Farewell Argos Book

[trainmania100]

The Argos catelog will stop being printed from January 2021.
I'm all for online shopping and browsing deals online, but for some reason I actually prefer browsing through a big thick Argos catelog , than the Argos website...not sure why.

Argos axes 'book of dreams' catalogue after 48 years

The retailer says it will remove the last of its catalogues from stores by the end of the year.

www.bbc.co.uk

For the sake of it I will probably make sure I get a copy of the last ever catelog ,they're somewhat of a spectacle due to their size ...

"The laminated book of dreams," was how comedian Bill Bailey jokingly described the plastic-coated Argos catalogue.

But 48 years on from its launch, the catalogue is finally coming to an end.

The encyclopedia-like catalogues, the basis of many a child's Christmas wishlist, will no longer be regularly printed by the end of the January 2021.

The catalogue was first launched in 1972 and at its peak was Europe's most widely-printed publication, with only the bible in more homes across the UK.

Comedian Alan Carr famously picked the Argos catalogue as his book choice on Radio 4's programme Desert Island Discs.

"At least 'there's pictures," he said at the time. "I feel it would help me through."

But now Argos says that online shopping offers "greater convenience" than flicking through its print catalogue and no further take-home editions of the catalogue will be produced.

The retailer has produced more than one billion copies of its bi-annual catalogue during its 48-year run.

The catalogue was first launched in 1972 and quickly became synonymous with the brand.

'Changing tastes'
During its heyday, its pages featured the likes of Emma Bunton and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Mark Given, chief marketing officer at Sainsbury's - which owns Argos, said the move was in response to a shift in customers' shopping habits.

"Over the decades the Argos catalogue has charted the nation's changing tastes and trends in everything from must-have toys to the latest gadgets and devices," he said.

"Just as our customers' tastes have changed over the years, so have their shopping habits. We're seeing an increasing shift towards digital shopping, using our mobile app, website and in-store browsers."

Customers shopping on smartphones and tablets now account for more than 70% of all Argos online sales.

The retailer said it would still produce a print version of its annual Christmas gift guide.

'March of technology'
Steve Dresser, director at Grocery Insight, told the BBC that it had only been a matter of time before the retailer made the shift to digital-only.

"Everyone uses the internet for ordering nowadays, and e-commerce is experiencing a stratospheric rise again," he explained.

"Post-Covid 19 there is even less of a call for a catalogue.

"The reality is the march of technology and progression doesn't spare anything, not even the beloved Argos catalogue."

Last year, Argos made all its back catalogues available to browse online, letting consumers reminisce over everything from the 1974 hostess trolley (then priced at £43) to the 1987 personal stereo (£19.95).

 

[Darandio]

And for anyone who wants to reminisce, this site seems to have them all. I recognised quite a few from 87 or so onwards.

Flick through your #BookOfDreams

The Book of Dreams

dev.argosbookofdreams.co.uk

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'm assuming they'll also be taking the catalogues off the desks in their shops, too, which is a shame. When you know what you want and just need the item number, it was always so much easier and quicker to use the catalogue glued to the desk than it was to use the tablet.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I remember when it was Green Shield Stamps.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I remember when it was Green Shield Stamps.

Showing your age if you do remember Green Shield Stamps!

 

[John Hunt]

I remember when it was Green Shield Stamps.

Me too!

Many moons ago I worked at one of the Argos distribution centres, Lutterworth.
We always dreaded it when the new catalogues came out - some of the smaller stores could only accept the catalogues 'loose' bundled into wheeled cages.
The larger stores would accept pallets of catalogues but as a loader, you were responsible for ensuring safe weight distribution in the trailer (a pallet of catalogues was about 1 ton).

 

[C J Snarzell]

This is a really sad admission - but as a child I had a fascination with Argos catalogues as I used to love savouring the toys that were sold. I also remember, my local Argos was also known as a Argos Extra - so their catalogues were bigger & they stocked more items.

There was also another rival high street catalogue chain called Index which finally closed their doors in 2005. One of my former school friends got a job in the local town centre branch of Index and one of his responsibilities was disposing of the out of season catalogues. He said there were hundreds of them that were all packed into a massive recycling bin.

I also remember a bloke who used to drink in my local pub (he is long since dead) who would get very drunk and his party piece was tearing a Argos catalogue in half.

