Video Of 1998 Catalogue Evokes Nostalgia, People Shocked After Seeing Prices Of Items
The front cover of the 1998 Argos catalogue featured photographs of an old CD player/speaker system, a drill, table and chairs, and the iconic red and yellow toy car.
In an era where digital shopping has become the norm, a recent video has ignited a wave of nostalgia among netizens by resurrecting a 25-year-old Argos catalogue. The video showcases a bygone era of shopping and leaves viewers baffled by the prices of items that were once the stuff of childhood dreams. For many UK residents, flipping through the Argos catalogue was an annual ritual before birthdays or Christmas, a process filled with eager anticipation and meticulous highlighting of coveted items. Even the mere mention of the catalogue can invoke memories of the distinctive way its papers smelled.
A now-viral video has shown the 1998 edition of the iconic shopping catalogue to TikTok viewers and people can’t help marvelling at the prices of various items from gaming consoles to other devices listed in it, as per Ladbible. The Nintendo Game Boy, complete with two games and a case, was reportedly priced at a mere £53.99 (approx. INR 5620). It is a stark reminder of how far we have come in terms of technological and market advancements.
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The front cover of the 1998 Argos catalogue reportedly featured photographs of an old CD player/speaker system, a drill, table and chairs, and the iconic red and yellow Little Tikes car, a must-have for every toddler in the UK at that time.
Here is a video of the catalogue:
Next up is the original PlayStation, priced at £129 (approx. INR 13429), which included two controllers and a memory card. Ladbible writes that these prices evoked the viewers’ longing for the simpler times when gaming was a bit more affordable.
The video’s most jaw-dropping moment, however, comes when it showcases 14" box TVs, a household staple in 1998, priced at £229 (approx. INR 23839) or available on a £9 (Approx. INR 937) per month payment plan. For those willing to splurge, the 20" version was also reportedly available for £429 (approx. INR 44659).
However, this cherished relic of the past is no more, as Argos bid farewell to its iconic catalogue in July 2020 after 47 years.
The Guardian informs that Argos, in its statement about discontinuing the catalogue, acknowledged the shift towards digital shopping. The company said that digital shopping experiences will be more convenient for shoppers than flipping through the pages of the catalogue.
Founded in 1973, Argos has grown to become a leading UK general merchandise retailer, offering a vast selection of over 60,000 products through various channels, including its website, apps, stores, and Click & Collect points inside supermarkets. It employs approximately 30,000 people and is the UK’s top toy retailer, with a strong presence in furniture, homewares, and electricals. The company’s technology-driven approach is evident in the billion visits its website receives annually, with 70% of sales originating online. Argos also boasts a Fast Track delivery service available in over 90% of UK postcodes, offering home delivery in as little as four hours, seven days a week, up to 10 p.m., according to the brand’s official website.
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