Argos Watch

 

  • Argos Watch

    Posted by Huw, 30 Aug 2011 14:46. Filed under Shopping (UK).

    If you're visiting the site from within the UK, you'll notice a new Argos box in the right hand menu.

    Brickset has been an Argos affiliate for some time but it's only just now that I thought I'd exploit their product feed and see if I could do something useful with it.

    So, the box on the right currently shows how many LEGO products they sell and how many are reduced. They have some good reductions from time to time so keep an eye on that figure then click through to see everything that's reduced, something that normally takes a few clicks on the Argos site. Better still, it shows the best bargains at the top of the page, which is not possible on their site.

    If this proves useful I'll look at ways to determine when new products are added. Remember, everything you buy -- LEGO or not -- or even just reserve at Argos resuts in a small kick-back to Brickset.


    20 comments, latest one posted 20 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by timbutnice in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 15:10

Hi Huw, thanks for this great feature and the rest of the site. I don't know if its a bug or not but you aren't picking up all the deals, e.g.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3885057/Trail/searchtext%3ELEGO+PRODUCTS.htm

- the clone turbo tank isn't in the first feed. Having said that, this has been on clearance for a while and doesn't look to be widely available.

I'll be using this link to get to Argos though - Brickset certainly deserves the kick back!

Posted by George G. in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 15:31

This is a great idea for a great function! However, the City Harbour set's picture is messed up (here's a picture as it may be different for you: http://imgur.com/mrXKF). It may be Argos' fault but I'm not sure...

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 30 Aug 2011 15:38

Nice one! :) I even saw it before you posted the article... ;)

Posted by legocrazy1234 in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 15:43

Thanks this is a great feature, can be a bit of an arse searching through the Argos site. GEORGE G. Argos regularly has damaged pictures on there site. :)

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 15:44

@Tim, interesting, that set doesn't appear in the feed at all (http://www.brickset.com/buy/uk/argos/?all), maybe as you say it's because there aren't many around.

@George, all pics and set names come direct from Argos. Unfortunately because the set number isn't included in the product name I can't automatically match them up with Brickset database entries to fix this sort of issue.

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 30 Aug 2011 15:47

A small suggestion: Make the red price tags less "in-your-face". :) I.e. not as big. :)

Posted by timbutnice in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 15:56

@Huw - it's listed here:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?pp=80&s=Price%3A+High+-+Low&storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001801&langId=-1&q=LEGO+PRODUCTS&canned_results_trigger=%2528free_text%253D%253D%2528%2BLEGO_x20_PRODUCTS%2529%2529%2528mode%253Dpage%253D%2528%2BSEARCH_x2B_NAV%2529%2529%2528cfg%253Dgrouped_display%253D%2528%2B_x30_%2529%2529%2528cfg%253Danswers_per_page%253D%2528%2B_x32_0%2529%2529

(list all Lego, by price descending, 80 items per page) - appreciate this may be different from the web feed you are using.

I used to use this one:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Browse?pp=Show+all&s=Price%3A+High+-+Low&storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002451&langId=-1&c_1=2|category_root|Toys%2Band%2Bgames|14417629&c_2=2|14417629|Lego%2Band%2Bconstruction%2Btoys|14417829&c_3=3|cat_14417829|Lego%2Band%2BDuplo|14417832&r_001=1|Price+Cut|Yes|1&r_003=4|Brands|LEGO|1

(all Lego on offer, price high to low) - but its only be returning the City Power Boat for a few weeks now.

Guess Argos either have a few bugs or don't want to make it consistently easy to find the good stuff!

There is probably some mileage in playing around with the various IDs embedded in the URLs, but at the end of the day it won't magically make anything on fabulous discount appear in my local store...

Feel free to delete this rather ugly post if the links don't help!

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 16:01

^ I think all that proves is that the feed doesn't match the website and unfortunately there's nowt I can do about that :-(

Posted by atkinsar in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 16:16

Nice feature Huw, that will come in handy. How often is the feed updated?

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 16:47

Overnight, every night. The last updated date refers to the latest change in the feed data, but most changes will be trivial and not visible, e.g. customer rating or another field I don't use.

Posted by Savage_Steel in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 17:21

I think the issue with it missing deals is that 'clearance' is different from offers. Clearance (used to be known as RO stock) is literally that, shifting what's left, and so each store has it's own list, and so probably can't easily be harvested.

Posted by minimacwomble in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 17:24

Will be checking for new offers each Wednesday as Argos offers tend to run from Wednesdays through to Tuesdays

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2011 18:09

Great feature! Thanks a lot Huw.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 03:31

I notice that the number of sets available jumped up by about 12 overnight but there's not easy way to see what's been added. I'll have to look at adding that feature sooner rather than later, I think...

Posted by richselby in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 03:31

Looking at the ordered list returned by timbutnice's query, I can see PoTC Whitecap bay is available at 43.99 rather than RRP of 71.99. Again, it's not returned by Huw's quick link to see reduced items.

This will take you directly to the set

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9357008/Trail/searchtext%3ELEGO+PRODUCTS.htm

Note to Argos devs - sort out your RESTful web URLS

Posted by George G. in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 13:20

It hasn't picked up that 2505 Garmadons Dark Fortress is half price at Argos (I found it today whilst searching through the reduced items on the in-store availability checking computers).

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 13:47

^^ That doesn't appear at the top of the list when you order by 'promotions' at Argos, I wonder why...

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Browse?pp=80&s=Promotions&storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002901&langId=-1&c_1=1%7Ccategory_root%7CToys%2Band%2Bgames%7C14417629&c_2=2%7C14417629%7CLego%2Band%2Bconstruction%2Btoys%7C14417829&c_3=3%7Ccat_14417829%7CLego%2Band%2BDuplo%7C14417832

I haven't checked all the pages, but in theory it should be at the top if it's reduced.

Posted by jezzatheshed in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 16:16

I was a little suspect that the link wasnt right- but then I discovered that Argos's own system has bugs. Following on from their POTC offer which was highlighted on the forum last week I was unable to locate a captains cabin set locally. Knowing I would be working in the Luton area today I checked the area for stock and found some in the town centre store. When I arrived I checked the instore screen to find todays price was £7.99 (advertised last night at £5.99). I bit the bullet and ordered one anyway and got charged £5.99 by the till. Got to love technology!

Posted by Savage_Steel in United Kingdom, 31 Aug 2011 18:20

I guess I didn't make myself clear. Each store has it's own clearance stock. You need to check your local store individually for this (which can be done online here: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/ArgosClearance?tag=ar:home:fz:004: )

These clearance offers won't show as promotions ever, as they can't be ordered online, though they are often widely available.

That being said, promotions don't always show either, when you sort by promotions...the system is great!

Posted by bodybomb3 in United Kingdom, 04 Sep 2011 05:38

@ Richselby - Thanks so much, just reserved my Whitecap bay. I was annoyed when it went back up cause Its the only PotC set I don't possess.

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