Nikon Camera 3 months old - forced to pay extra for a replacement ***Resolved***

[Ninja2111]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can confirm or deny this please.

 

I bought a Nikon camera on 22 July 2014, everything was great until last week (27th Oct) when we were on holiday, the camera would turn on and all functions worked fine except there was nothing on the screen when taking photos and all photos taken were solid black, similar to having the lens cover in place - but it wasn't.

 

Upon returning from holiday I searched for the receipt in order to return it to our local Argos store, whilst I found everything else - box, instructions, CD etc I could not locate the receipt.

 

Luckily (or so I thought) I had paid for it via my Argos card, so I printed off the statement showing the date although the price was more than the camera as I also made other purchases at the same time, I also printed emails I had received showing my reservation details.

 

I took all the paperwork and box etc to my local store, the store manager stated that as it was a Nikon it *must* be sent away for repair and for that to happen I *must* provide a receipt! Because I had purchased the camera at another store my local store could not pull up a copy of the receipt and after disappearing for 20 minutes he returned to state he could not get through to the other store for them to fax a copy through but he had an alternative on this occasion..... He would replace it with one from stock!

 

Excellent I thought, but then came the kicker - there where none in stock within a 60 mile radius, I showed him on my phone that whilst they didn't have the same colour in stock they actually had one of a different colour - exactly the same camera, specs, accessories etc just black and not purple. For this he wanted another £20 as it was priced at £20 more (£119.99) than I had paid (£99.99) (the web page for the new black model did state that the camera had been sold for the lower price of £99.99 in the previous 6 months so this in essence was a price increase).

 

I was left with either paying the £20 or spending the around same amount in fuel to make the 120 mile round trip to pick up one of the same colour. To make things more confusing he stated the original purple colour camera was actually now priced at £84.99, when I asked if I would receive a refund of the difference he laughed....so it's ok to charge me more when the price had increased but not refund when the price had decreased, win win for Argos.

 

Normally I would just take the hit but something about the managers smug attitude really got my back up - £20 is not a lot but as a matter of principle I don't know if this 'supplementary' charge should have applied.

 

Can anyone shed any light if they are allowed to do this?

 

Apologies for the long winded post but I like to get all the facts out in one go

 

Many thanks

[ericsbrother]

the store can repair, replace or refund, the choice is theirs. If they want to sod about over a replaceent you are then going to have to accept one of the other options and as they wont send it back for repair without a receipt (no legal standing on this silly reason then you are entitled to a refund.

Get a complaint in writing in to the store manager and copy to head office giving them a week to respond or you will make a complaint under the SoGA to reading standards and anyone else you think applicable.

[ericsbrother]

try speaking to Nikon directly and tell them what a shower Argos are and ask if they can help resolve the matter.

[king12345]

the store can repair, replace or refund, the choice is theirs. If they want to sod about over a replaceent you are then going to have to accept one of the other options and as they wont send it back for repair without a receipt (no legal standing on this silly reason then you are entitled to a refund.

 

Get a complaint in writing in to the store manager and copy to head office giving them a week to respond or you will make a complaint under the SoGA to reading standards and anyone else you think applicable.

I always thought that you don't need a receipt, but only proof of purchase (bank statement etc.)

They can trace their transaction a receipt with time, date and store id where the camera was purchased.

Then, if within 6 months, under soga, they have to prove that you broke the camera and it was not a manufacturing defect.

The onus is on them, not on the buyer.

Also the option of repair, replacement or refund is entirely up to the buyer.

So if the op wants a refund they must give it to him, unless they can prove that he damaged the camera.

And they have to refund the original price paid.

[rebel11]

Argos haven't gone bust, there is no reason to speak to Nikon directly.

 

Write a Formal Letter of Complaint, mark it as such. Explain what's happened, how they have let you down and what you want them to do.

 

Send it to:-

 

Mr John Walden

Managing Director

Argos

john.walden@argos.co.uk

 

try speaking to Nikon directly and tell them what a shower Argos are and ask if they can help resolve the matter.

[Ninja2111]

Hey all thanks for the replies, after posting I emailed Argos and have just had a phone call from Customer Services. They are refunding the difference I was made to pay and are ringing the store manager to remind him of the correct procedure. - Result!

 

Thanks again

[rebel11]

Well Done Ninja.