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Ikea has launched a second-hand marketplace for its products, saying that the platform will provide greater access to bargains.
Pre-owned furniture and homewares purchased through the marketplace will cost on average 60 per cent less than the equivalent new items, the Swedish retail giant said.
The marketplace, aimed as a competitor to the likes of eBay and Vinted, is open to members of the firm’s loyalty scheme Ikea Family.
They will be able to list their home furnishing products, although mattresses, appliances and food are excluded from the scheme.
To create a listing, sellers scan an eligible item.
The platform then automatically provides recommended pricing, professional product photography, accurate measurements, product descriptions, assembly instructions and care information.
Buyers will also be able to order new spare parts for free, such as restraint brackets to secure furniture to walls.
The price recommendation for pre-owned items is a percentage of the original cost, adjusted based on the item’s condition. However, sellers can set their own amount.
Proceeds can be received by sellers in cash or as an Ikea gift card, which will come with a 15 per cent top-up.
Ikea said the platform’s Buyers Protection Fee will be free at launch, but added it would be “clear and transparent when that changes and it represents a cost to customers”.
The marketplace is an extension of Ikea’s Buy Back scheme, launched in 2021 to enable customers to sell certain products back to the retailer in exchange for store credit.
Ikea will trial the integration of Buy Back into the platform in Spain and Portugal in late December.
Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at Ikea UK and Ireland, said: “The way people furnish their homes has changed.
“Whether they are moving, redecorating or looking for a particular piece, more customers are considering pre-owned furniture alongside new and are actively searching for items that can help create a home that feels personal to them.
“Ikea products are designed to be used, maintained and enjoyed over time, and the second-hand marketplace, as well as our in-store buyback service, gives people a straightforward way to pass on items as their needs change, with the practical information they need to buy and sell with confidence.”
Vinted has expanded from fashion to also sell electronics and homeware in recent years.
Other retailers such as John Lewis and Currys also sell pre-owned and refurbished products through their platforms.
The Ikea second-hand marketplace is at ikea.com/gb/en/second-hand/
