Blind mum ‘left without food’ after Argos change delivery times

A legally blind[1] mother says she was left without food when Argos delayed a fridge-freezer delivery after she had already emptied her stores. Retford[2] resident Sheila Cook, 84, emptied and defrosted her fridge ahead of the new one being delivered but when the delivery time rolled around, nothing had shown up – leaving her with no food[3]. She saved up for a new fridge-freezer and her son, James, 52, helped Ms Cook with the order, which was supposed to arrive on Tuesday, April 11 between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. The delivery time was pushed back to 6pm, but 6.30pm came and nothing had shown up, Mr Lowthorpe said.

He called them up and the delivery time was pushed back again until 9pm. He said: “I explained that we had to take all the food out and it’s all defrosted. Poll: Which is your favourite takeaway?[4]

“They just apologised and said it would be there by 9pm. But that time came, and there was still no fridge-freezer.” Ms Cook said: “I thought, that’s it – all my food is gone.

It wouldn’t refreeze or anything. “There I was – no food, except for some bread.” When Mr Lowthorpe called Argos the next morning, he was reportedly told that the driver had gone beyond his hours and another spot would need to be sorted. He said: “I asked for the same day, but they said they couldn’t come out and it would be delivered on Monday, April 17.

That was no good, as we’d already taken the food out and defrosted the fridge – no point doing it again. “And even if it did come in Monday, she’d have to go out and buy more and more food. “It’s just absolutely disgusting, pay for them to collect the old one, and they’re just prepared to leave you without. She’s a pensioner and she’s not able to go out and get food.”

He said the company had shown a ‘lack of consideration’ for Ms Cook and said he felt deeply dissatisfied with their apology. However, a spokesperson for Argos said a member of the team had apologised and offered Mr Lowthorpe a gesture of goodwill. She said: “We are sorry that Mr Lowthrope’s experience was not up to our usual high standards.

A gesture of goodwill was given for the inconvenience.” But Mr Lowthorpe went on to say he didn’t find this satisfactory either, remarking: “I was told there was nothing they could do, so they said they’d send me a GBP20 voucher. That won’t pay for my mum’s food and she can’t buy food from Argos, so what’s the point?

“If I wanted compensation for the food, I’d have had to have the fridge-freezer delivered anyway.” In the end, Mr Lowthorpe rectified the issue by purchasing another unit from a different supplier.

References

1. ^ legally blind (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Retford (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
3. ^ food (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
4. ^ Which is your favourite takeaway? (xd.wayin.com)