‘Wild West’ refurbished good market needs taming, argues consumer group

Clear, uniform definitions are needed for the European refurbished goods market, alongside high-quality standards and greater transparency, consumer protection NGO Euroconsumers argued in an opinion paper published on Wednesday, labelling the current market situation a ‘Wild West’.

While the European Commission has promoted the use of refurbished goods, particularly within the scope of the Green Deal, there are few specific rules affecting such products. 

What is a refurbished product?

The term “refurbish” holds varying meanings across member states. In Belgium, Italy, and Spain, the concept doesn’t have legal standing. “Refurbishment” has been defined at European level in the context of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation under the Green Deal. The term refers to the preparation, cleaning, testing, and repair of a product to restore its original functionality and performance. 

Refurbished products, typically smartphones but also laptops, home appliances, tablets, and gaming consoles, have yet to hit the mainstream. According to Euroconsumers, only 24% of respondents in a recent survey reported purchasing a refurbished device, with the trend more prevalent among younger consumers aged 25 to 44. 

Price is the main driver for consumers of most refurbished goods, though some cite environmental concerns or the unavailability of new products as influencing factors. 

Current legislation: gaps and consumer concerns

Euroconsumers’ research shows that nearly one in three respondents want a stronger legal framework governing refurbished goods. So far, only France and the Netherlands have introduced specific consumer protections, with labelling that defines what constitutes a refurbished product. 

At the European level, while “refurbishment” is acknowledged in the Green Deal as a way to reduce consumption of new goods, there is no corresponding consumer protection. This concerns consumer protection advocates, since the Euroconsumers’ survey found that 32% of consumers had experienced issues with a refurbished product. 

A 2022 study by Euroconsumers’ Belgian member revealed wide variations in the quality and performance of phones, despite similar labelling. 

To address these issues, Euroconsumers is calling on the EU to establish a harmonised definition of “refurbished” along with EU-wide standards for descriptive ranking categories such as “as good as new”. They also advocate for clearer information on warranties, repairs and parts used during refurbishment. 

The group is also stressing the need for manufacturers to ensure continued software updates. For instance, Apple no longer offers updates for iPhones released before 2018, which can disrupt functionality and limit usage of older devices. 

Resellers welcome harmonisation efforts

Refurbed, a marketplace that connects refurbishers with consumers in 16 EU countries believe that a common definition is necessary. Co-founder Kilian Kaminski told Euronews that the current definition given in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) “doesn’t accurately reflect the process”. 

Leading refurbished products reseller Back Market also supports the push for harmonisation. “We would welcome any initiative to establish common standards,” Alexandre Tanay, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Back Market, told Euronews. Back Market operates in 18 countries, including 13 EU member states. 

Back Market and Refurbed have already developed their own quality charter and technical standards.

However, they both emphasised the need for the original manufacturers to facilitate the refurbishment process by allowing easier replacement of parts and increased reparability – by making spare parts cheaper and halting obstacles to reparation. “To this day, manufacturers still use techniques that hinder repair or refurbishment in order to sell more new products,” said Kaminski.