IKEA offers to buy back used furniture in exchange for vouchers

Ikea has launched a buy back scheme that will allow customers to sell used furniture in exchange for store credit. 

The Swedish flat-pack furniture giant will give participating shoppers vouchers worth up to 50 per cent of the original value, depending on the condition of the piece. 

In turn, shoppers will be able to buy the returned items second-hand, allowing them to save money on the cost of furniture and reduce the amount of waste. 

Customers could receive up to £250 for their second-hand office cabinets, £249 for tables and £270 for second-hand desks. 

Ikea has launched a buy back scheme that will allow customers to sell used furniture in exchange for store credit (pictured, the popular Billy bookcase costs £35 but customers could receive a voucher worth £17 for the item using the scheme.)

Children's products are among those included in the scheme, meaning shoppers could receive up to £98 for the Svarta cabin bed,

Children's products are among those included in the scheme, meaning shoppers could receive up to £98 for the Svarta cabin bed, and £30 for the popular Duktig play kitchen

Children’s products are among those included in the scheme, meaning shoppers could receive up to £98 for the Svarta cabin bed (left), and £30 for the popular Duktig play kitchen (right) 

In order to participate, customers will fill out an online form on the Ikea website. 

The tool will automatically generate a preliminary offer and customers will then be invited to bring the fully assembled product and preliminary offer to the Returns & Exchanges desk at their nearest Ikea store. 

If the piece meets the requirements, the customer will be given a refund card with no expiry date.

Furniture that is being returned ‘as new’, (no scratches) will be worth 50 per cent of the original price; ‘very good’ (with minor scratches) will be worth 40 per cent of the original price and ‘well used’ (several scratches) will be worth 30 per cent of the original price.  

Meanwhile customers could receive up £249 for the Morbylanga table (pictured)

Meanwhile customers could receive up £249 for the Morbylanga table  and £213 for the Mockelby table (pictured)

Meanwhile customers could receive up £249 for the Morbylanga table (left) and £213 for the Mockelby table (right) 

Shoppers could expect a voucher for £185 if they return their £370 Nordli dressers to an Ikea store in good condition

Shoppers could expect a voucher for £185 if they return their £370 Nordli dressers to an Ikea store in good condition 

For those who invested £535 in a Bekant desk while working at home during the pandemic and have now found they are returning to the office, they could receive £267 from the scheme

For those who invested £535 in a Bekant desk while working at home during the pandemic and have now found they are returning to the office, they could receive £267 from the scheme 

Products eligible for the buy back scheme include dressers, bookcases, chests of drawers and dining tables and desks. 

How does the Ikea Buy Back scheme work? 

  • Customers fill out an online form to generate an initial quote 
  • Eligible returns will be invited to bring the furniture into store, along with the quote 
  • A refund card will be produced, worth up to 50% the original price 
  • The returned item will be re-sold in the As-Is Are of the store 

Other items eligible include small tables, cabinets and children’s products. 

Items will then be resold as second-hand in the As-Is Area of stores (previously known as Bargain Corner). Anything that cannot be resold will be recycled. 

The popular Billy bookcase is among the items listed in the scheme, and costs £35 from the store – meaning customers could receive a voucher worth £17 for the item.

Meanwhile customers could receive up to £250 for office cabinets, £249 for the Morbylanga table and £213 for the Mockelby table. 

To coincide with the launch, IKEA is also introducing ‘Pre-Loved Labels’ to its second-hand items, allowing customers to learn about an item’s past before giving it a new home. 

Peter Jelkeby, Country Retail Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA UK & Ireland, commented: ‘Households are connected to around 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions, consuming around a third of the energy and 10% of the water used globally. 

‘Therefore, small actions taken within them can make a significant difference, and why IKEA is so committed to making sustainable living more affordable, attractive and accessible. As one of the biggest brands in the world, we recognise our unique opportunity to help lead that change.

‘Through Buy Back we hope to make circular consumption mainstream; making it easier for customers to acquire, care for and pass on products in circular ways.

The Swedish flat-pack furniture giant will give participating shoppers vouchers worth up to 50 per cent of the original value, depending on the condition of the piece. Stock image

The Swedish flat-pack furniture giant will give participating shoppers vouchers worth up to 50 per cent of the original value, depending on the condition of the piece. Stock image

‘As we move towards our goal of becoming fully circular and climate positive by 2030 we will continue to take bold steps ensuring that, by then, all IKEA products will be made from renewable, recyclable and/or recycled materials; and they will be designed to be re-used, refurbished, re-manufactured or recycled, following circular design principles.’  

Hege Sæbjørnsen, Country Sustainability Manager at IKEA UK & Ireland, added: ‘The IKEA vision has always been to create a better everyday life for the many people, which right now means making sustainable living easy and affordable for everyone. 

‘Being circular is a good business opportunity as well as a responsibility, and the climate crisis requires us all to radically rethink our consumption habits.

‘Currently, 45 percent of total global carbon emissions come from the way the world produces and uses everyday products, so Buy Back represents an opportunity to address unsustainable consumption and its impact on climate change.’

Products eligible for the buy back scheme include dressers, bookcases, chests of drawers and dining tables and desks. Pictured, the VEDBO dining table

Products eligible for the buy back scheme include dressers, bookcases, chests of drawers and dining tables and desks. Pictured, the VEDBO dining table