IKEA Launches Second-Hand Marketplace to Challenge eBay and Vinted
IKEA has launched a dedicated second-hand online marketplace for its own furniture and homewares, positioning the Swedish retail giant in direct competition with established platforms like eBay and Vinted, rte.ie reported. The platform features items priced on average 60% lower than new products, providing a centralized digital space where members of the IKEA Family loyalty scheme can buy and sell pre-owned items directly.
The marketplace automates the listing process to reduce friction for sellers. When an owner scans an eligible IKEA item, the platform automatically generates recommended pricing, professional product photography, accurate measurements, product descriptions, assembly instructions, and care information. Sellers retain the ability to set their own prices, which are calculated as a percentage of the original cost and adjusted for condition. Payouts are offered in cash or via an IKEA gift card carrying a 15% top-up bonus.
UK customers shift toward pre-owned furniture
The UK launch follows trials in other European markets, including Spain and Portugal, where popular items like the Kallax shelving system and Malm chest of drawers feature prominently. Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at IKEA UK and Ireland, noted that consumer habits have shifted significantly. Whether they are moving, redecorating or looking for a particular piece, more customers are considering pre-owned furniture alongside new and are actively searching for items that can help create a home that feels personal to them,
Mr. Lucas said, according to rte.ie.
The second-hand home products market in the UK exceeds £4.5 billion and grows at approximately 6.5% annually. IKEA products currently account for about 9% of furniture sold on existing UK resale platforms. Retail data shows that 63% of UK consumers purchased products through reselling platforms in 2025, up from 51% in 2024, driving widespread retail adaptation. Competitors such as John Lewis and Currys also offer pre-owned or refurbished goods, while AO expanded its footprint after acquiring musicMagpie in 2024.
Online Buy-Back Pilot and Expansion Plans
Alongside the peer-to-peer marketplace, IKEA is expanding its existing in-store Buy Back scheme into an online format. The digital buy-back service will be tested in Spain and Portugal before the end of December, with plans for a subsequent UK rollout if the pilot proves successful. The online buy-back option allows customers to sell unwanted furniture directly back to the retailer in exchange for store vouchers.
For the peer-to-peer marketplace launch, IKEA stated that the Buyer Protection Fee is free initially, though the company plans to introduce clear and transparent charges in the future. Buyers and sellers currently arrange collection or delivery directly with one another through the platform. The service also allows buyers to order new spare parts, such as wall-securing restraint brackets, for free.
Which items IKEA excludes from its marketplace?
Which items are excluded from the IKEA second-hand marketplace?
Listings are restricted to home furnishing products. Mattresses, home appliances, and food items are excluded from being sold on the platform.
How does IKEA calculate the recommended price for used items?
The platform determines a suggested price by taking a percentage of the original retail cost and adjusting it based on the specific condition of the item reported by the seller.
Where is IKEA testing its online buy-back service?
The online buy-back service pilot launches in Spain and Portugal in late December before management considers expanding the trial to the UK market.
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