eBay and Argos move to next stage of Click & Collect partnership
Argos has announced that they have entered an agreement to extend their offering of Click & Collect services via Argos stores. This extension will enable shoppers to select products from a much wider range of eBay sellers for collection from about 650 Argos stores.
The Click & Collect partnership commenced in September 2013 with 50 eBay sellers offering a selected range of products for collection in 150 Argos stores. The trial service proved successful operationally and incredibly popular with customers. A clear majority of those who have used the service and other click & collect services rate eBay’s Click & Collect at Argos as one of the best available.
It is anticipated that by the end of 2014 around 65,000 eBay sellers will offer items for collection at Argos, rising to around 80,000 in 2015. Argos will make the Click & Collect service available in about 650 of its stores.
The shopper experience couldn’t be simpler: buyers simply choose ‘Click and Collect at Argos’ as the delivery option in their eBay checkout and select their most convenient Argos store. Buyers receive a message when their item is ready for collection in their selected Argos store and proceed to a dedicated collection point in the store for fast and friendly service. Eligible sellers will be enrolled in the service and simply need to prepare orders for despatch as normal with eBay’s technology taking care of the rest.
Tanya Lawler, UK Vice President, eBay, said: “Retail has changed and shoppers are in the driving seat like never before. They want to shop anytime, anywhere, on any device and British shoppers love to Click & Collect. It’s a service being rapidly adopted by larger retailers and this partnership with Argos now gives tens of thousands of sellers the chance to capitalise on Click & Collect, even if they have no high street presence of their own.”
David Robinson, Chief Operating Officer, Argos, said: “I’m delighted the operational trial in a number of Argos stores around the UK has been successful. The next stage in the agreement is to have more sellers, more stores and more volume to assess how we can scale this partnership for the benefit of consumers, Argos and eBay. Fulfilment is the next retail battleground and Argos’ unique model is well placed to leverage this.”