Refurbished: why the French are still reluctant to resell their smartphones ?

© Back Market

How is the second-hand and refurbished smartphone market doing in France ? Rather well if we are to believe a study commissioned by the company Recommerce published at the beginning of the year by the Kantar institute.

A booming sector

In detail, this survey informs us that more than 45% of French people have already owned a second-hand smartphone, a figure that has almost doubled since 2018. In the same vein, 20% of phones used in France are second-hand. A figure that was only 7% six years earlier.

Kantar also notes that 23% of respondents who wanted to buy a new device in the next 12 months are considering turning to the refurbished market. This data therefore reflects an underlying trend in France.

Why are these smartphones of so much interest to our compatriots ? 72% of respondents cite the economic advantage of refurbished devices. Given that new phones sold by some major brands now exceed the monthly minimum wage, this is hardly surprising. Another strong argument for pushing towards these upgraded devices: doing something for the planet by boosting the circular economy. 38% of participants mention this reason.

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However, there are still real obstacles to the second-hand market. For example, 43% of French people say they fear for the viability of the product, while 35% lack confidence in the seller. Some also have doubts about the origin of the product (34%).

The French are still reluctant to resell their smartphones

We can supplement the conclusions of this study with those of a survey that the Dipli company has recently commissioned from the IPSOS Institute. We note here that 7 out of 10 consumers in France have never resold a smartphone.

Similarly, half of the respondents indicate that an extended warranty would strengthen their confidence in these products. According to Dipli: “This highlights an opportunity for telecom operators to reassure consumers by offering strong guarantees, emphasizing quality and ensuring effective after-sales service.”

Finally, anxious to have a reliable method for the recovery of their devices, 71% of French people are fans of in-store recovery for their smartphones.

As a reminder, a case recently shook the refurbished sector in France. Indeed, Back Market, one of the giants of this market, sent a letter to the General Directorate of Public Finances. It accuses the Cdiscount site of unfair competition, which allegedly allowed smartphones resulting from VAT fraud to be promoted. More information on this in our previous article here.

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