eBay wants you to buy more refurbished phones

Phone
(Image credit: Shutterstock.com / AstroStar)

eBay has launched its ‘Certified Refurbished’ programme in the UK, allowing vendors and resellers to capitalise on the growing trend for ‘like new’ electronics.

Electronics from Dyson, Eve and GoPro are included, which has already been launched in Australia and the US, while mobile device manufacturers and retailers are encouraged to sign up.

The increasing cost of devices, coupled with a perceived lack of innovation in the market, has led to longer refresh cycles and slowing sales of flagship handsets. Many consumers are happier with older models and unwilling to pay for expensive handsets when looking for a new phone.

eBay certified refurbished

These trends, along with an increased focus on sustainability, have led to growth in the refurbished market and an increase in the quality and availability of pre-owned devices.

eBay says searchers for refurbished products have risen by as much as 300% year-on-year on its platform and the aim is to inspire confidence in buyers by making the purchase experience as close to buying new as possible.

Products sold on the hub are discounted by as much as 30% and have all been inspected, cleaned, and refurbished to eBay’s criteria. All devices sold come with a 12-month guarantee, free delivery, and are subject to a 30-day returns policy.

“Demand for refurbished products has been growing for some time, but we know that the main barrier for some consumers has been the perceived risk that comes with purchasing a refurbished item,” said Matt Porter, eBay UK senior trading manager.

“Our Certified Refurbished hub is designed to bring peace of mind to customers, allowing them to secure the products they love, like new for less, and at the high quality they deserve.

“We’re really looking forward to working with our sellers and brands on this venture, allowing them to open up new revenue streams, maximise the margin on returns, and create a more sustainable supply chain, too.”

Steve McCaskill is TechRadar Pro's resident mobile industry expert, covering all aspects of the UK and global news, from operators to service providers and everything in between. He is a former editor of Silicon UK and journalist with over a decade's experience in the technology industry, writing about technology, in particular, telecoms, mobile and sports tech, sports, video games and media. 

Read more
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip in a studio being used
Don’t want to pay full price for a cutting-edge MacBook Pro or Mac mini? Apple’s now selling M4 refurbs that are more affordable, but still have a year’s warranty
Ring video doorbell on blue background with white text reading 'TechRadar don't miss'
Refurbished Ring doorbells are going cheap at Amazon, with up to 50% off good-as-new devices
Xbox Series S and Series X
Microsoft partners with stores in the US and UK to offer an official Xbox Series X and Series S repair service
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra hands on handheld front angled lock screen
Samsung Galaxy phones get big Trade-In boost – you’ll soon be able to sell without buying a new one
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background
This week's best Apple iPhone 16e deals: where to get the latest iPhone for cheap
A young man takes a portrait photo with a DSLR.
Sell Smart: Quick, easy, and secure camera gear solutions with MPB
Latest in Phone & Communications
GlocalMe KeyTracker
When I tested this global tracker, it trounced the Apple AirTag in so many ways
Privacy Hero II
Privacy Hero II VPN Router
ThinkPhone 25 by Motorola
I reviewed the ThinkPhone 25 by Motorola and while it's not as fast as its predecessor, it's the superior phone in so many ways
FRITZ!Box 7690 WiFi 7 Router
FRITZ!Box 7690 router review
Ulefone Armor Pad 4 Ultra Thermal
Ulefone Armor Pad 4 Ultra Thermal rugged tablet review
Unihertz Tank Pad 8849
Unihertz Tank Pad 8849 rugged tablet review
Latest in News
DeepSeek
Deepseek’s new AI is smarter, faster, cheaper, and a real rival to OpenAI's models
Open AI
OpenAI unveiled image generation for 4o – here's everything you need to know about the ChatGPT upgrade
Apple WWDC 2025 announced
Apple just announced WWDC 2025 starts on June 9, and we'll all be watching the opening event
Hornet swings their weapon in mid air
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets new Steam metadata changes, convincing everyone and their mother that the game is finally releasing this year
OpenAI logo
OpenAI just launched a free ChatGPT bible that will help you master the AI chatbot and Sora
An aerial view of an Instavolt Superhub for charging electric vehicles
Forget gas stations – EV charging Superhubs are using solar power to solve the most annoying thing about electric motoring