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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is stealing?

54 replies

LoosingBattle · 05/09/2012 22:23

We moved house a couple of weeks ago, I dropped something and when we switched it on it didn't work. Doesn't look damaged but must be broken inside. :(

Today looking for a replacement see that Argos still sell item (at least 5 years old) and it costs £90, expensive mistake!

DH thinks we should buy the new one and take back the old one (with new receipt) saying we have changed our minds and obviously keep the new item.

I am Shock that he would even think about it! Would you do it?

OP posts:
Rikalaily · 05/09/2012 22:37

It is stealing, also if it has a serial number on the item, it won't match the one on the box so they would know what you were up to.

Belmo · 05/09/2012 22:37

I wouldn't.
But I do know someone who bought a new flat-pack kitchen, installed it, put their old kitchen into the boxes and took it back for a refund.
I know it's awful but I did laugh at that.

RagingDull · 05/09/2012 22:38

its is theft -

pure and simple. risk it and risk Argos phoning the police.

TyrionTheImp · 05/09/2012 22:40

There's no reasonable or unreasonable about it. It's theft.

Original poster
LoosingBattle · 05/09/2012 22:41

Was a ceiling light. No real use as such, still looks new - he isn't trying it though! Is going to buy a lampshade instead!

OP posts:
LackingNameChangeInspiration · 05/09/2012 22:41

I did this with my phone.. sort of! I went to the shop and said I'ld dropped it and the guy in the phone shop phoned the replacement people and said there had been no damage it had just stopped working so I got a new one

nolembit · 05/09/2012 22:42

It is theft and very dishonest. If it is not working and something is broken inside then it would suggest that it is electrical - won't it have a serial number and be traceable? When you return an item you have to give your name and address, it is not worth risking a criminal record for £90.

McHappyPants2012 · 05/09/2012 22:44

would it be fraud???????????

Lolwhut · 05/09/2012 22:45

It would be theft and would have been very dishonest. I think a lampshade is a much better plan Smile

EnglishGirlApproximately · 05/09/2012 22:49

lacking that is theft. No wonder things are so expensive if companies have to cover being ripped off.

catwoo · 05/09/2012 22:56

If it's an electrical item then the serial number will flag up as being very old.But I very much doubt they would pick this up on the refunds desk and you would be long gone before they realised.But are you sure you could get away with it.just glancing at it , it might look newish but I'll bet if you put it side by side with an old one it would look older

RagingDull · 05/09/2012 23:09

not a fraud. defo a theft. expect the rozzers if you try it!

Nagoo · 05/09/2012 23:19

Definitely stealing.

As an aside, I was fighting a loosingbattle trying to get DS's trousers a bit less tight earlier on. Man those buttons were tight.

catwoo · 05/09/2012 23:26

HMMm well I wouldn't lose any sleep returning broken items to Argos.They have sold me plenty of faulty items in my time.

TheCraicDealer · 06/09/2012 00:02

Surely the packaging has to be intact as well though? Most electricals have those security stickers on the side of the boxes to show if they've been opened, can't see the shop refunding it. And if you said it was broken when you bought it they'd realise it was an old model once they started looking into it and you'd be busted. Tell DH you thought his principles were worth slightly more than ninety quid!

getmeoutofthismadhouse · 06/09/2012 00:05

Argos never re sell items returned, back instore , it would take too long to update the computer . Absolutely mad I know especially when you order something and it isnt exactly what you want so take it over to the returns desk without even leaving the store . My Dad worked in a toyshop for years and they had an awful lot of argos returns .
These days though Argos have an ebay site so maybe they sell the returns through that .... I would think 5 years is a little long to expect the item not to have changed .

MrsRhettButler · 06/09/2012 00:14

I know someone who does this all the time in Argos, she's never been questioned or caught out, she just says its broken or stopped working or they sold her a faulty one.
Argos are known for not checking their returns stuff properly.

And I know she's taken back things that have been years old too.

HolyParalympicGoldBatman · 06/09/2012 00:52

If you are going to do it then you should at least tell them it's broken, rather than you've just changed your mind. Argos will exchange anything that's broken for up to a year. I've returned stuff (that was actually faulty) and they don't check it, just send you out a new one.

It is wrong though.

openerofjars · 06/09/2012 00:59

No! Every time you looked at it, you would know what you did. Urgh.

Totally stealing.

catwoo · 06/09/2012 07:31

i would imagine they just send everything returned faulty back to the manufacturer who has to refund them without question because argos wield such great purchasing power

Shutupanddrive · 06/09/2012 07:47

Why do you even have to ask? Of course it's wrong Angry

notsofrownieface · 06/09/2012 07:57

It is refund fraud, and if Argos find out you could be prosecuted.

Chandon · 06/09/2012 07:57

it is exactly the same as walking into a shop, and taking an item without paying. would you be happy to do that?

Why do you even need to ask?Hmm

mrsscoob · 06/09/2012 08:01

No I wouldn't do that, maybe take the old one back and say it is broken though, they may replace it?

Thedoctrineofennis · 06/09/2012 08:29

Tee hee Nagoo!

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