When is Tesco Direct closing down, what’s in the sale and why has the Amazon rival been axed?
The website was set up as a rival to Amazon, and is a platform for independent retailers to sell their products through the site
TESCO Direct is closing down on July 9 after bosses pulled the plug.
But why is it closing down, how many jobs are at risk and what is in the clearance sale ahead of its closure?
What is Tesco Direct?
The website was set up as a rival to Amazon, and is a platform for independent retailers to sell their products through the site.
Tesco customers can buy products on the Direct website that they can't buy in store, and still collect loyalty Clubcard points while they shop.
It sells everything from tech and mobile, to home and furniture and electricals.
It is set to close after bosses realised it had "no route to profitability".
The site - set up to rival Amazon - is thought to have been hamstrung by high delivery and marketing costs.
When is Tesco Direct closing down?
The supermarket is shutting down the tech, toys, clothes and homeware side of the business because it isn't making any money, "despite best efforts".
Customers won't be able to shop at Tesco Direct from July 9, 2018, but you will still be able to buy some of the products via the food website, Tesco.com.
A notice on the Tesco Direct website is warning customers that some orders could be delayed by two to five days as a result of the decision.
The supermarket runs two websites, one for the groceries side of the business and the Direct one for toys, home and cookware.
It has already started to sell some of these products on the food site, which they say will make it "simpler" for customers to shop in one place.
Is there a closing down sale?
At the time that the website's closure was announced Tesco Direct was running a Bank Holiday sale – but a spokesperson confirmed to The Sun there would be a closing sale.
In early June, the clearance deals began in earnest, with some tasty deals to be had on indoor and outdoor furniture, toys and sports gear.
There are over 1,000 items on sale and many are half price or better, and you can see the full range .
Among the tempting bargains are a , a and a .
MORE DEALS AND SALES
How many jobs are at risk?
The warehouse in Fenny Lock, Milton Keynes, will also close in July, putting the future of hundreds of jobs in the balance.
As many as 500 workers could be at risk of redundancy.
Top Tesco boss Charles Wilson said: "We want to offer our customers the ability to buy groceries and non-food products in one place and that’s why we are focusing our investment into one online platform.
"This decision has been a very difficult one to make, but it is an essential step towards establishing a more sustainable non-food offer and growing our business for the future."
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