This is another straightforward website where it’s easy to browse and there is the option to compare like products. You can search by colour, brand or price. Most of the items offered are at the lower end of the price range although there are one or two fairly expensive examples.
Finding the website
You can visit the Argos home page at www.argos.co.uk.
Finding the section on coffee makers
At the top of the Argos home page is a band of tabs listing product categories. Click on ‘Kitchen and Laundry’. Under Kitchen and Laundry there is a list of links with the number of items included in the pages. Go to ‘Small kitchen appliances’ and click on this. On the left hand side is a menu showing Type, Price, Colour and Brand. Go to Type and click on coffee machines.
The selection available
Argos offers a reasonable selection mostly at the lower end of the price spectrum. Manufacturers represented include Cookworks, De’Longhi, Russell Hobbs, Breville, Morphy Richards, Philips, Krups, Gaggia and Siemens. They range from simple filter coffee makers to espresso machines to bean-to-cup espresso makers.
Information provided on the site
Each item is pictured with its name underlined and order number. There is an option function to either choose home delivery from two days or reserve subject to store stock. On the left side of the page is a browse menu where you can choose to list the items by price, by brand or by colour. You’re told how many items there are available according to the criteria you choose as well.
For instance there are 17 black items, 2 Krups items and so on. On the right hand side of each item is a compare button. Choose up to ten items to compare and press the buttons, then click on ‘Compare Selected Items’. This allows you to look at the relative features of each item in one page rather than having to skip around. It’s a useful feature. There is a link to check stock in your area to the right of the band. Enter your post code then click ‘Check stock’.
Press on the ‘More detail…’ link and you get a larger image with a list of details or features of the product that includes the coffee options. You can choose whether you want an espresso maker with a high wattage, transparent water tank, non-slip feet or milk-frothing arm. If you’re making cappuccinos you’ll want a milk-frothing arm.
There are also ‘Credit offer’ and ‘Review’ tabs available. The ‘Credit offer’ allows you to pay for your purchase with an Argos card and states that you’ll automatically be given the best credit plan available. The ‘Reviews’ tab brings up customer reviews of the product along with its star rating – five stars being the optimum.
Additional information on this page includes delivery information and whether the item is internet only – although the latter is made clear on the first page. Internet only items are not featured in the Argos catalogue nor are they available to be picked up from a store. They’re home delivery
only. You can check the stock in your area on this page as well by entering your postcode and clicking on ‘Go’. Also there’s the date to which the current price is valid.
On the right hand side of the page is an ‘Alternatives’ menu offering a small range of similar products that you might want to consider.
Buying from the website
Click on ‘Buy or reserve’. This gives you three options:
Reserve for Store Pick up. You pay in in-store when you collect your purchase. Items in stock are available for instant pick up and held until the end of the next working day.
Buy for Home Delivery. This gives you the standard delivery price, next day delivery price and Saturday delivery price.
Get Great Argos Card credit deals. This gives you information on credit card charges and deals.
You pick one of the options then click on continue to check stock at the store of your choice and proceed to the checkout. You can e-mail customer services if you have problems at the checkout on their link. Click on ‘Email Customer Services’ to get there.
Finally
Argos is noted for its good value and reasonable pricing programme and that’s what you’ll find here. The product details are well laid out and it’s easy to compare them. There’s a good selection of medium priced coffee machines from best-selling brands. The site is easy to navigate and purchasing should not be a problem.