Argos is one of the UK’s most visited retailers, and with millions of orders going out every month, returns are simply part of the shopping experience.
Whether you changed your mind about a coffee machine, received a faulty vacuum cleaner, or need to send back a sofa that doesn’t fit through your front door, knowing exactly how the Argos returns policy works will save you time and hassle.
This guide covers everything: the standard 30 day change of mind window, the Argos returns policy for electrical items, the Argos returns policy small appliances specifically fall under, faulty item procedures, large item returns, Tu Clothing returns, and your statutory cancellation rights under UK consumer law.
Argos Returns Policy at a Glance
- Change of mind returns: 30 days from the date of collection or delivery
- Statutory cancellation rights: 14 days for online or phone orders, including Click and Collect
- Faulty items within 30 days: Full refund, no original packaging required
- Faulty items after 30 days but within 12 months: Free repair or replacement first, refund if that fails
- Refund processing time: Up to 14 days once the item is received and inspected
- Large item collection charge: £30, unless the item is faulty
- Proof of purchase: Required for all returns (receipt, order confirmation, or order number)
Change of Mind Returns: The 30 Day Window
If you simply decide an item isn’t right for you, Argos gives you 30 days from the date you collected it or had it delivered to request a return. This is separate from your statutory rights, which are explained further down.
To qualify for a change of mind refund, your item needs to be:
- Unused, with all original components included
- In its original packaging, with tags still attached where applicable
- In a re-saleable condition
You’ll also need proof of purchase, such as a receipt or order confirmation, and you must return any free items or accessories that came bundled with the product.
Argos is fairly generous about letting you inspect an item the way you would in a physical store. You can turn on a camera to test it, unbox a toy to check it matches the listing, or try on a jacket for size.
What you can’t do is break a hygiene or security seal on items where that seal matters, or use the product beyond what’s needed to check it works. If you do, Argos may reduce your refund to reflect the loss in value, and if the item has clearly been used for its intended purpose, they may decline the refund altogether.
Items Argos Will Not Accept for Change of Mind Returns
A number of product categories are excluded from change of mind returns for hygiene, safety or practical reasons. These include:
- Personalised or bespoke items, such as engraved jewellery or custom gifts
- Sealed video games, DVDs, CDs or software that has been opened, downloaded or redeemed
- Items mixed inseparably with other products after delivery
- Goods that deteriorate or expire quickly
- Sealed mystery collectables, including opened Pokémon card packets
- Digital content not supplied on a physical disc, once download has started
- Newspapers, journals or magazines outside subscription contracts
- Hygiene sensitive products including razors, hair accessories, toothbrushes, breast pumps, make-up, toilet seats, underwear, nightwear, swimwear, earphones, thermometers and piercing jewellery
- Items that can’t be resold once unsealed, such as paint, aftershave or perfume
If you’re ever unsure whether your item qualifies, Argos recommends checking via Live Chat before you buy, particularly for anything that falls into a grey area.
Argos Returns Policy for Electrical Items
Electrical items are one of the categories customers ask about most, and it’s easy to see why. Argos sells everything from kettles and hairdryers to TVs, laptops and gaming consoles, and the rules can feel a little different depending on whether the item is faulty or simply not wanted.
For change of mind returns on electricals, the same 30 day rule applies as with any other product. The item needs to be unused, in its original packaging, and in re-saleable condition.
Once an electrical item has been used for its actual purpose (rather than briefly tested), Argos may treat it as used and reduce or refuse the refund. This is why it’s worth checking a new appliance works without fully putting it into regular use within the return window if you think you might send it back.
For faulty electrical items, the picture changes:
- Within 30 days of receiving it: You’re entitled to a full refund if the item is faulty. It doesn’t need to be in its original packaging, unused, or have tags attached.
- Between 30 days and 12 months: Argos will offer a free repair or replacement first. If that doesn’t fix the problem, takes too long, or causes significant inconvenience, you’re entitled to a refund instead.
- Missing parts: Check the Argos Spares website first, since a replacement part might solve the issue without a full return.
Many electrical products also come with an additional manufacturer’s guarantee that can extend cover beyond the standard 12 months, so it’s worth checking the box or manual for details specific to your item.
Argos Returns Policy Small Appliances
Small appliances such as toasters, kettles, air fryers, blenders, irons and hairdryers follow the general Argos returns policy, with a few practical points worth knowing.
If you’ve changed your mind about a small appliance, you have the standard 30 days to return it, provided it’s unused and still in its original box with all accessories included.
Because small appliances are compact, they’re usually returned in person to a store or collection point rather than needing a home collection, which tends to make the process quicker than with larger goods.
If a small appliance is faulty, the same faulty goods rules apply as with any electrical item: a full refund within the first 30 days, or a repair or replacement within the first 12 months if the fault appears later.
Small appliances don’t need to be repackaged if they’re faulty, which removes one of the more annoying parts of the returns process.
