Vicky Parry
eighth Oct 2026
Studying Time: 9 minutes
For years, for those who needed to eliminate an previous bookcase, telephone, pair of trainers or video games console, your decisions have been pretty predictable. You may stick it on eBay, courageous the messages on Fb Market, take it to a charity store or, if it actually had reached the tip of its helpful life, discover a approach to recycle it.
However one thing fascinating is going on on the British excessive avenue. The retailers that bought us all these things within the first place more and more need it again.
IKEA has now launched its personal second-hand market within the UK, permitting prospects to purchase and promote pre-owned IKEA furnishings and homewares immediately to 1 one other. In the meantime, Argos is constructing a wider on-line market of its personal and already operates a trade-in scheme which might pay prospects for undesirable expertise.
They’re removed from alone. John Lewis, Currys, Apple, Decathlon, Schuh and CeX are among the many acquainted names providing methods to commerce in, recycle, reuse or purchase pre-owned items.
And that raises two vital questions for MoneyMagpie readers: might the rising second-hand excessive avenue make it easier to generate income from belongings you already personal, and will shopping for any person else’s undesirable stuff prevent a big quantity too?
Earlier than you throw it away…
An undesirable telephone, desk, video games console, bike or pair of footwear should have a worth. Earlier than placing something within the bin or taking it to the tip, examine whether or not you’ll be able to promote it, commerce it in, donate it or recycle it.
We’ve got a lot extra concepts in our generate income guides, together with methods to show belongings you already personal into additional money.
IKEA has launched a second-hand market within the UK
That is maybe probably the most fascinating growth as a result of IKEA isn’t merely taking previous furnishings again and reselling it itself.
Its new UK second-hand market permits IKEA Members of the family to promote real pre-owned IKEA merchandise on to different prospects.
Creating a list also needs to be significantly simpler than beginning fully from scratch on a traditional market. IKEA can establish eligible merchandise and supply info together with beneficial pricing, product pictures, measurements, descriptions, meeting directions and care info.
That could possibly be notably helpful for those who’ve ever tried to recollect the identify of an IKEA bookcase you got eight years in the past.
There are restrictions. {The marketplace} is for real IKEA merchandise and excludes sure classes together with home equipment, mattresses and meals. Merchandise should even be protected and usable.
Sellers can set their very own value, though IKEA gives a prompt determine, and the utmost itemizing value is £1,995. Patrons pay by {the marketplace}, with the cash held by a fee supplier in the course of the transaction.
Maybe most significantly for anybody decluttering, this isn’t merely a voucher-for-your-old-furniture scheme. It means you might be promoting your IKEA merchandise to a different buyer.
Test IKEA’s newest second-hand and Buyback info.
May you lower your expenses shopping for second-hand IKEA?
Probably. Furnishings is without doubt one of the areas the place shopping for used can produce substantial financial savings, notably for those who can gather it your self. Nevertheless, all the time examine the second-hand asking value with IKEA’s present new value earlier than assuming you’ve discovered a cut price.
Keep in mind to incorporate transport prices too. Saving £40 on a wardrobe doesn’t look fairly as spectacular for those who then spend £35 hiring a van to gather it.
You may already promote furnishings again to IKEA
The brand new market sits alongside IKEA’s present Buyback & Resell scheme, and it’s value understanding the distinction.
With Buyback, IKEA itself assesses eligible used IKEA furnishings and offers you a refund card slightly than you having to attend for one more individual to purchase it.
Eligible merchandise can embrace bookcases, shelving, cupboards, eating tables, desks, chairs, stools, chests of drawers, some youngsters’s merchandise, mirrors, shoe storage, plant pots and sure lighting, though it’s best to all the time examine the most recent eligibility earlier than making a journey.
Gadgets usually should be full, clear, correctly assembled, unmodified and in a situation appropriate for resale.
The plain draw back is that you just’re receiving IKEA credit score slightly than unrestricted money, so any person who merely needs to clear their home and put cash into their checking account might favor the customer-to-customer market.
