Argos has launched a same day delivery service for 20,000 of its products in a bid to get ahead of its competitors for the Christmas shopping season.
The service, called Fast Track, will enable customers to choose from four delivery slots at checkout whether online or in-store.
The slots - 07.00-10.00, 10.00-13.00, 14.00-18.00 or 19.00-22.00 – cover a 15 hour period during which Argos will potentially be delivering to homes across the country, every day of the year except Christmas.
Once a customer’s delivery has been despatched they will receive a condensed two-hour time slot, plus a 30 minute advance warning.
Argos’s move comes just months after John Lewis was introduced a £2 surcharge onto Click and Collect orders under £30 because the retailer couldn’t afford to continue the service for free.
But John Walden, chief executive of Argos parent company Home Retail Group, said it was key that Argos stayed ahead of its competition and continued to move forwards.
He said: “Argos led the way with click & collect 15 years ago. And customers can continue to shop with us in the traditional ways if they choose to.
"But we believe Fast Track is the next big innovation and brings shopping into the digital age for customers, allowing them to get up to 20,000 products in their hands faster than ever before. No other retailer can offer the breadth of products immediately or at that speed."
The retailer is reported to be taking on an extra 2,300 permanent drivers to deliver in its fleet of 800 new vans, bought specifically for the operation. It will take on a further 1,000 temporary drivers to cover the Christmas peak.
With Amazon Prime Now offering delivery within one hour of ordering in certain areas, Argos's Fast Track is not quite the fastest delivery option the UK has to offer.
