Argos to close all Irish stores starting March

johnnycullen · 20-01-2023 10:26PM

Totally outdated business model, not like hum, Guineys or some others.

Pity, just went to buy Switch games, sometimes 10 o 15 quid cheaper than in Smyths or Game stop. Guess they could have got rid of large stuff and focus in small appliances. Not too many places to buy small things such a sd card or this kind of stuff in case of need. We´ll end up forced to pay Prime.

breezy1985 · 20-01-2023 11:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136121#Comment_120136121

You can still do that. It's not a binary choice between Argos and Amazon.

Argos was a blip in the history of shopping that just happened to be a blip during the formative years of most boards posters so it suddenly sounds like some epoch defining moment.

Awful bang of the "cash is king" posters of some of the posts too.

Strumms · 20-01-2023 11:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136636#Comment_120136636

More convenience is king as opposed to cash…

Montage of Feck · 20-01-2023 11:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134912#Comment_120134912

You can't hold back the tide, maybe fund Irish companies to improve their online presence and shipping options. Before Brexit it was nearly always cheaper and easier to order from UK online retailers.

pgj2015 · 20-01-2023 11:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136783#Comment_120136783

They could do it if they wanted though. They are in charge as we saw during the pandemic.

babyducklings1 · 21-01-2023 12:11AM

Was a big Argos fan, loved that you could pick out what you wanted online then reserve it and go and pick it up ( in many cases that day) I know everyone is going to online shopping but the hassle of being at home for delivery, having the parcel flung into your garden etc. not to mention if it’s the wrong thing / damaged etc. and then returns. I’ve bought loads of stuff from Argos kids paddling pools, Santa toys, house things, luggage bags etc etc. It’s a big loss and sad to see them go.

kirk. · 21-01-2023 12:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135212#Comment_120135212

Argos wouldn't have anything i'd want

Amazon if I want a tape measure I can choose from about 50 different ones

ozmo · 21-01-2023 05:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136933#Comment_120136933

But if you want an ps5.. or a particular rare kids Christmas toy .. or other specific item- its great to be able book one when in stock. And collect it at your leisure. Ive got items from argos thats were unobtainable anywhere including amzon etc. also great to have somewhere not ripping us off to keep other local stores in check.

I will miss them.

21-01-2023 10:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136376#Comment_120136376

Not too many places to buy small things such a sd card or this kind of stuff in case of need. We´ll end up forced to pay Prime.

People on here say, "oh well I just buy it in Amazon and it arrives the next day because I have Prime"

But what about us that don't have Prime or never want to have Prime, it ain't coming the next day.

I don't have Prime because I don't buy enough from Amazon to justify yet another monthly subscription, and their TV offering is poor.

I haven't been to Argos in a few years, but they were handy for some stuff, and I found them great for returns if an item broke or didn't work.

But at the end of the day their closure means we the customer are left with less choice.

Dodge · 21-01-2023 11:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137630#Comment_120137630

“I haven't been to Argos in a few years”

The answer is in your own post.

I liked them for the reasons others did, and used them regularly. But there’s little they stocked that couldn’t be got in other bricks and mortar shops so I don’t see it as a huge deal

breezy1985 · 21-01-2023 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137754#Comment_120137754

Obviously not that handy 🤣

Montage of Feck · 21-01-2023 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136933#Comment_120136933

But most will be Chinese tat or not deliverable to ROI, just go to builders merchant and get a Stanley.

kirk. · 21-01-2023 11:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137795#Comment_120137795

That's the thing most will be tat

But they'll have the Stanley in there too in a few different types

That's Amazon .Takes effort

21-01-2023 11:56AM

It’s quite a long fizzle out if they’re going to be open until June. I can’t imagine they’ll have much stock even by March if they’re not taking new deliveries.

Montage of Feck · 21-01-2023 11:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137822#Comment_120137822

But oul Jeff has enough money, maybe spend a bit locally.

ads20101 · 21-01-2023 12:12PM

Disappointed (kind of....) but genuinely not surprised

I see some here blaming brexit - I grant that the s-show that is brexit is a factor but, by far, not the main one

The primary issue is that people get a wider and better value choice on-line

I use amazon for nearly all of what I would have got from argos etc.

I see that some here have stated that they are not using amazon due to customs issues, but they genuinely have this covered. The price at checkout is in euros and is the end price you will pay. They get most items to me within 24 to 48 hrs and I live on the west coast. And.... nearly all are coming from uk fulfilment ctrs (mainly liverpool) - The only thing that came from the new Irish fulfilment ctr was a calculator for my sons school work. I am sure that this will increase over time and then hopefully Amazon.ie ....... ?????

I am not sure how high st chains like argos / gamestop / easons can compete going forward

21-01-2023 01:49PM

Brexit has a scale impact too btw.

If you’re a smaller operator it’s extremely challenging to trade into the EU from outside, or across any serious international frontier.

Things like being able to load a truck a mixed load have become extremely challenging.

Amazon has enormous scale, very flexible and sophisticated IT systems and operates right across Europe.

Ive ordered items from Amazon UK in Ireland that have just automatically routed from the continent though their own logistics system.

A lot of smaller and medium operators can’t realistically do that. Plenty of company have adapted though and it just means approaching Irish sales though European networks or handling logistics differently to ensure deliveries go straight to Ireland and not though UK warehouses.

A lot of companies already operate just in time to stores without warehousing anyway, so a fridge made by Bosch doesn’t go to some central warehouse, it goes from factory to store / local distributor or to a fulfilment company that delivers it direct to the customer in a lot of cases. Or a delivery of clothes for a retailer may just go straight from say a factory Indonesia to the store in UK chain’s shop Cork, via a logistics company like DHL or similar.

