THank you

Mumsnet Raven - here you go @ChatterboxAdvisor :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/3402882-What-can-I-buy-from-Argos-for-4ish-to-win-a-bet