CJ

 

[Mojo]

I'm surprised the paper catalogues have lasted as long as they have actually. I suppose it's reflective of a shift away from flicking through a catalogue and buying junk you probably didn't need, to going online when you need something, and searching for a product which is the best combination of price, quality and speed.

I hadn't used Argos in years but probably about two years ago noticed that they have quite a lot of choices of furniture and home goods, much of which is quite stylish and well-priced. Certainly nicer designs and much more user friendly than Ikea.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Answering #1, the printed book (for an Extra) became very large and heavy, such that a special journey had to be made to get one as it was too heavy to lug home along with much other shopping. I used to get the catalogue regularly, probably into the internet age but not much longer after that.

The website is a dogs breakfast of frustration. Basically too many products, poorly indexed.

 

[Darandio]

The website is a dogs breakfast of frustration. Basically too many products, poorly indexed.

My thoughts exactly.

I posted a link to an archive in post #1, i'd like the catalogue to remain in an online form similar to how they have preserved them. Have the ability to thumb through the pages but with an old style index at the front. I find it much, much easier to find what I want or browse ideas in a catalogue than trying to find stuff on their site.

 

[py_megapixel]

I was rather suprised to discover that Argos were still printing these last time I picked one up. I assumed they'd be gone.

My thoughts exactly.

I posted a link to an archive in post #1, i'd like the catalogue to remain in an online form similar to how they have preserved them. Have the ability to thumb through the pages but with an old style index at the front. I find it much, much easier to find what I want or browse ideas in a catalogue than trying to find stuff on their site.

I must say I agree with you and @Baxenden Bank

The search function doesn't work properly on the website and it seems like it's constantly trying to sell me something other than what I came for.

However, I'm not a big fan of an enormous unweildy catalouge either!

 

[Busaholic]

How many landfill sites will now be able to close?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

All things must pass. Its time had come.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My thoughts exactly.

I posted a link to an archive in post #1, i'd like the catalogue to remain in an online form similar to how they have preserved them. Have the ability to thumb through the pages but with an old style index at the front. I find it much, much easier to find what I want or browse ideas in a catalogue than trying to find stuff on their site.

I'd be happy if it had a search engine that was even half as good as the one used by Amazon. It's terrible and you can never find anything, and this will cost them sales over Amazon given that that's who they're now really competing with.

It also needs a switch for "show me only items available today in store", because the lead times for home delivery are terrible compared with Amazon Prime.

 

[Mojo]

I'd be happy if it had a search engine that was even half as good as the one used by Amazon. It's terrible and you can never find anything, and this will cost them sales over Amazon given that that's who they're now really competing with.

I can’t stand the Amazon search. For too many products, unless you filter for “Prime” (which can often end up being more expensive or limiting in terms of products), you end up with far too many results to get anything sensible out of.

You then sort by price low to high, and usually end up with multiple listings from Marketplace sellers that have priced the item at 1p, but with a fairly high delivery charge. This is why I like eBay for buying things like this as the sort allows you to select for the total price including P&P.

It also needs a switch for "show me only items available today in store", because the lead times for home delivery are terrible compared with Amazon Prime.

I think they do the delivery thing quite well in general and have never had problems with lead time, I do however find that an item is flagged as ready to collect right away, but when you click, it is not actually ready until tomorrow, or occasionally, a later date.

One fairly irritating feature is however they show stuff as “Clearance” in the main listing, even though this may not actually be available except at maybe one or two shops nationwide. They have recently added a “show me the nearest” which is quite useful, but inevitably ends up being in Lowestoft.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I also suspect Argos will be another name that will slowly disappear from our town centres & retail parks, as they are swollowed up by their parent company Sainsburys.

There is an Argos 'Click & Collect' inside my local Sainsburys store. The independent branch of Argos, that is two miles down the road has not reopened yet, despite the easing of Covid restrictions, and I suspect there might be a question mark over it's future.

I'm not necessarily suggesting the Argos name will go completely, but like many other businesses - they will focus on Internet buying & home delivery services which might see the company streamlining their stores.

CJ

 

[gswindale]

Having just flicked through the link above, I remember a number of the covers from 88 onwards. What I had forgotten was the fact that they introduced superstores and then made all items available everywhere and then a few years later did the same with the "extra" stores.

