Almost Everything at Argos (Argos)

Member Name: Kukana

Product:	Argos
Date:	04/02/04 (2090 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great prices, Reasonable choice, Usually good service

Disadvantages: Can confuse infrequent visitors, Can't see goods on display

I'm old enough to remember when the earliest Argos stores opened. It was in the mid-70s, when I was a teenager. Argos claim to be the pioneer of catalogue retailers in the UK, and as such they took quite a risk back then: would they be able to compete with ordinary shops, or would people dislike the idea of selecting goods from catalogues without being able to see them first?

Thirty years later, just about every town has an Argos, and some of them have Argos 'superstores' with extended stock. Their catalogues are twice as thick as they used to be, and they've branched out successfully into clothes and entertainment. It's pretty clear that the concept was good, the timing was appropriate, and Argos is as much taken for granted in the British way of life in 2004 as Woolworth's or WH Smith's.

* How they function as a shop *

I've been to several Argos shops around the country: several in Birmingham, a couple in Sussex, and elsewhere. While they're different sizes, shapes and layouts, the basic principle is the same in them all. There are little shelves with catalogues, pens and order slips. Customers flick through the catalogues, find what they want, and write down the codes on an order slip.

A fairly recent innovation is a simple machine resembling a large calculator, and linked to the stock computer, which enables the customer to type in the code, and see immediately if what they want is in stock. This is an excellent idea, and saves a lot of frustration!

Having written down the order, it has to be taken to a cash-till. The person on the till types in the code, tells the customer what the item is, and if there's anything in particular they should know: for instance, if a product requires separate batteries, they can be ordered at the same time. Payment can be made by most
standard methods: credit or debit cards, cheques or cash.

If ordering a large item, which has free home delivery, then that's all that has to be done. Smaller items can also be requested for home delivery (which is still free if the order is over £100).

Otherwise, you have to wait for the product to appear at another window, in a different section of the store. This usually takes up to about five minutes. In some stores, particularly at busy times, this can be a bit chaotic; in others each customer is issued with a number, and can then sit to watch a computer monitor which shows whose items are ready.

* Online ordering *

Argos also have a web-site - http://www.argos.co.uk - containing their full catalogue with a good search function. Orders can be made online and either collected at a named Argos store, or delivered at home. I haven't used this, but it seems like an excellent idea to save the possible hassle of queueing more than once. Current special offers are featured on the web-site, and there are links to their new clothing/textiles catalogue (Argos Additions) and their music/video catalogue, Argos Entertainment.

* What they sell *

There is a huge range of goods available at Argos. Kitchen appliances, cameras (digital and otherwise), hi-fi systems, china, jewellery, computer equipment, toys, bedding, furniture... it would be easier, perhaps, to ask what they don't stock! They update their catalogue four times a year, and it's usually available free from the shop, to browse at home. Most items are well-known brands.

The Argos Additions catalogue includes a wide range of clothing for adults, children and babies; sporting gear; further bedding and other textiles, and some additions to the main catalogue. The Argos Entertainment catalogue has a wide range of CDs and DVDs.

* Prices *

In the 1980s, Argos seemed to be the cheapest p
lace for almost anything we wanted to buy. However in the past ten years or so, we've found that it's well worth doing price comparisons, since other shops - particularly the large ones, such as Comet, PC World, or Toys 'R' Us, can be significantly cheaper, as well as offering a wider choice in their more specialist ranges. I know of several people who enjoy looking through the Argos catalogue at their leisure, then spend time looking at the things they want to buy, and asking questions, at small friendly shops - and then buy them at the relevant superstore.

Still, Argos do have ongoing special offers, and usually at least one brochure with very good deals which are difficult to match anywhere else.

* Guarantee *

As well as leading the way in their style of shop, Argos led the way in the idea of a 'no quibble' 16 day guarantee in addition to statutory consumer rights. If you discover that something you've bought there isn't appropriate - or even if you just don't like it - then you can return it, so long as it's in its original wrappings, and accompanied by the receipt, for an exchange or full refund. We've taken advantage of this more than once, and it's been very straightforward. If it was bought on credit or debit card, then it's essential to take along the same card for the refund to be made, although Argos vouchers to the same amount will be offered as an alternative if the customer doesn't have the card.

There are some items which are not subject to the 16-day guarantee, such as digital cameras, or DVDs. This, I assume, is to ensure that people don't buy them, use them for a special occasion, and then return them! They're still exchangeable if faulty, of course, and the cashier will always let the customer know when something is exempt from the no-quibble extra guarantee.

* Extra facilities *

Argos do their own store-card, they off
er a wedding gift service, and they are part of the Nectar scheme in conjunction with Barclaycard, Debenhams and Sainsbury's. Details of these can be found in their shops, or at the web-site.

* Possible drawback for the infrequent visitor *

I happened to be in Argos with a relative who's in her mid-seventies. She was rather nervous, and said that she never went in there on her own. She said it was all rather daunting 'for the elderly', since there are no clear instructions about what to do. She also said that she found it disturbing not to be able to pick items up and look at them before buying. I realised, to my surprise, that almost everyone else in the shop was around my age or younger. And sure enough, had I not been used to the Argos 'system', it would have been difficult to guess what to do, even though the staff behind the desks are willing to guide. A few clear notices would probably be a good idea.

As we were waiting for our goods to arrive, after paying, another 'older' couple came into the store. They looked completely lost. We got chatting, and they said that they had never been into Argos before, and were only there at the advice of one of their children. We explained what to do, and they were pleased with the prices, but said that in general they would prefer to pay a bit more, and use an ordinary department store.

* My opinion *

Since I've been accustomed to Argos all my adult life, I don't have any worries about going in there. Indeed, I prefer it to the kind of shop where assistants are hovering around trying to help me! Argos is usually the first place I look when wanting to buy something that they might sell. I like the web-site for quick searches, and the catalogue for general browsing. We've made many purchases from Argos over the years, and have generally found them to be good value. The staff in the shops are usually willing to answer qu
estions, and are extremely helpful, even when it's clear that they're very busy and could do with some assistance!

Argos, as far as I can tell, is here to stay. With the introduction of their online facilities, and extensions into the clothing and entertainment industry, I expect they will continue to be a popular and leading store for many years to come.

Summary: