eBay and Argos agree UK-wide deal
eBay and Argos have today (15 October) announced that they have signed a wider multi-year partnership that will offer UK-wide fulfilment services to eBay sellers. Under the partnership, eBay will for the first time roll-out a national parcel drop-off service, enabling eBay consumer sellers in the UK to drop-off their sold items at Argos stores across the UK. The service will start with 150 stores before the end of 2015, with more stores set to follow in the coming year.
Under the new service, items packaged and dropped off in Argos stores by consumer sellers will be despatched to eBay buyers within 48 hours.
The drop-off and delivery service was piloted earlier this year in ten Argos stores across four towns.
Additionally, Argos and eBay have also announced that they have extended their ongoing commitment to their Click & Collect programme, an exclusive partnership which began as a small pilot in late 2013.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Tanya Lawler, UK Vice President, eBay, said: “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, Chief Operating Officer, Argos, 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.”