I have to say that having a branch within Sainsbury's is much more useful than in town (as was having the branch in Homebase when they were part of the same group).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

 

[Ianno87]

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

Did you not know? There's a magical infinite cave of wonders at the top of that conveyorbelt behind the counter!

 

[py_megapixel]

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

I don't think every item is kept in stock at every location, as even in the morning some items aren't available for collection from the smaller locations

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Did you not know? There's a magical infinite cave of wonders at the top of that conveyorbelt behind the counter!

Thought that was final section of "The Generation Game"!

A cuddly toy, a toaster and a fondue set anyone?!

 

[satisnek]

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

Often wondered that myself, because there's no way that a store could accommodate large stocks of everything. It's a pretty damn clever business model, particularly when you go back to the 1970s when computer technology was rudimentary compared to today.

As for the catalogue, I'm not surprised. I have to admit that I haven't picked up a catalogue for a number of years now. But I did come across this a while back - it doesn't cover the 21st century but is otherwise more comprehensive than the 'official' site.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thought that was final section of "The Generation Game"!

A cuddly toy, a toaster and a fondue set anyone?!

A Brucie bonus please.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Reading through the archive link of past publications of the Argos catalogue reminds me of the Spring & Summer edition from 2001, when I had to seize a copy as evidence when I worked in the police. I remember placing it inside a brown paper evidence bag and sealing it up.

The catalogue had been used in a domestic incident where two extremely drunken people had been arguing in their flat and the lady of the house had hurled the Argos catalogue at her long term partner as he had consumed their last can of Special Brew!

In doing so, she dislocated his eye socket & spent the rest of the evening in the cells. What brought a smile to my face was the fact that this was around 2005 and she had a four year old Argos catalogue in her living room, along with more empty alcohol containers than a recycling centre. She was actually asked this very question in her police interview.

I remember both parties being swarved in what appeared to be Elizabeth Duke jewellery and he had more sovereign rings than Mr T. Funnily enough, it was around that time when Elizabeth Duke started to be widely associated with the underclasses of society - much like Bright House & the Jeremy Kyle show.

CJ

 

[birchesgreen]

Many years ago a young girl earned a bit of media attention when she was asked by Santa what she wanted for xmas (during a grotto visit) and replied "Everything in the Argos catalogue!" Always admired that ambition.

 

[DelW]

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

In pre internet days, when the range was smaller, I think they did aim to have at least one of each item in stock at each branch. But now, when you look at items on the website, while a lot of more popular ones are "order now, collect immediately", meaning they're in stock at your chosen branch, others are "collect after 4pm" or "collect after 10am tomorrow". There's an option to see where you can collect immediately, and usually those items are in stock at a branch a few miles away, so presumably there's an inter-branch transfer system.
Large items which are home delivery only, I think are usually delivered directly from manufacturers or importers.

 

[nlogax]

12 year old me was a fan of scanning through their catalogue for the newest Transformer or digital watch and then ambling along to the local store (with their gigantic cash tills if you remember Argos in the 80s), deep in the hope that what I wanted was in stock. Aww well.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The search function doesn't work properly on the website and it seems like it's constantly trying to sell me something other than what I came for.

Last weekend, I needed to buy a new laptop (behavioural issues with previous model). The search engine gave me hundreds to choose from, about two of which I eventually found out were in stock locally or available for home delivery. But only after lots of false promises. You can only compare four items at a time, difficult with a choice of hundreds. Eventually I decided which one to buy and went away for a cup of tea and a think - always a good idea for big on-line purchases. Could I then find the model I had chosen? When I used the filter button, the model I had decided on did not appear under that make, nor screen size. You cannot seemingly enter the catalogue number direct into the search box. Which is perhaps why they still had one in stock. I eventually found the model by filtering by make of processor chip! Perhaps their website directs people (through AI or manufacturers inducements) to bring certain makes to the top of the list?

I'd be happy if it had a search engine that was even half as good as the one used by Amazon. It's terrible and you can never find anything, and this will cost them sales over Amazon given that that's who they're now really competing with.

It also needs a switch for "show me only items available today in store", because the lead times for home delivery are terrible compared with Amazon Prime.

