Household Bills
Ikea to buy back unwanted furniture
The homeware store will buy back unwanted goods for up to half their original price, paid in vouchers, then resell the items as secondhand.
The Swedish group plans to launch the Buy Back scheme in the UK and Ireland on Black Friday on 27 November.
The scheme is part of Ikea’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly.
Customers will be able to return used sideboards, bookcases, shelving, small tables, dining tables, office drawers, desks, and chairs and stools without upholstery, all previously bought from Ikea. Some children’s products will also qualify for the scheme.
In return customers will receive vouchers to spend in store, with the voucher value calculated according to the condition of the items returned.
The items of furniture must not have been modified and must be assembled. The original purchase receipt is not required.
How much is your second-hand furniture worth?
“As new” pieces can be exchanged for up to half their value, while well-used pieces with several scratches will get vouchers worth 30% of the item’s original value.
The items will be put on sale in stores and anything that cannot be resold will be recycled.
Peter Jelkeby, country retail manager for Ikea in the UK and Ireland, says: “Sustainability is the defining issue of our time and Ikea is committed to being part of the solution to promote sustainable consumption and combat climate change.
“With the launch of Buy Back we are giving a second life to many more Ikea products and creating more easy and affordable solutions to help people live more sustainably. It is an exciting step forward in our journey towards becoming a fully circular and climate positive business by 2030.”
How the scheme will work?
You’ll need to complete an online form giving your personal contact details, information about the item you wish to sell and indicating which store you would like to drop the item off at. You’ll also need to upload photos of the furniture you want to return.
An expert from Ikea will then value the item. You’ll receive an email indicating whether IKEA wants to buy it and the valuation based on the current price.
If you accept the offer, you must bring the piece of furniture to the store. If the furniture is not assembled, you will be provided with the tools to enable you to assemble the furniture at the store.
An Ikea expert will check that the item of furniture matches the photographs you provided. In exchange, you’ll receive an Ikea gift card to the value agreed in the offer.