Alternatively, for those who have been planning to exchange that previous IKEA desk with one other IKEA desk anyway, Buyback could possibly be significantly much less trouble than photographing it, itemizing it and arranging for any person to gather it.
MoneyMagpie tip: don’t confuse comfort with getting the perfect value
Retailer trade-in schemes will be splendidly simple, however comfort can come at a value. Earlier than accepting a proposal, spend 5 minutes checking what comparable gadgets are promoting for elsewhere.
For those who’re having a correct clear-out, check out our newest methods to generate income earlier than giving precious belongings away.
What concerning the new Argos market?
There is a vital distinction right here.
Argos has introduced that it’s growing a web-based market, however this isn’t presently a second-hand market for extraordinary prospects to checklist undesirable possessions.
As a substitute, chosen third-party market sellers will be capable to provide merchandise by the Argos web site and app, rising the vary accessible to buyers.
So, for those who’re questioning whether or not you’ll be capable to put your previous toaster on Argos in the identical manner you would possibly put it on eBay, that’s not what has been introduced.
What’s fascinating is that Argos already operates a separate Commerce-In service for expertise.
Sure, you’ll be able to promote previous expertise to Argos
Argos Commerce-In accepts a spread of undesirable expertise, together with cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, video games consoles, headphones and Mac computer systems.
You get a quote, ship the system utilizing the service supplied and, following inspection, can obtain fee relying on the choices presently accessible by the service.
That makes Argos value checking earlier than robotically placing an previous telephone on a web-based market.
It doesn’t essentially imply Argos will provide the best doable value. Everytime you promote an previous telephone, laptop computer or video games console, examine the trade-in citation in opposition to what comparable units are literally promoting for elsewhere.
A trade-in service is partly promoting you comfort. You might obtain lower than you might obtain by discovering a personal purchaser your self, however you don’t should create listings, reply messages, negotiate with strangers or fear about any person failing to show up.
Test the most recent Argos Commerce-In info.
Outdated tech could possibly be value greater than you assume
Don’t assume an previous telephone, pill, console or laptop computer is nugatory. Get a number of trade-in quotations and examine them with reasonable private-sale costs first.
You will discover extra concepts for producing additional money within the MoneyMagpie Make Cash part.
Currys may even take previous tech
Currys operates expertise trade-in and recycling providers masking previous units and electrical merchandise.
The retailer’s recycling schemes are notably helpful when {an electrical} merchandise has reached the purpose the place it not has a significant resale worth.
An ageing telephone sitting untouched in a kitchen drawer isn’t incomes you something and its parts aren’t being reused both.
Earlier than buying and selling something in, nevertheless, examine the valuation. The simplest possibility isn’t robotically probably the most worthwhile one.
See the most recent Currys trade-in info.
John Lewis has buyback and recycling schemes too
John Lewis has additionally operated schemes designed to maintain merchandise in circulation for longer, together with expertise trade-in and vogue initiatives.
As with all retailer schemes, availability, eligible merchandise and rewards can change, so examine the most recent phrases slightly than assuming one thing you got a number of years in the past will robotically qualify.
Test John Lewis’s present expertise trade-in choices.
Decathlon might purchase your previous sports activities tools
There’s one other cabinet value investigating earlier than a clear-out: the one containing all these deserted sporting ambitions.
Decathlon operates a Purchase Again service masking a spread of sports activities tools, permitting prospects to acquire an estimate for eligible gadgets earlier than taking them right into a taking part retailer.
This could possibly be notably helpful for costly tools that youngsters have grown out of, bikes which might be not used or sporting tools purchased enthusiastically in January which hasn’t seen daylight since February.
See what Decathlon presently accepts by Purchase Again.
Apple provides you with credit score for previous units
Apple Commerce In permits prospects to change eligible units for credit score in the direction of one other buy or an Apple Present Card.
Gadgets with no trade-in worth should be eligible for recycling.
Once more, don’t assume a producer’s trade-in valuation is robotically the perfect value accessible. Test it in opposition to different trade-in corporations and reasonable second-hand promoting costs.