Agreed, 'items available at nearest store' or within x miles (having given it your postcode), or items available for delivery to x (your given postcode). Anything else is pretty much wasting the customers time.

I can’t stand the Amazon search. For too many products, unless you filter for “Prime” (which can often end up being more expensive or limiting in terms of products), you end up with far too many results to get anything sensible out of.

You then sort by price low to high, and usually end up with multiple listings from Marketplace sellers that have priced the item at 1p, but with a fairly high delivery charge. This is why I like eBay for buying things like this as the sort allows you to select for the total price including P&P.

I think they do the delivery thing quite well in general and have never had problems with lead time, I do however find that an item is flagged as ready to collect right away, but when you click, it is not actually ready until tomorrow, or occasionally, a later date.

One fairly irritating feature is however they show stuff as “Clearance” in the main listing, even though this may not actually be available except at maybe one or two shops nationwide. They have recently added a “show me the nearest” which is quite useful, but inevitably ends up being in Lowestoft.

The Amazon search is only useful if you know the exact item you require eg a specific CD or DVD. I also looked on Amazon for a laptop and the results were not at all useful.

Having just flicked through the link above, I remember a number of the covers from 88 onwards. What I had forgotten was the fact that they introduced superstores and then made all items available everywhere and then a few years later did the same with the "extra" stores.

I have to say that having a branch within Sainsbury's is much more useful than in town (as was having the branch in Homebase when they were part of the same group).

As a public transport user, I prefer a town centre branch. At the moment it is home delivery for everything, so not especially important.

Did you not know? There's a magical infinite cave of wonders at the top of that conveyorbelt behind the counter!

The method was shown on a TV programme. Behind those rubber flaps is a random jumble of thousands of items. The computer remembers where an item was placed on delivery. I always imagined nice, neat order - with everything in order like a well kept library.

 

[37424]

There is an Argos 'Click & Collect' inside my local Sainsburys store. The independent branch of Argos, that is two miles down the road has not reopened yet, despite the easing of Covid restrictions, and I suspect there might be a question mark over it's future.

I'm not necessarily suggesting the Argos name will go completely, but like many other businesses - they will focus on Internet buying & home delivery services which might see the company streamlining their stores.

CJ

More stores will be reopening in September for those that don't reopen in September it remains to be seen.

I would also take issue with 'Bletchleyite' about our Home Delivery times certainly under pre covid times if they have an item in stock at your local hub store then you can potentially order it in the morning and get it in the afternoon or order it in the afternoon and get it in the evening. Obviously at the height of lockdown we were struggling to meet demand so delivery times were longer, also if its an item that requires a 2 person delivery then it will likely be a longer delivery time, but certainly up to covid we were frequently complemented by customers about the speed of our home delivery service

As demand for the catalogues has reduced last year we ended up using a load of them as ballast in the rear wheel drive vans to give better traction in winter weather.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

More stores will be reopening in September for those that don't reopen in September it remains to be seen.

I would also take issue with 'Bletchleyite' about our Home Delivery times certainly under pre covid times if they have an item in stock at your local hub store then you can potentially order it in the morning and get it in the afternoon or order it in the afternoon and get it in the evening. Obviously at the height of lockdown we were struggling to meet demand so delivery times were longer, also if its an item that requires a 2 person delivery then it will likely be a longer delivery time, but certainly up to covid we were frequently complemented by customers about the speed of our home delivery service

I agree with @37424, I did type a longer answer in my response above but then got logged out automatically and lost most of the text, Grrrr.

Argos is generally my first choice for household stuff and they have the best delivery service I have ever used. You can pick your time slot (previously it was a 2 hour window, possibly the same day) and it always arrives. The £3.95 charge is the same as the return bus fare to the nearest store. I ordered early evening on Saturday and could have had Sunday AM delivery from 0700! to 1200 but chose a sensible afternoon slot instead. Shortly before delivery I received a text saying "your delivery will be in nine minutes and your drivers name is Peter". That is first rate.
Amazon Prime deliveries are quite good but you do not get to know the timeslot until the van is loaded and departed the depot.
Contrast both with Hermes (Wilkinson/Wilko goods). Today I am expecting a delivery. They have not sent the promised email to say that delivery will be today (so I could easily be not at home), rather I checked the on-line tracking. Time slot is 0800 to 2000.