Primark is offering customers the chance to click and collect for the very first time, so of course we had to give it a go.
Everyone knows how bad the queues can be in Primark stores and the option to browse online without having to face the crowds is a treat in itself.
Just trying to hold one of their baskets straight without those little plastic handles slipping to one side is enough to get me breaking a sweat.
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After a bit of a bumpy start, with the retailer's website crashing due to demand when the service first launched last week, by Monday afternoon, I had no problem accessing it.
It's the kids' clothing range that can be ordered at the moment, along with nursery products and toys and the first thing I noticed was just how many online exclusive products there are, hundreds in fact.
And you can probably guess that the prices are good too - there are few places that you can pick up a pack of three jogging bottoms for £12 and two long sleeve boys' tops for £6.
From previous experience they last the distance too. I've bought joggers for both my children from there in the past and they washed really well and lasted until they'd outgrown them.
In the interests of a thorough test, to get products from different ranges, I ordered a baby's hooded towel too, another Click + Collect exclusive. At £7, this was a bit more expensive because of the Disney branding.
The earliest pick-up date it gave me was from 1pm on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after ordering, but I knew I would be heading near The Trafford Centre on Thursday, so opted for that date instead.
True to its word I received a text message on Wednesday morning, telling me my order was ready to collect and I simply had to show my barcode at the dedicated Click + Collect desk, which is on the first floor at the Trafford Palazzo store.
Perhaps with it being the evening by the time I got there, there was no queue at the desk, but thankfully there was a member of staff on hand to get my parcel.
I showed my code, he went to retrieve it and less than two minutes later I was walking away, goods in hand.
The package - made from thick brown paper - seemed pretty sturdy, so I was surprised that after just a couple of minutes the handle ripped, leaving my daughter and I squabbling over who was to carry it under their arm. What is it with Primark handles!
The problem was soon averted when we needed a basket to put some other items in that we decided to buy. We had to compare Click + Collect with the usual till experience after all.
I was buying some Christmas jumpers - you'll be hearing more about those next week - and decided to buy another pair of joggers (he's a messy child).
As I said the range is far greater online, so I opted for one pair for £5.50.
The queue was actually quite small, again probably due to the time, but it still took longer than rocking up and flashing my phone.
The cashier did give us a spare bag to carry the torn package though so all was well.
Our first attempt at Click + Collect was a near perfect experience and it's a brilliant option for busy parents who might want to avoid a lengthy shopping trip, especially with young children in tow - or if they're wanting to 'put things away' for Christmas.
But I can imagine that most people will find something else they either want or need once they're in store, so it's worth noting that you can pay for other items you want at the Click + Collect desk to save you queuing twice.
Now all we need is for Primark to offer home delivery and we won't need to go at all. Now that really would be a treat.
There's a £15 minimum order value for Click + Collect. Find out more about the service online here.
The 25 Primark stores offering the new Click + Collect service are:
- Birkenhead, Grange Road, CH41 6EA
- Blackburn, The Mall Blackburn, BB1 7JG
- Blackpool, Bank Hey Street, FY1 4RY
- Bolton, Crompton Place Shopping, BL1 1EA
- Broughton, Broughton Shopping Park, CH4 0DE
- Burnley, Charter Walk Shopping Centre, BB11 1BB
- Bury, The Rock Shopping Centre, BL9 0ND
- Carlisle, English Street, CA3 8NX
- Chester, Foregate Street, CH1 1HA
- Huddersfield, New Street, HD1 2TR
- Lancaster, Marketgate Shopping Centre, LA1 1JF
- Liverpool, Church Street, L1 3AY
- Llandudno, Parc Llandudno Retail Park, LL30 1PX
- Manchester, Market Street, M1 1WA
- Manchester, The Trafford Centre, M17 8AS
- Oldham, Market Place, OL1 3AB
- Preston, Fishergate Shopping Centre, PR1 8HJ
- Sheffield, Meadowhall, S9 1ER
- Sheffield, The Moor, S1 4PA
- Southport, Chapel Street, PR8 1AE
- Stockport, Chestergate, SK1 1NT
- Wallasey, Cherry Tree Shopping Centre, CH44 5TL
- Warrington, Golden Square, WA1 1QB
- Wigan, Standishgate, WN1 1UP
- Wrexham, Regent Street, LL11 1RY
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