When I lived in the UK I used to shop in Argos all the time.
Basically it's a warehouse type arrangement with a small shop front.
You place your orders online / phone / catalogue / instore machine
pay for it and pick it up
I found the process to be efficient and can see considerable cost savings from the retailers.
I haven't seen an Australian model like this before or at least to the extent of this major brand.
I wonder what the limitations are for a store in australia to follow suit?
Most Argos used to have one of each product on display, you could get all touchy feely with your product before purchasing.
My recollection was that some jewellery and very popular items at the time were on display in some of the larger stores.
correct they did have a few things on display.
jewellery, kindles, gift cards and not much more.
Sounds like you never made your way to the Watford Argus in the mid-eighties. Oh such memories from being young, glad I emigrated ….
I don't believe there would be any restrictions on this type of a business model so long as warranty wasn't bungled.
My experience with Argos.
You walk into Argos, browse the catalogue and decide you'd like to buy an item which isn't in stock but the more expensive version is so you decide to buy that. Upon entry you noticed the large queue of plebs queuing to pay for orders … tsk tsk … just chip'n'pin it at a terminal. Terminals are down, now you're the pleb. 15 minutes later you've paid for your slightly more expensive than you were hoping for item and now all you have to do is sit down in the collections area and wait for your number to be called from what can only be described as a keno screen with a really poor femputer british accent. It's at this point you realise that you are now trapped with all the other plebs. See, while the wait at the counter to pay for your item only took 15 minutes … you eventually learn the hard way that the warehouse staff are nowhere near as efficient at processing orders as the counter was at processing your card. When your item arrives you immediately realise that your item isn't as described but now you're struck with a dilemma. Do you accept the item and run or spend an hour returning the item. I only spent 20 quid but my time … my time is priceless.
i found it change quite considerably with online purchases.
You could view stock levels before you decided to purchase.
It can take a bit of time when it is busy but I preferred the click and collect system as it will still faster for me to get my items.
It would be awesome here because I hate most delivery companies because most fail to buzz my door and i have to pick it up at the post office on the weekend.
I've never had to return anything to Argos, and it was still more pleasant than online returns.
I used to love getting the Argos catalogue when I was a kid. I would start at the back where all the toys were and list which ones I wanted for Xmas.
Argos is a complete rip off and outdated by online shopping. Its market share is in rapid decline and the only people who shop there these days are complete morons. I once bought a surround sound system there, then promptly returned it after I realised I was ripped off.
if they are in complete decline why is amazon set to model their practice?
like with anything it's research before purchase.
They aren't actually in decline; its just there are a lot of lazy idiots in the UK.
There are a few places which offer purchase online and pick up and also have a shop front (many computer stores come to mind). I suspect Argos do something differently however.
Definitely an easy way to cut costs (at the expense of cutting jobs too but structural unemployment is a thing)