Should Argos give me a better laptop?

[MarieFromStTropez]

I’m really not sure if IABU. I bought an Acer Aspire 3 laptop for DD to do her homeschooling. I bought it online from Argos. She is unable to return to school for the foreseeable future so the laptop is really important.

Anyway, it doesn’t work. I spoke to Acer and they carried out a diagnostic test and found that the hard drive was faulty. They told me to return it to Argos and they will replace it.

So I spoke to Argos but the laptop is out of stock. As I have NO spare money I asked if they could swap it for another model, but they only one they have is £49 more expensive.

I asked if I could swap it for this one since Acer will reimburse them, but they’ve said no. So we’re stuck with the broken one. We don’t have any other devices so homeschooling is out for now.

AIBU? Or should Argos just send me what they have available? I am fully prepared to accept the results of the vote .

Thanks.

Your local library will have computers your DC can use. Not ideal I know, but better than nothing in an emergency.
Or they can stay late at school and do the homework before coming home. It's only for a few weeks.

Firstly talk to school. Even if they couldn't lend you one before, now the kids are back and yours is broken they should be able to find one she can borrow.

I do see where you're coming from but it is unusual to just be able to replace a laptop instantly. If you'd bought it somewhere else they might well have taken it in for repairs and you'd be without it for a while anyway. It's a total PITA with homeschool but unfortunately normal. Take the refund (I bet it comes through quicker than they say anyway) and take your money elsewhere.

Another option might be to swap it for a cheaper one and take a refund for the difference, unless it is literally their cheapest model. But personally I would take my money elsewhere.

FWIW the systems these days need very little computing power. My two have been doing their online lessons on Tesco returns, bought through eBay. One was only £120, the other more like £200. They come with a warranty.

They’ll replace like for like. I buy my laptops via John Lewis, I get them delivered to Waitrose.

@Heyha

Argos will refund but the OP doesn't want that, so at that point it ceases to be Argos' problem. Replace or refund a faulty item, not give an upgrade just for the OPs convenience. School will have kids coming back in now so there should be DfE loan devices being returned too, could you see if they will lend one of these out to you? Or send paper workpacks now that a lot of the students will be back in the building.

Argos will refund but the OP doesn't want that, so at that point it ceases to be Argos' problem I may have misunderstood, but it sounds as if OP would be happy with a refund expect for the ridiculous amount of time it would take.

except

Argos would put it back in stock and resell it. I got a new one during summer lockdown and part of it doesn't work. It had been returned to Argos and re-sold at full price. Also an Acer Aspire. Unfortunately I didn't find out straight away so am stuck with it.

Yes that's true so perhaps a slight rephrase is fair "the OP isn't happy with Argos' standard refund procedure so doesn't want to proceed with that"

I just don’t want DD to miss any more schooling.

Have you asked around if anyone has old desktop/laptop you could loan? Asked the school if they have one?

You should always be allowed to try something and then return as we haven't been able to try things out in shops

I don’t want something that someone has taken and tried out for a couple of days thanks.

@MarieFromStTropez

I just don’t want DD to miss any more schooling.

Ask to swap it for a cheaper one then, and take the difference as a refund. Have you tried asking school to lend one now that the children are returning to school?

Contact the school - now that most pupils are returning to school, that may free up a laptop that they can lend your daughter.

I bought an acer aspire. Lasted 6 months and cos nearly 400 quid.

I'd get a refund

Someone on Freecycle might have one to give away, if your Freecycle/Freegle is permitting people to use it.

School.may have some loan ones especially with children returning.

Do.you have x box / playstation. Lots can be done through them.

If you are posting back it may take time anyway no matter what you do. You might have to home education the best you can.

@MarieFromStTropez

OK I accept IABU. I will send it back when I can afford to and wait for the refund. It’s just so shit for DD potentially missing another 3 weeks of school.

Thanks for your replies.

You shouldn't have to pay to send it back if the item is faulty. Ask Argos to send you a per paid address label or arrange a courier collection.

And don't buy from Argos again. They are rarely the cheapest any more and the customer service is appalling now. Obviously they don't have to give you a dearer laptop but it shouldn't take 2 weeks to process a refund. It doesn't take them 2 weeks to take the money out of your account! Most decent retailers get your money back to you about as quick as they take it out.

Best of luck.

You're basically only entitled to a refund, but you are entitled to say that your child shouldn't have to miss out because of their slow bureaucracy. Ask if they can either speed up the repayment or loan you something till the money comes through.

@Floralnomad

I don’t think Argos should be out of pocket it’s Acers problem , as pp said get a refund and buy elsewhere .

Well, that's the law. OP has a contract with the vendors, Argos, just as they have one with Acer. It's like that to prevent people getting sent round the houses when something goes wrong.

OP you are entitled to a cash refund, no matter what Argos say. They are entitled to offer credit or exchange but you have the right to reject that and get all of your money back.

@MarieFromStTropez

OK I accept IABU. I will send it back when I can afford to and wait for the refund. It’s just so shit for DD potentially missing another 3 weeks of school.

Thanks for your replies.

Contact school and see if they can provide a laptop. Or else send home a work pack.

Get a refund, I am afraid you won’t get anywhere with Argos, they are not interested in good customer service, but I don’t think any retailer would upgrade you for nothing. Sorry. It’s rubbish.

Not to be pedantic but what device are you using to post with?

I can do anything on a laptop on my iPhone. Yes, Word is a bit of a faff, but homeschool via her/your phone as a temporary remedy would work

If you do want an upgrade, I think the manufacturer would be best placed to offer one so ask them instead.

It is easy to replace the hard drive yourself, and it's not uncommon for people to have spare ones lying around the house, so you might be able to get one free from a friend or neighbour and do it promptly.

@ihaveallergies You are not being pedantic at all. For instance, we are on Khan Maths (Year 3) area at the moment which can’t really be done on the phone. I will try, though.