eBay has teamed up with Argos to pilot its "click and collect” scheme. So, eBay customers will be able to purchase online and collect their goods from their local Argos store.
This trial is taking place across 150 Argos stores. The precise locations are yet to be decided, but we can be certain that some London branches will be included. Many businesses that sell on eBay will be participating in the scheme which could be rolled out nationwide if it proves successful.
Consumers feeling the love for “click and collect”
It’s clear that consumers are embracing “click and collect” services. Currently, Amazon is dominating the market in this respect. However, eBay has its sights set on challenging its rival.
Amazon’s customers have given very positive feedback on the company’s locker provision. Orders can be collected from passcode-protected lockers at key locations throughout the capital such as rail stations. There’s no need to pop to your local post office or wait in for a delivery. Many of the lockers are near busy offices allowing people to collect their parcels on the lunch breaks. Consumers love this level of convenience! Who wants to spend half an hour of their Saturday morning standing in line at the Post Office?
“Click and collect” saved Argos from collapse
Customers can currently buy and collect Argos’ products on the same day. In fact, products are actually available for collection within minutes of ordering online. In fact, Argos claims to have invented the “click and collect” concept back in 2000. The company was on its knees and this new way of shopping ultimately saved the company from collapse. Nevertheless, the eBay service will take at least a day to process.
The boundaries between online and offline shopping are blurring
eBay President, Devin Wenig acknowledges that online and offline shopping don’t have to remain as separate entities. The distinction is blurring and eBay is constantly exploring new ways of connecting buyers and sellers. More people than ever prefer to collect goods in-store rather than having them delivered to their home. Retailers can’t afford to ignore this fact!
The managing director of Argos, John Walden, is looking forward to exploring the opportunity for Argos to team up with eBay. However, Amazon trialled a similar scheme in the US which didn’t prove as successful as it had hoped. The company partnered with Staples and Radioshack, providing collection lockers. When footfall failed to increase, the initiative was cancelled.
Nevertheless, that’s not to say that an eBay and Argos “click and collect” scheme couldn’t be successful in the UK. We already know that the locker scheme is proving to be popular here. At this point, it’s worth mentioning that eBay has also announced that it plans to trial a one-hour delivery service next year (2014) in London, but they haven’t given any further details yet.