IKEA is set to pilot an online buyback service for secondhand furniture, directly challenging platforms like eBay and Vinted. The service will first be tested in Spain and Portugal this year, with a UK rollout planned if the pilot proves successful.
IKEA, which operates a store near Birmingham in Wednesbury, West Midlands, predicts that pre-owned goods will capture 16 per cent of the UK homewares market by next year. The move positions the Swedish retailer squarely in the growing resale market, competing with established online marketplaces.
How the IKEA secondhand marketplace will work
The UK service will be free to use initially, but a “buyer protection fee” of approximately 5 per cent of an item’s price will be introduced over time. Sellers will be able to scan an eligible item to create a listing, with the platform automatically generating recommended pricing, professional product photography, accurate measurements, product descriptions, assembly instructions and care information.
The recommended price for pre-owned items is calculated as a percentage of the original cost, adjusted based on the item’s condition. However, like on Vinted and eBay, sellers can set their own asking price. Customers can choose to receive their proceeds in cash or as an IKEA gift card, which includes a 15 per cent top-up.
Buyers get free spare parts and safety brackets
The platform will also allow buyers to order new spare parts for free, such as restraint brackets used to secure furniture to walls. This aims to address safety concerns and extend the lifespan of IKEA products, reinforcing the company’s sustainability message.
IKEA said it would be “clear and transparent when that changes and it represents a cost to customers,” referring to the future introduction of the buyer protection fee.
Sustainability manager explains shift in consumer habits
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.”
He added: “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.”
The pilot in Spain and Portugal will determine whether the service expands to the UK. If successful, IKEA’s Wednesbury store and other UK locations could see increased footfall as customers buy and sell pre-owned furniture, potentially reshaping the homewares market in the region.
