Argos to close all Irish stores starting March

road_high · 19-01-2023 02:00PM

When a retailer is losing that amount of money it usually means curtains. The investment needed to correct the issues just won’t be there

Oscar_Madison · 19-01-2023 02:03PM

A lot of people here saying “a handy place to pick up odds and ends”- and that’s likely one of the reasons it’s closing- you couldn’t possibly survive when people are only buying small cheap items occasionally- similar to myself, I’ve only used it to buy mop replacement cloths in the last year and a few other minor things- sad to see it go but I don’t think I’ll miss it TBH

sonofenoch · 19-01-2023 02:09PM

Shame how long have they been around? served a purpose but guess the likes of Amazon are too big to compete with

19-01-2023 02:12PM

I went in there a lot for stuff years ago, but I just realised I haven't been in YEARS. Mainly because I can get most stuff with free delivery on Amazon or elsewhere.

flazio · 19-01-2023 02:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128745#Comment_120128745

Talk to Paddy Power, you'll be alright.

Growing up, Argos catalogue was how I learned the price of things.

Just this week, after my Kris Kringle picked out the wrong type of coffee machine over Christmas(not from Argos), they returned it I went to the argos website, picked one within budget and sent them the reservation code to collect and pay. Done and done.

Sephiroth_dude · 19-01-2023 02:20PM

Was gutted when the store in the Queens old castle closed here in Cork, always handy to go in and get something quick. Maplins was another store I was gutted to see go.

MrMusician18 · 19-01-2023 02:27PM

Hard to see how they could survive with the huge inventory, Brexit and online competition. I never found them particularly good value but for some oddball item that you didn't want to go searching for - you could check the catalogue and pick up that day.

The closure points to a mailise in retail in Ireland - the sector is undoubtedly shrinking and to be honest I'd rather see policy makers accept that reality instead of trying to hold back the tide. To that end, I'd be encouraging new non retail uses for disused big box units on the edge of towns and if that is not realistic, help with returning these sites to greenfield.

We don't need hollowed out towns and run down suburbs as well.

touts · 19-01-2023 02:34PM

Used to shop there a lot. Looked back through my orders and realised I only got 4 things there in 2022.

The big problem they had was their website. You had to click on about 5 links to see if something was in stock and sometimes that wasn't accurate. I gave up more times than I bought something.

Geuze · 19-01-2023 02:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128541#Comment_120128541

I keep saying it.

Commercial rents are way too high here.

Retail rents in Galway exceed Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester.

silverharp · 19-01-2023 02:37PM

its old tech, you have to research what you want then drive somewhere where you cant browse and compare easily when buying so its worse than a shop and worse than buying off the net. Imagewise it was never great, felt like going into a bookies or a social welfare office

Badly Drunk Boy · 19-01-2023 02:39PM

I've had a €200 voucher for Argos for the past 2 years and have been struggling to use it. The few things I've wanted were always 'out of stock'. I'd better get a move on and use it. The validity 'til 2026 is no use if the shop isn't there...

19-01-2023 02:44PM

In all of its time in Ireland I don't think that I have purchased a single

item from them. I don't purchase online either, I go straight to a shop & purchase.

Genuinely sorry though for those losing their jobs!

Badly Drunk Boy · 19-01-2023 02:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128972#Comment_120128972

On a different Boards thread, here's what the winner guessed, being just €150 off:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/54651806#Comment_54651806

Padre_Pio · 19-01-2023 02:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129300#Comment_120129300

Hah, that's brilliant.

I'd love to guess the value of only Argos items currently stocked in Irish stores. Likely a lot less.

Autosport · 19-01-2023 03:01PM

The Kilkenny branch was closing in June this year but now to hear all stores are closing is sad. Sorry for all the staff and hopefully they’ll get a good redundancy

B.A._Baracus · 19-01-2023 03:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129275#Comment_120129275

Yeah. I'd be going down tomorrow if I were you. Better to use it than lose it as they say.

If you still can't find anything you want. Just buy birthday presents for whoever and hold on to them.

murpho999 · 19-01-2023 03:09PM

People saying this is all to do with Brexit have no idea.

It's the business model that is the problem Archaic and no competition to online options.

Was in Dundrum store 2 weeks ago it was empty.

Also, they were rip off merchants as they were dearer than everywhere else.

Decline is nothing to do with Brexit and I'd say their UK stores are in trouble too especially with the poor UK economic outlook.

Furze99 · 19-01-2023 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120128828#Comment_120128828

Anytime I've looked up amazon.co.uk in last year or so, they can't deliver this, that or the other to Ireland and what they do ship, they want to charge steeply enough for delivery. Have ordered off german amazon but stuff takes a good while to come.

Tork · 19-01-2023 03:11PM

I'm sorry to see them go. It was handy if you wanted to buy something quickly and didn't want to wait for online delivery.

Furze99 · 19-01-2023 03:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129513#Comment_120129513

Brexit is a total pain in the arse for any business trading between here and UK - and when things are a pain in the arse, you give up and look elsewhere.

tiredblondie · 19-01-2023 03:12PM

Bought my Ninja Dual Air Fryer a couple of weeks ago in Argos when nowhere else had them in stock!

Would often pick up a few bits and pieces (mainly little furniture bits and bobs) so a shame to see it go

superflyninja · 19-01-2023 03:14PM

Awful news. Argos was the next best thing to buying online. Usually competitive prices. Real shame.It was always handy at Christmas and for picking up random bits and bobs that might be hard to get elsewhere.

murpho999 · 19-01-2023 03:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129516#Comment_120129516

That's all changed since opening of warehouse in Ireland and Amazon prime sub reduces delivery drastically.

Also, look at Amazon website compared to Argos. Night and day Argos website not updated in years.

StreetLight · 19-01-2023 03:17PM

No surprise about this. The writing was on the wall for ages. Anytime I tried to search for stuff, more often than not it was Out Of Stock.

Mister Vain · 19-01-2023 03:17PM

It's not surprising with the way things have gone. I always found Argos to be the most expensive, at least for electrical goods anyway.

murpho999 · 19-01-2023 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120129552#Comment_120129552

They were not competitively priced at all. Usually dearer for branded goods.

BrianD3 · 19-01-2023 03:20PM

I'm disappointed to hear this as I probably spent an average of 500 euro per year in Argos especially since Brexit as I stopped buying stuff online from the UK. Everything from computers to exercise equipment, bits and pieces, tools, cables. LIDL/ALDI middle aisle type stuff without having to wait.

Flinty997 · 19-01-2023 03:21PM

Mismanaged even before Covid.

Mav11 · 19-01-2023 03:21PM

I'll be sad to see it go.

I imagine that the shift to WFH was also a factor in the closure. Not as many people popping out at lunchtime to pick up a few bits.

murpho999 · 19-01-2023 03:23PM

Part of me likes that our towns and shopping centres are not full of large UK stores.

Never liked how Irish Main Streets were turning into the same as High Streets in the UK.

We're moving away from UK and connecting to the rest of Europe and the world.

Argos to close all Irish stores starting March

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