Argos’ delivery surcharge angers shoppers 25/1/12
Customers at the new Stornoway Argos store are furious the retail giant is charging islanders a lot extra for home appliances, sports equipment, furniture and bulkier goods.
Shoppers were shocked to discover that they must fork out a surcharge for items ordered in because they live on an island even though the chain sends up articulated lorries to fill up its stockroom anyway.
This is the first time Argos has opened a store on a Scottish island adding to its other 67 premises north of the border.
It opened in Stornoway on Saturday but now its customers are refusing to order bulkier items as the £49 delivery charges ram up prices.
Islanders shopping around are discovering some home appliances and bigger goods are less expensive in local shops.
Just yards along the road, a Hotpoint Aqualtis washing machine is £250 less in the
Lighting Electrical shop though for the next fortnight Argos throws in a £25-
The same family run shop has a Sharp 22 inch TV for £70 less and an identical Indesit ceramic hob is £40 cheaper.
When the Argos delivery surcharged is applied the savings are even greater -
The nearby Hydro Electric store has a Beko dishwasher £90 cheaper than Argos while a lot of similar brand goods are cheaper or equal in price in established Stornoway outlets.
Iain Maclean of Lighting Electrical said the perception that Argos was cheaper and better was not accurate.
He pointed out that if anything went wrong with their purchase shoppers would have a harder time in dealing with Argos.
Mr Maclean said: "We are here and we are local. We are as competitive and we absorb the delivery charges for our island customers."
An Argos spokesperson said the overwhelming majority of its products were available in the Stornoway store or can be delivered from the store to their home for a set delivery fee of £6.80.
She said the extra delivery price for smaller items not in stock is £17.95.
She added: "In the case of larger and more bulky items such as large kitchen appliances, sofas and beds, which need to be shipped over from the mainland, a different delivery service will apply.
“This reflects the higher cost of transporting these larger items to the customer’s home on the island and the delivery charge for this service is £48.95, regardless of how many items are ordered.”