For example, I ordered Ecco shoes today and they’ll dispatch from Poland rather than England. From point of view it makes very little difference. The transit time though UPS or DHL is still just a couple of days.

Argos basically is ending its stand alone stores in both the UK and Irish markets. They’re a subsidiary of Sainsbury’s and are being rolled into the parent company’s store network. Argos simply is ceasing to exist as a stand alone business, which ends it here in Ireland. It’s a combination of factors, but mostly that Argos’ entire business as we knew it is disappearing .

21-01-2023 02:43PM

Not sure why so many feel the need to say Argos doesn’t have anything they want anyway/they don’t go anymore/haven’t in years etc as if Argos leaving is an irrelevance.

it’s absolutely massive and a serious blow not only to a lot of customers but to 400+ staff. My local Argos has staff I can remember since I was a kid.

My hearts broken for them tbh

Strumms · 21-01-2023 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136870#Comment_120136870

I agree 100%…People go on about online shopping like it’s the ultimate modern convenience…

its not …in person in store shopping and what you procure and when.. being by and large on your timetable and your convenience is always preferable.

road_high · 21-01-2023 05:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120138598#Comment_120138598

I’m the same. Love to pick and see the item. Online is my last resort rather than go to

wandererz · 21-01-2023 08:57PM

I was looking for an item and decided to check Argos.

Guess what! It's in stock.

I just missed the closing time otherwise it would be same day collection, but can collect tomorrow instead.

No need to wait for Amazon delivery.

It's a euro cheaper than Amazon and €3 cheaper than Boots.

Only thing is that I'm heading to Belfast on Monday so can pick it up on the way for €4 cheaper than Argos IE.

Normally a few euro would not bother me and I would support the local branch, but the jobs are gone now anyway.

Going to miss the convenience.

freshpopcorn · 22-01-2023 02:20AM

The Spire was unveiled 20 years ago in January 2003. It has a time capsule that will be opened in 200 years. It contains carious items which included an Argos Catalogue.

fritzelly · 22-01-2023 04:02AM

Always handy if you needed something now - kettle broke, head down to Argos.

My mouse crapped out last week so bought a keyboard/mouse set last week - not many places to easily buy a mouse in Dublin so very handy for me to pick up on the way home from work. A month ago I needed a USB flash drive - cheap enough there

But they were overpriced and what they sold was the cheapest common denominator brands

Will be missed by me for those odd times I need to use them - I'm from the generation that as a kid would browse their catalogue dreaming of the Christmas presents I might get (but ultimately would not get)

ozmo · 22-01-2023 04:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135683#Comment_120135683

>Well in fairness ordering it without ever seeing it in the flesh is exactly what happened in Argos.

But they do let you check it out at the customer service desk - even opening it (carefully) for you - and restock it before you pay for it if its not what you want.

It was a clever way to vast range of stock in small building footprint.

Also Some stores have/had some items on display - like Jewelry and watches and Christmas toys and for sale items.

dublinman1990 · 22-01-2023 04:35AM

I have told mum about this news on Thursday and she wasn't particularly happy about hearing it. She had told me that she wanted to buy a new kettle and food processor from there very soon. She had plans to do it later this week if that was possible.

As soon as I read from this thread that the stock levels were going down very low in a lot of Argos in recent times since when they were operating here during most of the pandemic. It didn't fill me with a lot of confidence. I had experienced this feeling before when I tried & failed to buy a new laptop off the Argos website about 2 years ago.

My first thoughts when I saw Argos.ie in it's current form. I thought the design of it at that time when compared to 2018 was that it a right load of crap.

The 2018 version of the site was nearly like a exact copy of the UK site. I went on the previous version of the site to click and collect a lawnmower from Dundrum Town Centre at that time. That version of the site was very much like a dream to use than compared to what it is like right now.

It felt like the current website was trying to become too exhausting for the regular consumer to browse through on a day to day basis. It is by far the worst ever Irish retail website that I have visited in my lifetime. And nothing else actually beats it. It really is that terrible.

I even tried to search for an app from Argos on Google Play to see if they had it for people using Android phones here as well. And guess what no app available in Ireland. I thought that was pathetic in this day and age.

Having no proper online presence in the retail space here really means economic suicide for your business model. And it really was a disaster for the Irish arm of Argos to not really make any effort to adapt to that model. These job losses which have been reported in the news this week is the major consequence of putting them into that space.

PommieBast · 22-01-2023 04:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135900#Comment_120135900

Somehow it was not far off the answer I was expecting...

pgj2015 · 23-01-2023 01:10AM

I will say I told you so when the Government put limits on what we all buy online. it needs to happen.

dublinman1990 · 23-01-2023 09:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120144439#Comment_120144439

Why are you telling us that the government need to do this very soon in a thread about the closure of Argos here?

Are you saying this because people who are buying all of this stuff is bad for the planet or something?

23-01-2023 09:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120144439#Comment_120144439

Bizarre post

iguy · 23-01-2023 03:26PM

I have two friends who work in one of the Dublin stores and both of them quick on their feet as I'll put it, applied for jobs in Amazons new fulfilment centre and they have been hired, slightly better pay and conditions also,

I know that's no good to Argos staff outside Dublin, yet there is hope, another friend in Offaly is going to try fastways warehouse in Portarlington, another friend in Portlaoise who's been with Argos as a team leader/manager prospects look good as jysk in Portlaoise are looking for a manager, with slightly better pay again,

I'm not knowledgeable enough to figure this out, but if long term staff leave now/walk out for new jobs, would they lose their entitlements?

It'd be a unusual one, knowing their jobs are gone in a matter of months, and just walking out, then the company will have to temporarily hire staff, which might be hard because people won't want to work there for a short while...

Argos to close all Irish stores starting March

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