Retailers are turning the high street into a second‑hand hub
Many well‑known UK shops now run programmes that let customers sell, trade in or recycle unwanted items. The goal is to keep products in use longer, reduce waste and give shoppers a way to earn money or save on purchases.
IKEA’s customer‑to‑customer marketplace and Buyback scheme
IKEA has launched a second‑hand marketplace in the UK that is open to IKEA Family members. Sellers can list genuine IKEA furniture and homewares directly to other buyers. The platform supplies product photos, measurements, descriptions, assembly instructions and suggested pricing to make listing easier. Sellers set their own price, up to a maximum of £1,995, and payments are held by a third‑party provider during the transaction.
Alongside the marketplace, IKEA continues its Buyback & Resell service. Under this scheme IKEA assesses eligible used items such as bookcases, shelving, cabinets, tables, desks, chairs, stools, chests of drawers, some children’s products, mirrors, shoe storage, plant pots and certain lighting. If the item meets condition requirements – complete, clean, properly assembled, unmodified and fit for resale – the customer receives an IKEA gift card rather than cash.
Both routes accept only genuine IKEA products; appliances, mattresses and food are excluded.
Could buying second‑hand IKEA save you money?
Purchasing used IKEA furniture can be cheaper, especially if you collect it yourself. Always compare the second‑hand asking price with IKEA’s current new price and factor in any transport or van hire costs.
Argos: technology trade‑in, not a customer marketplace
Argos is developing an online marketplace, but it will host third‑party sellers rather than let ordinary customers list their own unwanted goods. However, Argos already runs a Trade‑In service for technology. Accepted items include mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, games consoles, headphones and Mac computers. You receive a quote, send the device using the supplied service and, after inspection, get payment according to the options available at that time.
As with any trade‑in, it is worth checking what similar devices are selling for elsewhere to ensure the offer is competitive.
Currys, John Lewis and other retailers’ tech schemes
Currys offers technology trade‑in and recycling services. When a device still has resale value you can trade it in; when it is truly at end of life you can recycle it through Currys’ recycling schemes.
John Lewis runs technology trade‑in and fashion initiatives, plus broader reuse and recycling schemes. Eligibility and rewards can change, so it is advisable to check the latest terms before visiting a store.
Decathlon operates a Buy Back service for sports equipment such as bikes, gym gear and outdoor items that children have outgrown or that have been abandoned after a brief burst of enthusiasm.
Apple’s Trade In programme lets you exchange eligible iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches for credit toward a new purchase or an Apple Gift Card. Devices with no trade‑in value may still be recycled.
CeX buys and sells a wide range of second‑hand tech, including phones, consoles, computers, games and Blu‑ray discs, offering cash or store credit.
Schuh’s Sell Your Soles initiative gives customers a recycling reward – usually a discount on a new pair – when they bring unwanted footwear to participating stores.
Choosing between selling privately and using a retailer trade‑in
Before deciding, consider three figures if possible:
1. The retailer’s trade‑in or buyback offer.
2. The realistic price you could achieve selling the item yourself on a marketplace or via classifieds.
3. The cost of the replacement item you actually intend to buy.
Look at genuine recent sales of comparable items rather than optimistic listings that have sat unsold for months. Then weigh the convenience of a quick trade‑in against the potential extra earnings from a private sale, factoring in the time and effort required to photograph, list, answer messages and arrange collection or delivery.
Environmental reasons behind the resale push
Retailers are not acting solely out of goodwill. Extending a product’s life delays the need for new manufacturing, reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint associated with raw material extraction, production and shipping. Reuse should generally precede recycling because a working item can continue to serve its purpose without the energy‑intensive processes of breaking it down and remaking its materials.
For electronics, a functioning phone may be refurbished and resold, a broken device might yield usable spare parts, and only truly non‑functional items should go to recycling for material recovery.
Practical tips for shoppers looking to save or earn
Before discarding anything, ask whether it could be sold, traded in, donated or recycled. Check the retailer’s current terms – eligibility, accepted products and reward values change frequently.
When buying second‑hand, compare the used price with the retailer’s latest new price, include any collection or delivery costs, and for technology verify battery health, age, software support and warranty status.
If you are already planning to buy a replacement from the same retailer, a trade‑in or buyback can simplify the transaction and still provide a financial benefit, especially when the convenience outweighs a modest difference in price.
Making the second‑hand high street work for you
The growing network of retailer‑backed resale, trade‑in and recycling options means that unwanted furniture, gadgets, sports gear and shoes often still hold value. By taking a moment to verify eligibility, compare prices and consider the effort involved, you can turn clutter into cash or savings while supporting a more circular economy.
