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Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

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Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#21

Post by Marazan »

Argos were well ahead of the curve shopping tech wise which formed a large part of the reason that Sainsburys bought them.

While Amazon was being pleased as punch about offering next day delivery on items (actual delivery time highly variable) Argos was offering completely reliable _same day_ delivery.

It is quite amazing how smooth the process is, even if you cant get same day delivery you will invariably be able to get same day pickup. In extreme cases even if the item is not in stock locally if you order early enough in the day their logistics are so good they can move it same day to your local store for collection for zero extra charge.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#22

Post by adhesive_wombat »

mjburgess wrote: post #4

Amongst the upper working class, the argos catalogue featured as a central part of holiday (christmas esp.) life until perhaps the mid-2000s. You could walk into any argos and take one of the 1000pg+ catelogues of massive pallets of them, and paw them over days. The working class, typically unsentimental in the UK, would then purchase the child's designated item for xmas. The pretence of "santa clause", i think, more…

Kind of off topic but the actual "Santa isn't real" moment for me was that some children really believed it. To us, it was always on the same level as the fairies (led by BDFL Tinkerbell, obviously) in my grandmother's garden or the tooth fairy: fun to imagine but clearly, literally, make-believe and I thought everyone was just playing up to the same fun thought-experiment.

And, indeed, the Argos catalogue was, for me, pored over all year round. In turn I discovered the multi-volume RS print catalogue and real desire set in. Sadly Santa didn't have a trade account so took a while to scam an account that permitted no-lower-limit free shipping.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#23

Post by lm28469 »

adhesive_wombat wrote: post #20
danw1979 wrote: post #19

All those kettles from the 70s look realy well made. Maybe it’s the abundant chrome.

How unprofitable. Much better to use bits of metallised plastic which flake to death in a few years. Cheaper to make and those suckers'll be back soon enough. You can probably fix the flex properly too, new ones often have a moulded captive boot in the cable instead of a screw clamp.

Using plastic is much better, especially for the parts in contact with water. You wouldn't want boiling water in contact with metal, it might leach chemicals that would end up in your system

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#24

Post by Lio »

Wow, these take me back.

I'm particularly elated to see the good ol' Goblin Teasmade there. It's an alarm clock that wakes you up with a freshly made pot of tea. What could be more British than that?

They used to have them as prizes on TV game shows. Seems laughable now, the idea that anyone (other than me) would get excited by the thought of winning a Teasmade.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#25

Post by railton »

Marazan wrote: post #21

Argos were well ahead of the curve shopping tech wise which formed a large part of the reason that Sainsburys bought them. While Amazon was being pleased as punch about offering next day delivery on items (actual delivery time highly variable) Argos was offering completely reliable _same day_ delivery. It is quite amazing how smooth the process is, even if you cant get same day delivery you will invariably be able to…

I get all my high end electronics through Argos as then I don't have to run the "is it fake" gauntlet with Amazon. Highly recommend.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#26

Post by scrumper »

Wow, what a trip. The Russell Hobbs chrome-on-copper (number 11, first page of the '76 catalog) is like a wormhole to my childhood kitchen. I remember that red rocker switch so clearly now, how it felt to turn it on and off. It was beautifully spring loaded, so you'd push it a bit then the spring would take over and snap it on. My mum taught me how to make her a cup of tea when I was old enough to reach it - well before I liked the stuff.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#27

Post by scrumper »

Lio wrote: post #24

Wow, these take me back. I'm particularly elated to see the good ol' Goblin Teasmade there. It's an alarm clock that wakes you up with a freshly made pot of tea. What could be more British than that? They used to have them as prizes on TV game shows. Seems laughable now, the idea that anyone (other than me) would get excited by the thought of winning a Teasmade.

We never had one because my mum thought they'd burn the house down while we slept...

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#28

Post by Peanuts99 »

adhesive_wombat wrote: post #22
mjburgess wrote: post #4

Amongst the upper working class, the argos catalogue featured as a central part of holiday (christmas esp.) life until perhaps the mid-2000s. You could walk into any argos and take one of the 1000pg+ catelogues of massive pallets of them, and paw them over days. The working class, typically unsentimental in the UK, would then purchase the child's designated item for xmas. The pretence of "santa clause", i think, more…

Kind of off topic but the actual "Santa isn't real" moment for me was that some children really believed it . To us, it was always on the same level as the fairies (led by BDFL Tinkerbell, obviously) in my grandmother's garden or the tooth fairy: fun to imagine but clearly, literally, make-believe and I thought everyone was just playing up to the same fun thought-experiment. And, indeed, the Argos catalogue was, for…

I had the same feeling about God at a Christian camp.

Re: Argos Catalogue Kettle Pages, 1976/1985 (2017)

#29

Post by [deleted] »

railton wrote: post #25
Marazan wrote: post #21

Argos were well ahead of the curve shopping tech wise which formed a large part of the reason that Sainsburys bought them. While Amazon was being pleased as punch about offering next day delivery on items (actual delivery time highly variable) Argos was offering completely reliable _same day_ delivery. It is quite amazing how smooth the process is, even if you cant get same day delivery you will invariably be able to…

I get all my high end electronics through Argos as then I don't have to run the "is it fake" gauntlet with Amazon. Highly recommend.

[deleted]
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