I wrote on 11th October 2020 about a purchase I made from Argos. Now I cannot point the finger entirely on this retailer (As most probably all appliance retailers do not go above or beyond their call of duty) and because I used Argos the majority of my stress is related to Argos in this instance.
The original post you can read here: https://marketingagency.cymrumarketing.com/2020/10/11/what-electrical-appliance-wont-tell-you-before-buying/
Moving on just over two months later I finally get my Gas Cooker delivered. Not my first choice but none the less it was delivered, You have to remember I also paid for installation and recycling.
So me not being none the wiser assumed I would now have my cooker installed ready for me to cook my first meal this evening. You can just imagine the atmostphere when one of the engineers said the dreaded words “Excuse me, but you have a problem”. You could cut the air with a knife when he said this and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I was in shock what Argos said. Basically I could not have my new cooker installed because of safety regulations I needed a splash back and my socket which I have had for over 20 years was too low and was in the way of the ‘Hot Zone’.
Surely they should be able to install an appliance and if anything happened it would be on the onus of the consumer not the retailer?
If you look at Argos FAQ there are no diagrams and no mention of ‘Hot Zones’. https://www.argos.co.uk/help/faq/72459
Now I do have a splash back tiled area but by all accounts it was too low and I needed another row of tiles.
I was livid as no where does it mention on Argos’s website anything about the height, width of the ‘Hot Zone’. One literally has to scour the internet to find this information and for someone like myself who has no clue about safety regulations, why would I need to know this?, I do not rent out properties I am a private resident.
It should be up to the retailer to point out all the things one should do prior to purchasing an appliance.
But like with any business they do not care past the point you hand over your hard earned cash. All they want at the end of the day is a sale and if the sale then becomes a problem, it is not their problem but yours.
You can imagine my food has a use by date, tradesman are hard to arrange under our current climate so my food will perish because ARGOS did not point out what the consumer needed to know prior to making a purchase. All they asked was what socket I had and that was it.
I am fuming 🤬.
So for the purpose of this blog and after my experience I had to do some research to forewarn anyone buying a cooker, Gas or Electric to read the information I have now found out and is listed below.
I cannot even claim on my insurance as this I would assume is a ‘grey area and hard to argue’.
HOT ZONE.
The ‘Hot Zone’ by all accounts consists of an area directly above your cooker or hob. Before installation please make sure that this area is free from flammable items including wood, wallpaper, plug sockets, wiring or an overhanging boiler.
‘Electrical Rating’ Another thing to consider if you are changing from Gas to Electric you need to have your cooker hardwired to a 32 amp socket. Hardwiring is going to cost an arm and a leg. However if it is a standalone Gas for Gas (like for Like Gas) a 13 Amp socket should suffice. Although if you’re upgrading to a newer model, you may find there’s a considerable difference in the power needed. Prior to purchase, you can check the amp rating in the product specifications found in the item’s user manual.
So now consumers need to download the user manuals before purchacing their appliances, by all accounts.
All cookers need an ‘Aluminium Splashback’. Well if that is the case they should be sold together with the cookers and not have to be purchased seperately or the retailer makes it clear to the consumer (it is either a manufacturer problem or the retailer lets the consumer know in advance, should they need a spashback or not)!
This whole ordeal has been a horrendous nightmare from beginning to end and I am glad I do not have to do this again for the next few years.
This information I have shared should be mandantory on every retailers website and not just on a few Gas Engineers sites.
Gas Supply. Make sure there an existing gas supply to the installation point, and a 3 pin electric socket or cooker point within 1.5m of the installation location? If you don’t have a gas supply available, and want to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), make sure the product you’re buying is LPG-convertible.
Again Something Argos Failed To Mention, although I do have a Window and have Good Ventilation, if you are installing a Gas Cooker you must have adequate ventilation. The consumer needs to know this.
It is not hard to add a few lines of text and this information onto a page of a website.
Ventilation
Gas safety regulations specify that there must be adequate ventilation in the room where the appliance is to be installed. If you don’t have a window or door to the outside world in your kitchen, think about opting for a suitable electric model instead.
VENTILATION MEASUREMENTS
Final Thoughts: Had I had known this information in advance I would have been better prepared.
Use this checklist before you order an Appliance. Make sure that:
1). Make sure you remove anything that may catch fire, any combustible items from the hot zone.
2). Double check that there is an existing gas or electric supply to the place you want your appliance installed.
3). Make sure you have a 3 pin electric socket or a big red switch within 1.5 meters of where your new cooking appliance is going to live.
4). You know where your gas/electric meters and fuse box are, as the drivers will need access.
5). You have double-checked there is suitable ventilation (a window or door to the outside world), in the room where your new cooking appliance is going to live.
6). That you have sufficient funds in your meter for the work to be carried out. (I do not have a meter but for those that do you need to have enough money to cover all installation time).
Will Argos compensate me for the stress I have endured, the food that has and will be perished whilst trying to sort out this mess?, I hardly doubt it, but if they did I would (possibly) consider putting in a good word, after all retailers need all the help they can at the moment. However if there is silence they will see the power of social media at its finest.
#Argos #ArgosRetailer #SimonRoberts
Want to make a complaint, go straight to the top, Apparantly Argos is owned by Sainsburys and the CEO is Simon Roberts.
| Argos Limited |  |
| Mr Simon Roberts | Chief Executive |
| simon.roberts@sainsburys.co.uk | |
| Advice from CEOemail.com | How to write your email to a CEO |
| Telephone | 01908 789171 (Direct) |
| Switchboard | 0345 640 2020 |
| Website | https://www.argos.co.uk |
| Social Media | |
| Postal Address | Avebury, 489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, MK9 2NW |
| Company Number | 01081551 |
| Company Status | Active (Established 13/11/1972) |
Absolute Joke 🤬 !
If You are planning to buy Gifts this Christmas do not use Argos, buy from Amazon instead!
