Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

As a general rule, would you say it's better to get bottom of the range John Lewis stuff or mid-top of the range Argos stuff?

37 replies

derelicte · 09/08/2008 19:26

?

OP posts:
Original poster
derelicte · 09/08/2008 20:20

bump

OP posts:
tissy · 09/08/2008 20:25

depends what it is

JL are mostly good quality, and deliver for free over £50 (IIRC)

LadyOfWaffle · 09/08/2008 20:32

Erm, hard to say really. I have had great stuff and pants stuff from both places. DSs bedroom furniture is from Argos and is really good and strong, and I know the eq. from JL would be probably 4x the price. Depends what it is I guess - I wouldn't spend JL prices on childrens furniture for example.

ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 20:38

JL are not what they were, I would rate both the same on customer service and argos much cheaper (can't beleive JL I just wrote that about JL )

CantSleepWontSleep · 09/08/2008 20:39

JL for me, but then I don't even have an Argos catalogue!

hughjarssss · 09/08/2008 20:40

Agree with ladyofwaffle about argos furniture.

twinsetandpearls · 09/08/2008 20:48

I always thought argos furniture was crap. I need to buy dd a new bed and dismissed argos straight away. Maybe i was wrong.

norkmaiden · 09/08/2008 20:49

Argos probably okay for a lot of things. Ikea (or Habitat) is definitely my first port of call though, over JL or argos.

MrsBadger · 09/08/2008 20:51

depends on the product

are we talking own brands or other makes?

DoubleBluff · 09/08/2008 20:52

I hav had argos furniture in the past and it has been rubbish. Ikea is about the same price but much better quality.
Never bought anything form John Lewis so can't compare.

MNHQ2 · 09/08/2008 21:00

We only bought Argos furniture once, as needed to furnish a spare room quickly and cheaply for guests. Furniture wasn't very robust, and it had little bugs in it, which we didn't discover until they had eaten away the carpet, and then they spread to other places in the house. Cost us a fortune to recarpet!

DanJARMouse · 09/08/2008 21:03

i love argos lol

cant afford JL so isnt an option.

only had one item that was crap from argos, but then i get bored easily so change furniture every 2-3yrs or so.

twinsetandpearls · 09/08/2008 21:04

Not sure where are nearest Ikea is. We are in Dorset

MNHQ2 · 09/08/2008 21:05

TSAP. There is an IKEA opening in Southampton soon. Nit sure when though.

WilfSell · 09/08/2008 21:10

There is no such thing as top of the range Argos, I'm afraid. No competition at all: JL.

ChukkyPig · 09/08/2008 21:17

Was indoctinated into JL by my mum. It's like a religion for some people (i.e. me).

I still shop around but usually end up getting stuff there because, if it doesn't work or breaks or anything, they take it back, apologise profusely, mend it, replace it or whatever no questions asked. And I love their shops. And you usually get pretty good quality for a reasonable price. And... I could go on for hours but it would sound like I'm in a cult.

So, JL vote from me here, not sure it's very objective though!

ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 21:21

see chukkypig I was once the same as you - then JL gave me such bad service I was so shocked and they really were awful I havn't been back since..... that was nearly a year ago

They didn't deliver they didn't care and they refused to put it right. Then I found that I wasn't the only one - there were other customers that had found the same bad service and they were all shocked aswell and havn't bothered again either.

Dalrymps · 09/08/2008 21:23

Depends but probably JL, got my cot and changing table there and they've been great! They were actually the cheapest ones I could find at the time too. Got some cheap storage units from Argos a while ago too, they're alright. Not much between the 2 IMO but JL do have the free delivery over £50 where as we once got a bed delivered fromArgos and the delivery driver was horrendous, was late and abusive to DH on the phone as he couldn't find out house!
That remonds me actually, the bed was a metal frame one and it was welded warped so we had to force it together when assembling it as we couldn't be arsed with the stress of returning it and arranging another crap delivery HTH.

ChukkyPig · 09/08/2008 22:10

Ivykaty was it the website that you had problems with? My mum ordered a bed through the website which didn't come when promised and they had to sleep on the floor and it was all very awful but I told her to complain and they gave her £50 of vouchers or something.

Anyhoo, it was the internet service which was a let down they are/were not quite the same as the shops service-wise.

Mum has had it confirmed in her brain that internet shopping isn't quite right and has gone back to buying everything in-store which makes her very happy TBH!

ivykaty44 · 09/08/2008 22:45

Yes I got a washing machine and ordered it online. It was just a nightmare. When i said at work about how bad the service was, not turning up etc, my work mates had also had problems. One had a bunch of flowers tossed over her garden gate and completly ruined the other had a delivery card left as they didn't ring on the door bell!

When I rang and asked what they were going to do I was told they would deliver it the next day. My dad came and sat at mine and waited for them the folloing day. No vouchers or any sorry it shouldn't have happened.

I can go any where shopping and get crap service so why bother with JL for crap service I shop elsewhere now and actually I have found other shops do have some really nice staff.

I used to buy a lot in JL (dont really like shopping and it was easy one shop and that it done) big white items etc, curtains, flooring fridge dishwasher christmas pressy - not any more.

Plus they have done me a favoure as other shops do sell they same sorts of things and so much better value.

Original poster
derelicte · 10/08/2008 08:09

chukkypig - you sound like my DH and the ILs. They have been brainwashed, I'm sure of it

Interesting posts on here though. Thanks!

FWIW I'm buying a duvet, but I always have this dilemma when buying household stuff.

OP posts:
georgimama · 10/08/2008 08:16

They sell a lot of the same branded stuff though, don't they, and it probably is cheaper in Argos. Have never bought furniture from JL or Argos can't really help, although Argos sell Mamas and Papas cots and prams for about 15% less than M&P. I don't know how but they do.

If I want stuff for DSs bedroom I just go to Ikea.

mrsleroyjethrogibbs · 10/08/2008 08:56

i prefer john lewis. in norwich at least the cust service is second to none. they will deliver for free....anything now.
They will price match within a certain area too

Roboshua · 10/08/2008 09:17

Never had any experience of John Lewis re delivery or customer service but they could not be as bad as ARGOS. Bought a trundle bed for DS1. Waited 4 months for it to arrive after several cancelled delivery dates. When it did arrive it had some marks on the trundle. However after waiting so long we couldn't face getting it replaced. Also bought a wardrobe (obviously didn't learn my lesson but it was the only one I could find which matched exisiting furniture). Despite being delivered by two burly men they refused to bring to carry it up a flight of stairs for me despite the fact I was 8 months pregnant at the time. When I had almost finished putting it together the doors didn't fit. Agian couldn't face the though of dismantling so my Dad ended up redrilling the holes to fix the doors.

AVOID ARGOS AT ALL COSTS

SaintDeliasprotegee · 10/08/2008 09:34

Have had nothing but excellent service from JL but never had any probs with Argos either. Had faulty goods from Argos and no trouble returning them.