How do I get my money back from Argos?

[FTMF30]

I ordered a pram from Argos a couple of weeks ago. When it arrived, it was the wrong one. It says it'sthe wrong one on the box and was confirmed when I looked inside (same make but slightly different spec and wrong colour). Then the following chain of events happened:

○I called Argos to say I had the wrong item. They say they will contact the supplier who will contact me to arrange a collection of wrong item and delivery of correct one.
○A few days pass and I hear nothing, so I call them. Argos say the suppliers have said that I have the correct pram - apparantly the V3 of the pram (which I received) is the same as V2 (the version I actually ordered . I argue it's not the same and that I have the wrong colour in any case. They say they will get the supplier to contact me and arrange to collect the item so I can get a refund.
○I receive an email from the supplier (ickle bubba) confirming I want a refund
○I reply saying yes and explained I received the wrong item. If I could get the V2, I'd be happy to exchange
○They email back saying I have the correct item, that the V2 and V3 are the same ()
○I email back saying that it's not and, in any case, the wrong flipping colour. Then reiterated I would like a refund.
○No response from them so I call Argos again who says they will chase Ickle bubba
○I get an email from Ickle bubba saying there are a choice of colours and just attachable items that vary in colour (leather handlebar strap, footmuff, etc) so they will send me those in the correct colour in the post. Btw, there is no colour choice selection on argos.
○I email back almost immediately saying I don't want that sent, I just want my money back at this stage.
○Today I receive a package from them, presumably the footmuff and straps).

I'm really angry and just want my money back on principle of their shoddy service and because I've seen a new pram on sale that I now prefer. It's been over a week since I called Argos and they say I can't have a refund until the items are collected (can't return in store). But it seems they/ickle bubba are dragging their heels with arranging a collection date. There's been no acknowledgement of sending the incorrect item.

Is there anything I can do to get a refund without waiting for the item to be collected? They also stated collection dates can be as long as up to 14 days!

@DrMadelineMaxwell

Our sainsbury's won't accept any returns for Argos, we have to go to one large Argos store in the area if we want to do a return.

That's so bad. Argos is shit, and as someone else said, is behind the times.

DH said it's a shame we didn't use credit card as we'd have got a refund quite swiftly

He’s mistaken. As @RuledbyASD said, you can open a chargeback with your bank. It’s the exact same process for debit and credit cards.

Credit cards additionally offer section 75 protection, but these take MUCH longer than chargebacks to resolve. Think 3-6 months as opposed to 4-6 weeks with a chargeback, possibly even longer due to pandemic-related backlog

I had an awful time trying to return a faulty item early January. They told me I had to get the supplier to confirm it was broken... all the details they gave me for the supplier didn't work 🤷‍♀️ Argos customer service was very hit and miss mostly missed. Eventually someone answered who listened to my tale of woe and arranged for the item to be collected the next day and I was refunded. This business of having to go to the supplier isn't right, your sake contract is with Argos it's there issue to solve.

Not all stores are accepting returns and I was told to go to one 40 mins away... which is a large store in a Sainsbury's where no doubt everyone is being told to go so nice way to gather lots of people from different areas Argos 🙄 the 3 local shops to me were open but not accepting returns

Your contract is with Argos not LB. Send the extra items back.

Forgot to add Big items for home del or direct form manufacturer have never been able to be returned to stores don't waste your time taking it back to the shop .

Argos is so so awful.

After the most appalling experience over 10 years ago involving an online order I have chosen to never shop there again.

Best of luck getting the refund. They don’t deserve to still be in business.

Based on the comments here, I didn't bother chasing Argos further. I filed a chargeback claim with my bank instead. Had to fill in a form with attached evidence. They said it could take up to 3 months to resolve 😑. Will update this thread with the outcome. If I remember!

@FTMF30 I picked up an item from argos yesterday and they has a post in the window saying you can return items to any argos that is situated in a sainsbury's store. Do you have a sainsbury nearby?

@Claphands

Your contract is with Argos surely, not the manufacturers so its up to Argos to sort out the collection (as they wont let you take it back or post) This is why i don't shop with Argos anymore, they are behind the times and have poor customer service!

Argos pass the buck. When my fitbit broke argos made me ring fitbit to get a code before they would refund

@TalesTheCat
Argos pass the buck. When my fitbit broke argos made me ring fitbit to get a code before they would refund

Thats standard in many companies as argos will have to get a refund off fitbit . Even if it's faulty they can offer a repair or replacement they are under no legal obligation to refund unless it broke in the first few weeks.

[quote rwalker]@TalesTheCat
Argos pass the buck. When my fitbit broke argos made me ring fitbit to get a code before they would refund

Thats standard in many companies as argos will have to get a refund off fitbit . Even if it's faulty they can offer a repair or replacement they are under no legal obligation to refund unless it broke in the first few weeks.[/quote]
I also has a fitbit from curry's and their policy was to return to store not to contact fitbit

@TalesTheCat
I also has a fitbit from curry's and their policy was to return to store not to contact fitbit.

Different retailers have different policies due to the way they buy from the manufactures . They normally get 2 prices 1st lower cost price but manufacturer will not credit retailer for faulty goods and retailer takes the hit.
2nd the retailer pays higher cost price but gets refunded from manufacturer for faulty goods but the manufacturer will want all faulty products authorised by them to make sure they are faulty not something the customer is doing wrong .

Just to say I ordered a replacement steering wheel today for same day delivery and it was delivered and left in a brown bin! I haven't got a brown bin! So it's gone somewhere else and now I have to wait for a investigation before I can get sent another! I don't think I'll ever use Argos again and I know they won't care but it honestly couldn't have been worse! After all the grief I went to returning the original one! 🤯

I returned a Xbox controller from June last year about 5 weeks ago
I always seem to get more help off the live chats than you do with on the phone. They just seem to do it and process someone to collect it and refund have you tried the online chat?

Go onto the live chat and say I spoke to someone a few days ago on here about a wrong product being delivered that wasn't suitable and not the one I wanted, they said they'd arrange collection due to sending the wrong item but it never actually got processed - I was told by my local Argos shop it might not of gone through properly on the system so to arrange it on here for someone to collect it again and get a refund

I may sound daft suggesting it but please just try because every time I've done this with any product it's always worked

If you paid by credit card. Raise a dispute with your credit card company.