Dive Brief:
- Continuing its U.S. e-commerce expansion, TikTok Shop is allowing select merchants to sell refurbished electronics, the company said in a Friday email to Retail Dive. Shoppers will be able to buy items such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets from brands like Apple, Samsung, Google and Lenovo.
- Approved third-party inspectors such as PhoneCheck, Blancco or BlackBelt will verify the condition of the refurbished items. Products rated premium or excellent will be sold on the platform.
- The company is offering a 90-day Buyer Protection Program, which allows customers to return items for a refund up to 90 days after purchase if they are damaged, defective or aren’t as described. Sellers also must provide a one year warranty on all refurbished electronics sold on the platform.
Dive Insight:
By adding secondhand electronics to its product assortment, TikTok Shop seeks to tap into the $23 billion U.S. refurbished goods market, according to the company. In the coming months, TikTok plans to expand its refurbished electronics offering to include earphones, headphones, smart watches, and other items.
TikTok Shop launched its vertical in the U.S. in September 2023, connecting more than 150 million U.S. users to e-commerce within the app. Earlier this year, the platform debuted its “Pre-Owned Luxury” section within the TikTok Shop for U.K. users, allowing them to buy high-end secondhand items from resellers like Sign of the Times, Hardley Ever Worn It and Sellier Knightsbridge.
Meanwhile, other major retailers have ventured into the certified refurbished and secondhand goods market in recent years. In 2020, eBay launched its “Certified Refurbished” offering, where customers can get refurbished items from companies like Hoover, Phillips and Dirt Devil with a two-year Allstate warranty. Similarly, Walmart in 2022 launched a refurbishment program called Walmart Restored and Best Buy has a refurbished electronics product category.
Though major retailers are offering refurbished items, the electronics category overall has been struggling. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau, sales of electronics and appliances were down 6.6% in September.
