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| Ebay and Argos announce 'click-and-collect' tie-up | Ebay and Argos announce 'click-and-collect' tie-up |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Shoppers will soon be able to order selected goods from eBay and pick them up from an Argos store. | |
| The "click-and-collect" scheme is being piloted by the e-commerce giant in about 150 shops belonging to the high street chain, which is part of Home Retail Group. | |
| At least 50 eBay merchants, including urban clothing retailer Superdry.com, will take part in the scheme. | At least 50 eBay merchants, including urban clothing retailer Superdry.com, will take part in the scheme. |
| The move may help eBay challenge Amazon's Locker delivery. | The move may help eBay challenge Amazon's Locker delivery. |
| The Amazon scheme lets people order online then pick up their package from a growing number of secure passcode-protected lockers situated in local shops or other public venues. | The Amazon scheme lets people order online then pick up their package from a growing number of secure passcode-protected lockers situated in local shops or other public venues. |
| Both Amazon, eBay and other online retailers are also involved in the separate Collect+ scheme, which allows parcels to be collected from participating corner shops, avoiding the risk of missing a delivery. | Both Amazon, eBay and other online retailers are also involved in the separate Collect+ scheme, which allows parcels to be collected from participating corner shops, avoiding the risk of missing a delivery. |
| One retail analyst said more of these tie-ups could be expected. | One retail analyst said more of these tie-ups could be expected. |
| "Pure-play home-delivery e-commerce can actually be profoundly inconvenient," Bryan Roberts, from the consultancy Kantar Research, told the BBC. | "Pure-play home-delivery e-commerce can actually be profoundly inconvenient," Bryan Roberts, from the consultancy Kantar Research, told the BBC. |
| "There's nothing convenient about having to queue up at the post office for 30 minutes every Saturday morning. | "There's nothing convenient about having to queue up at the post office for 30 minutes every Saturday morning. |
| "Workplace delivery is an option, but an increasing number of employers are getting frustrated with acting as e-retailers' unwilling fulfilment partners. | "Workplace delivery is an option, but an increasing number of employers are getting frustrated with acting as e-retailers' unwilling fulfilment partners. |
| "So, it makes sense to forge a partnership with national retailers, and we'll see more of this because it marries the benefits of online shopping - competitive prices and massive ranges - with the convenience of the real-world store you can pop into on your way home." | "So, it makes sense to forge a partnership with national retailers, and we'll see more of this because it marries the benefits of online shopping - competitive prices and massive ranges - with the convenience of the real-world store you can pop into on your way home." |
| Argos has been expanding its own click-and-collect service, allowing shoppers to have an item held back that might be in short supply or ordered in if not in stock. | Argos has been expanding its own click-and-collect service, allowing shoppers to have an item held back that might be in short supply or ordered in if not in stock. |
| There is a risk that the eBay tie-up could cannibalise some of those sales, and Argos noted the tie-up was only a trial. | There is a risk that the eBay tie-up could cannibalise some of those sales, and Argos noted the tie-up was only a trial. |
| "Having pioneered check-and-reserve in the year 2000, it now accounts for around a third of our business and continues to grow," said the firm's managing director, John Walden. | "Having pioneered check-and-reserve in the year 2000, it now accounts for around a third of our business and continues to grow," said the firm's managing director, John Walden. |
| "[EBay] is already a strong partner with Argos and a logical partner for the trial. | "[EBay] is already a strong partner with Argos and a logical partner for the trial. |
| "We look forward to assessing the opportunity for Argos to provide fulfilment for eBay's merchants, including the operational requirements, attractiveness to sellers and consumers, and opportunity for increased customer footfall." | "We look forward to assessing the opportunity for Argos to provide fulfilment for eBay's merchants, including the operational requirements, attractiveness to sellers and consumers, and opportunity for increased customer footfall." |
| In May, Argos reported its first rise in annual sales in five years, largely thanks to online sales and the popularity of its "check and reserve" service. | In May, Argos reported its first rise in annual sales in five years, largely thanks to online sales and the popularity of its "check and reserve" service. |