eBay launches click and collect service

Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 10:48 by Mike Price

Online auction giant eBay has been one of the web's great success stories, but now it is looking to move into the high street, thanks to a partnership with Argos.

You will not see eBay-branded outlets popping up all over the UK, but instead, the firm will be offering a click and collect service, which allows customers to order items online and then pick them up at their local Argos store.

At the moment this is a pilot scheme and Argos is just one of the participating retailers in a global operation spanning 150 locations in total.

The idea is that you can get products purchased on eBay shortly after placing your winning bid, with merchants able to get items out to participating high street retail stores for collection.

The auction house is also launching eBay Now in the UK, which promises delivery of products within an hour after a purchase has been completed, which is a lot speedier than most rivals.

eBay Now will be going on trial in London next year and TechRadar reports that it is the first time that the scheme has been operated outside of North America.

eBay is convinced of the importance of click and collect and believes that half of all safe shopping online will be carried out with this style of delivery within the next half-decade.

There is certainly an added convenience to being able to make a purchase online and then go and get it on the same day, or even have it delivered to your door. However, surely this type of arrangement will also raise overheads for retailers, since sustaining a high street presence necessitates greater investment.

Of course, multichannel retailing is the only way for existing high street stores to survive and eBay will be a sought-after click and collect partner.