Back Market celebrates 10 years: quality, growth, and future initiatives

A decade of growth 

During a press conference celebrating its 10th anniversary, Chief Product Officer Amandine Durr discussed Back Market’s journey, highlighting the company's dedication to quality improvements. Back Market’s RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) rate dropped from 15% at launch to an industry-standard 4%. This achievement reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to refine the quality of its refurbished products.

Verified refurbished and premium devices 

To further enhance transparency and customer trust, Back Market introduced the "Verified Refurbished" label. This new initiative allows customers to review the testing processes and checkpoints their devices go through before being sold. The company also launched a new “Premium” category, similar to competitor Swappie, which features devices that are pristine in condition, with no visible traces of use and containing only original parts. This category is designed for consumers seeking like-new quality in their refurbished products.

Beyond smartphones: expanding product categories 

Though best known for refurbished smartphones, Back Market has expanded to over 200 product categories, including laptops, audio equipment, and household items like vacuum cleaners. With more than 500,000 products now available on its platform, the company seeks to provide consumers with a diverse selection of refurbished electronics, furthering its mission to make refurbished goods mainstream.

Shake to Trade-in: tackling forgotten devices 

A significant part of Back Market’s vision is to address the issue of unused electronic devices. The company estimates that over 100 million devices are left forgotten in drawers across homes. To combat this, Back Market plans to launch a new app called "Shake to Trade" during Black Friday. The app offers customers an easy way to trade in their old devices by connecting them to over 200 professional buyers. After answering a few questions, users will receive an instant trade-in value, providing a seamless solution for recycling unused electronics and offering the best possible trade-in prices.

Future outlook 

Back Market’s continued innovation is not only driving the refurbished electronics market but also promoting environmental sustainability. With a robust infrastructure for testing, refurbishing, and quality control, the company is set to lead the way in making refurbished devices an attractive alternative to new electronics. The introduction of the “Shake to Trade-in” app and its focus on quality refinement positions Back Market as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.

Conclusion 

As Back Market celebrates a decade of success, the company remains committed to offering high-quality, sustainable alternatives to new electronics. Through initiatives like Verified Refurbished and the Premium category, along with its expansion into new product lines and innovative trade-in solutions, Back Market continues to push boundaries in the refurbished electronics industry.