ARGOS customers have taken to social media to complain they can’t get their hands on electric fans in their local stores.
The retailer admitted that demand had been very high, saying it had sold 92,000 electric fans yesterday alone – and with the website seeing 101 searches for fans every minute.
With temperatures hitting 32C in some parts of the country, Brits desperate for some relief have been searching high and low for electric fans.
Stats from online retailer ao.com show that they’ve seen a 1,132 per cent year-on-year increase in cooling fans sales since Friday due to the hot weather, while Currys PC has sold more fans in the last two days than the entire month of June last year.
But many Argos stores – particularly those in London – are running low on stock, or are completely out of fans that cost under £100.
Other retailers including Currys PC also appear to be running low on desk fans, but Argos has been particularly hit by shoppers eager to get their hands on something to ease the sweltering heat.
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Social media users have complained that they’ve been unable to pick up a fan from Argos, with one saying: “If you go into any Argos store right now you’ll find rows of people browsing out of stock oscillating fans and tutting loudly.”
Another said: “You know it’s hot when everywhere you try has sold out of fans! Even Argos has sold out….didn’t think that was possible.”
While Argos has assured The Sun Online that it has “tens of thousands of units” in stores at the moment, it appears that stock is plentiful in cooler places of the country, such as Scotland and Liverpool, but much lower in the capital.
If you go into any @Argos_Online store right now you'll find rows of people browsing out of stock oscillating fans and tutting loudly.
— Eliza
(@elizaflorenx) June 19, 2017
(@elizaflorenx) Adam Mumford, electricals buyer at Argos, said: “Yesterday was our biggest ever day for our cooling range and we sold almost 100,000 fans.
“And because temperatures have soared, more people are choosing to buy air conditioning units.
“Yesterday they were our third biggest seller in the range.”
Some of the fans that are out of stock in stores across the capital include the Challenge clock style desk fan, that costs £19.99, and the simple value white desk fan that costs just £9.99.
Pricier fans such as the Dyson hot and cool fan heater, which costs £369.99, are, unsurprisingly, in stock in most stores.
But do not despair as there are ways to find stock in your local Argos store.
Customers can check stock levels on the website or the app and reserve for collection to avoid a wasted journey.
The retailer also offers same-day delivery, which will arrive in four hours, across the UK.
You can also call your local store to check when it will be replenishing its stock, and you can opt into a “back in stock” text message so you’re alerted straight away when they have the product back on the shelves.
How can I find an electric fan?
IN these hot times, Brits are desperate to get their hands on an electric fan.
To find one, try calling your local Argos, Currys, Tesco or Homebase store to see if they have any in stock. If they let you, reserve one for free and pick it up in store that day.
Most retailer websites also allow you to check stock in your local store when you enter your postcode.
If you can’t find any fans in stock, sites like Amazon and eBay have some in stock – but you might have to wait up to five days for it to be delivered – which isn’t ideal.
If you’re really desperate to keep cool at home, try keeping blinds and curtains closed during the day as a preventative measure to stop your room from overheating and wash either your wrists or your feet with cold water before you hit the hay can help you to cool down and drift off.
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