Shoppers outside Primark - which has taken its first step into online retail
(Picture: PA Wire)Many online shoppers hoping to make use of Primark’s eagerly awaited click and collect service were disappointed when the website crashed.
The retailer is trialling the scheme in 25 shops in the north of England and Wales for children’s products and the website went live on Monday morning.
But some shoppers complained they were met with an error message reading: “Oops, service temporarily unavailable. Please check back later.” This was still the case as of noon for many.
Primark said: “It’s been great to see so much interest in the launch of our new Click + Collect trial. We’re aware that some people have had issues accessing the website this morning and we’re working hard to address this to ensure that everyone can access and browse the site easily.”
On Twitter, shoppers shared their disappointment.
The website must have been put created by a local firm.
— Topoli (@Londonboy2009) November 14, 2022
One commenter ‘Londonboy’ wrote: “The website must have been created by a local firm.”
The site does not have a good investor
— Erisha Tylor (@ErishaTylor) November 14, 2022
Another, Erisha Taylor, added: “The site does not have a good investor.”
The click and collect service is web-shy Primark potentially dipping a toe in the water of the online marketplace after losing £1 billion in sales during the pandemic.
Chief executive Paul Marchant told reporters: "We're massive fans of bricks and mortar. We believe in stores and we believe in the High Street. We think click-and-collect is the right proposition.”
Primark doing click and collect is music to my ears because it is truly HELL in there half in the time
— Ryan ✌️ (@RyanS_UK) November 14, 2022
Twitter user ‘Ryan S’ had said: “Primark doing click and collect is music to my ears because it is truly HELL in there half in the time.”
“Primark's website has crashed after the retailer finally launched its click-and-collect service.”
— Laura Young (is at COP27) (@LessWasteLaura) November 14, 2022
This isn’t from people who are in actual need for new cheap clothes because of the cost of living. This is greed and overconsumption from the middle class. https://t.co/tOWDlZTt4o
Laura Young was less keen. She tweeted of the news: “This isn’t from people who are in actual need for new cheap clothes because of the cost of living. This is greed and overconsumption from the middle class.”
Primark has also recently been in the news after offering female-only changing rooms after reported incidents of men invading women in compromised positions inside unisex booths.
Mr Marchant said that after two Covid-hit festive periods, the full return to shopping in 2022 should see a happier Christmas for the chain - which has 190 UK stores.
"It's the first time for three years that customers have been able to come into the store, mask free, restriction free and really enjoy the experience of being in a Primark store,” he added.
