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Business & Money

Ikea to sell second-hand furniture online

Published: 30 Aug 10 18:03 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/28668/20100830/

Retailing giant Ikea will launch a section to sell used Ikea products with Swedish online classified ad site Blocket.

The idea will first be tested in Sweden, but the furniture chain is not against launching similar sites in other countries in the future.

"Time will tell," said Peter Agnefäll, CEO of Ikea Sverige. "We have to start somewhere. We in Sweden are first and it is unbelievably fun."

According to Agnefäll, the new site, which was launched on Saturday in conjunction with a giant flea market at IKEA's store parking lots, is part of Ikea's environmental work.

"First, it is about taking an environmental responsibility for how our products are used in the longer term and making it easier for our customers to do their part for their responsibility towards the environment."

Agnefäll estimated that sales of used products will increase over time, regardless of Ikea's investment in the area. However, he saw no risk in new sales becoming adversely affected with this new venture.

The new offering will not result in any major revenue for Ikea. Members of its customer loyalty program, Ikea Family, can advertise for free.

"We have in Sweden 2.3 million Family members, so I think that an overwhelming majority will advertise for free," he said. "Besides, one who is not a member can become one for free. We will not earn much money from this."

He repudiated suggestions that the launch is a way to take control of the second-hand market. He added it is not a way to prolong last year's high-profile naming conflict with buying and selling site Iloveikea.se (now Billyandfriends.se).

In terms of how Ikea would respond if the site becomes inundated with rickety old furniture, Agnefäll said, "We would look into it. However, the vast majority would not bother to advertise something that is not in sellable condition."

External link: Blocket (in Swedish) »

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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23:18 August 30, 2010 by dizzymoe33
This is good for Sweden I hope it catches on.
23:19 August 30, 2010 by booka
Blocket will need to catch on too.
00:04 August 31, 2010 by iddqd
there was a second hand IKEA furniture site in germany once but IKEA threatened with lawsuits and closed down the site...

now you know why;-)
08:59 August 31, 2010 by calebian22
Second hand IKEA? Most of the first hand items are not all that great.
09:59 August 31, 2010 by BrittInSweden
@booka

Thats what eBay is for.

Blocket is like those old adverts in newspapers you used to get. Blocket needs to catch up with eBay.
10:21 August 31, 2010 by Amber Dawn
People on Blocket want too much for their used stuff! Occasionally you can get a great buy, but usually it's three or four years old and maybe 100:- less than the original purchase price. Gaming systems are more than the new price if they have one game with them.
15:24 August 31, 2010 by planethero
lol, i agree with overpricing there, 2nd hand car prices here are frankly mental, "yours for half the new price, oh by the way its six years old with 180,000km" =:Oo
17:05 August 31, 2010 by Vetinari
I have a hard time to take blocket seriously. There are mostly two kinds of posts: overpriced or illegal.
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