The Stig Vs the Argosnauts.
Davros' Granddad's story of the "Tape-deck and Argos" reminded me of the "Argos tart from hell" story.

Now for the record, I shop online. It's cheaper, (pound for pound) more efficient and the staff are very helpful and courteous. But due to (what I can only assume was) temporary insanity/knock on the head/I'd been sniffing the chemicals in my laboratory too much/delete as applicable, I was forced to buy an iPod from Argos. I took it home and found out that the headphones wouldn't work. Just busted completely. So the next day I took it back to Argos (same branch, they weren't going to catch me out on that one!) with receipt in hand to the "Exchanges and Refund" desk. I walked up and politely explained to the 40-something that the headphones were broken and may I have a replacement or refund? "40-something" in the smuggest of smug tone of voice replies:

"I'm sorry. We can't take them back due to our hygene rule."

I firmly replied "No, the head phones are broken. Faulty. They don't work. I would like a pair that work or a refund."

Amazingly, she came back even smugger than before "I'm sorry, but if you took the time to read our catalogue small print, it does say that we do not return headphones under hygene rules."

Incredulously, I turned to other members of the queue and other customers nearby, to make sure that:

A) They were hearing what I was hearing.
B) I wasn't speaking Swahilli.
and
C) The statutory rights legislation wasn't a figment of my imagination.

"Look," I almost pleaded "please could I have a refund?" An exchange was out of the question.

She sighs and says "I'll have to call the manager over." Manager comes and dishes out a refund. Exasperated, I turn to leave, when "40-something" says "We don't normally do this, so you're very lucky!".

I should have turned away. I should have left it. I had better things to do with my time, surely.........?

No, I didn't.....

"Look," I said through gritted teeth. It took every ounce of restraint in my body not to separate her head from her shoulders, "Under current law, you are OBLIGED to issue me with a refund or an exchange! I am aware of your hygene rules, but it is null and void when the item in question is faulty! You should know this!!!"

40-something looked a little shocked, but I'm sure she got over it.

Anyway, the upshot of this story was two-fold:

1. I bought it online for cheaper and promised never to steer aways from online shops.

and.

2. Whilst, I was seething, I developed an idea. All shops' counters, should be equipped with a re-inforced steel plate on the front. That way, whenever the customer(s) are getting extremely irrated by the shop jockey, they use the steel plate as a sort of, "anger kick plate" to vent frustation*. So the day wasn't a complete loss!


* = I realise that I've put this idea into the public domain and therefore, can't patent it. But, that also means no-one else can as it is "prior art". But that doesn't bother me. If more shops had this, the customers would be happy to vent their anger onto these plates. Though, having said that, the shops could just spend the money training their staff better.....
(The Stig, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 11:08, 1 reply)

Nice idea...
I'll fit my bloody fiesta with them too.
(stiglfc And the big wheel keep on turnin', Mon 8 Sep 2008, 20:35, closed)