Ikea Launches Dedicated Second-Hand Marketplace to Challenge eBay and Vinted
Ikea enters the resale market with a new platform for pre-owned furniture, offering average savings of 60% compared to new items for loyalty members.
POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — Ikea has officially entered the resale market, launching a dedicated online platform for customers to buy and sell pre-owned furniture. The initiative aims to provide shoppers with greater access to affordable home goods, with the retailer noting that second-hand items will typically cost 60 per cent less than their brand-new counterparts.
The marketplace is currently available exclusively to members of the Ikea Family loyalty program. While users can list a wide variety of home furnishings, the company has excluded specific categories from the platform, including mattresses, food, and appliances.
To simplify the listing process, sellers can scan their items, which triggers the platform to automatically generate professional product photography, accurate measurements, detailed descriptions, and assembly instructions. The system also suggests pricing based on a percentage of the original cost, though sellers retain the flexibility to set their own final price.
Sellers have the option to receive payment in cash or via an Ikea gift card, the latter of which includes a 15 per cent bonus. Additionally, buyers can request free spare parts, such as wall-securing restraint brackets, to ensure the safety and longevity of their purchases.
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Ikea confirmed that the platform’s Buyers Protection Fee will be waived during the initial launch phase. The company plans to provide clear communication regarding any future changes to this fee structure.
This new venture builds upon the retailer’s existing Buy Back scheme, which debuted in 2021 to allow customers to trade specific products for store credit. Ikea intends to integrate this Buy Back service directly into the new marketplace, with trials scheduled for Spain and Portugal in late December.
Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at Ikea UK and Ireland, noted that consumer habits regarding home furnishing are evolving. He stated: 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.
Lucas added that the platform is designed to help customers pass on items as their needs shift, providing the practical information necessary to trade with confidence. The marketplace arrives as competition in the resale sector intensifies, with platforms like Vinted expanding into homeware and other major retailers like John Lewis and Currys also offering refurbished goods.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