A few practical tips specific to small appliances:
- Test the appliance briefly rather than putting it into full daily use if there’s a chance you’ll return it
- Keep the original box for at least 30 days, since resaleable condition usually means original packaging
- Remove any food residue, water, or personal items from appliances like kettles or blenders before returning them
- Check the spares website first if only a part, such as a lid or filter, is missing or damaged
If Your Item Is Faulty or Damaged
Argos separates faulty item support from change of mind returns, and the process depends on how long you’ve had the product.
Received less than 30 days ago:
- Faulty items are entitled to a full refund
- Items that arrived cosmetically damaged may be offered a partial refund if you’d rather keep the item
- Missing parts can often be resolved through the Argos Spares website
- No requirement for original packaging, unused condition, or tags
Received more than 30 days ago but within 12 months:
- Argos will offer a free repair or replacement first
- If the repair or replacement doesn’t resolve the issue, takes too long, or causes significant inconvenience, you’re entitled to a refund
- Spare parts remain available if you’d rather keep using the item
If you collected your order in store, faulty returns go back to any Argos store. If it was delivered to your home, you’ll need to contact Argos directly to arrange the next steps.
How to Return an Item to Argos
The right returns method depends on how you originally received your order.
Collected from an Argos store: Take the item back to any Argos store with your proof of purchase.
Collected from a collection point (such as inside a Sainsbury’s): These can usually be returned to an Argos store or collection point in the same way.
Home delivery, small items: Return to any Argos store, or contact Argos via Live Chat to arrange an exchange or home collection.
Home delivery, large items (sofas, fridges, freezers, and similar): Use Live Chat to arrange a collection. A £30 collection charge applies unless the item is faulty. For colleague safety reasons, large items can’t be brought into stores.
To start any return, you’ll need your order number, the email address used for the order, and your postcode. Argos has an online returns portal where you can begin this process without visiting a store first.
Refunds: How Long They Take and How They’re Paid
Once Argos has received and inspected your returned item, refunds are typically processed within 14 days. Refunds go back to your original payment method, whether that was a card, PayPal, an Argos gift card, or Nectar points used at checkout.
If you return your full order, you’re also entitled to a refund of the standard delivery charge you paid. It’s worth keeping proof of postage or a collection reference until your refund lands, since Argos states that refunds won’t be issued if they don’t receive the item, and you have no evidence it was sent.
Your Statutory Cancellation Rights
Separate from the 30 day change of mind policy, UK consumers have a legal right to cancel most online or phone orders within 14 calendar days of receiving them, without giving a reason.
This includes Click and Collect orders and is set out under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
If you cancel under these rights and return the full order, you’re entitled to the standard delivery charge back as well as the cost of the goods.
Refunds are issued within 14 days of Argos receiving the goods, or from the day you provide proof of postage, whichever comes first. If Argos is collecting the item, the 14 day refund window starts from the day you tell them you want to cancel.
These statutory rights don’t apply to certain categories, including sealed CDs, DVDs or software once opened, perishable goods, personalised or custom-made items, subscription-exempt newspapers and magazines, and anything sealed for health or hygiene reasons once that seal is broken.
If handling the goods beyond what’s reasonably needed to check them reduces their value, Argos can deduct that amount from your refund.
Tu Clothing Returns
Tu Clothing, sold through Argos and Sainsbury’s, has a slightly different process:
- Free returns to any Argos store or a collection point inside Sainsbury’s
- Postal returns cost £3.50, deducted from your refund unless the item is faulty
- The returns label must be filled in with a reason for return regardless of which method you use
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return an Argos item without the original packaging? For change of mind returns, original packaging is expected. For faulty items, it isn’t required.
How long does an Argos refund take? Up to 14 days once your item has been received and inspected, though many refunds land sooner.
Does the Argos returns policy for electrical items cover items after 30 days? Yes. Faulty electricals are covered by a free repair or replacement for up to 12 months, with a refund available if that doesn’t fix the problem.
Can I return a small appliance if I’ve already used it? If you’re returning it because you changed your mind, light testing is fine but full use may reduce or void your refund. If it’s faulty, prior use doesn’t affect your right to a refund or repair.
Is there a fee to return large items? Yes, a £30 collection charge applies to large home-delivered items unless they’re faulty.
Do I need a receipt to return something to Argos? Yes, you’ll need proof of purchase such as a receipt, order confirmation, or order number.
Final Thoughts
The Argos returns policy strikes a fair balance between flexibility and structure. The 30-day change of mind window covers most everyday purchases, faulty goods are protected well beyond that under the Consumer Rights Act, and the process for electricals and small appliances follows the same clear rules as the rest of the catalogue.
Keeping your receipt, testing new purchases early, and holding onto original packaging for the first month are the simplest ways to make sure a return, if you need one, goes smoothly.