eBay and Argos have agreed a multi-year expansion of their partnership, an extension that will enable both business and consumer sellers on eBay to offer exclusive fulfilment services.
For the first time in its 20 year history, eBay will provide a parcel drop-off service where consumer sellers can drop off their sold items at Argos stores across the UK. 150 stores will offer this service before the end of 2015, in time for the key Christmas trading period, with more stores set to follow in 2016.
In addition, Argos and eBay have also extended their Click & Collect programme which the retailers trialled in late 2013. Since its inception, over 3m parcels from around 800 UK and Northern Ireland Argos stores have been collected and sold on behalf of 200,000 businesses selling on eBay.
“In 1995, eBay disrupted shopping by creating a commerce platform powered by customers,” said Tanya Lawler, UK Vice President, eBay. “Our continued success is all about listening and responding to customers‘ needs – and we know that they expect ever more convenience, choice and value. Our ambition with this deal is to grow and establish some of the most exciting and innovative fulfilment services in the UK. The eBay and Argos partnership further dissolves the lines between digital and traditional retail.”
David Robinson, Argos‘s Chief Operating Officer, added: “Argos invented click and collect in the UK, and recently added to its record of innovation by introducing FastTrack Collection and FastTrack Delivery – market leading fulfilment services for the online shopper.”¯ The ability for customers to get their purchases quickly, easily and locally has become the new retail battleground.”¯ With over 800 stores and a friendly face on every high street, we are ideally placed to attract eBay‘s business and consumer customers to use our unique store network.”¯ This deal reaffirms and builds on the successful and deepening relationship between our businesses.””¯”¯