However for any person already intending to purchase one other Apple system, it may well present a comparatively easy manner of decreasing the fee.
Test your system with Apple Commerce In.
CeX stays one of many easiest locations to promote undesirable tech
CeX has successfully been doing the round economic system on the excessive avenue since lengthy earlier than the phrase turned modern.
It buys a broad vary of merchandise together with telephones, computer systems, digital electronics, video games, consoles and Blu-rays earlier than promoting second-hand merchandise again to prospects.
For anybody doing a severe declutter, it’s value checking the worth of previous video games and expertise earlier than assuming they’re nugatory.
Test CeX shopping for and promoting costs.
Schuh might offer you cash off for previous footwear
Your previous footwear might have some worth too, though not essentially as money.
Schuh operates its Promote Your Soles recycling initiative, permitting prospects to take undesirable footwear into taking part shops in return for a reward in the direction of one other buy, topic to the most recent phrases.
It’s a helpful instance of why we have to cease eager about undesirable possessions as merely both “sellable” or “garbage”. There’s an more and more giant center floor.
Test Schuh’s newest recycling info.
The place can I promote my previous stuff?
IKEA: Eligible IKEA furnishings and homeware – customer-to-customer resale or Buyback credit score.
Argos: Chosen expertise – trade-in choices.
Currys: Know-how and electricals – trade-in or recycling relying on the product.
John Lewis: Chosen expertise and different eligible merchandise – trade-in, reuse or recycling relying on the scheme.
Decathlon: Chosen sports activities tools – Purchase Again.
Apple: Eligible expertise – credit score, Present Card or recycling.
CeX: Telephones, video games, consoles, computer systems and electronics – promote or change.
Schuh: Outdated footwear – recycling reward topic to present phrases.
Retailer schemes and eligibility change commonly, so all the time examine the retailer’s present phrases earlier than travelling to a retailer or posting an merchandise.
Why retailers instantly need our previous stuff
Retailers aren’t turning into excited by your previous bookcase, trainers and iPhone purely out of generosity. There’s clearly cash in resale.
However there may be additionally an vital environmental argument.
Each product that may safely stay in use for longer probably delays the purpose at which one other product wants to exchange it, whereas reuse can forestall completely serviceable possessions getting into the waste stream unnecessarily.
Recycling is vital, however reuse ought to typically come earlier than recycling.
If any person else can use your desk for one more 5 years, there may be little sense in breaking it down into supplies in the present day merely since you not need it.
The identical precept applies to electronics. A working telephone could also be value refurbishing and reselling; a damaged system would possibly present usable parts; and one thing genuinely on the finish of its life can lastly be recycled so helpful supplies can probably be recovered.
Promote it, donate it or recycle it?
1. Promote it: May any person else use it and pay you for it?
2. Commerce it in: Does a retailer provide money, credit score or a voucher?
3. Donate it: May a charity store or reuse organisation make use of it?
4. Recycle it: If it genuinely can’t be reused, discover the proper recycling route.
For extra methods to squeeze worth from belongings you already personal, go to our Make Cash hub.
Can shopping for second-hand really prevent cash?
Probably, sure – however the phrase “second-hand” isn’t an automated assure of a cut price.
The arrival of retailer-backed resale has some benefits. Product identification will be simpler, situation grading could also be clearer in some schemes and refurbished merchandise bought commercially can typically include protections that you just wouldn’t essentially get from an informal non-public sale.
However all the time examine the second-hand value with the present new value.
This turns into notably vital throughout gross sales. A second-hand merchandise marketed at £80 as a result of it initially value £150 isn’t a lot of a cut price if the identical product is presently accessible new for £90.
For furnishings, think about assortment or supply prices. With expertise, examine battery well being, age, software program assist and guarantee or returns preparations slightly than wanting solely on the headline value.
If rising family prices are prompting a wider rethink of your spending, our Save Cash guides comprise extra concepts for chopping on a regular basis prices with out merely going with out.
Ought to I commerce one thing in or promote it myself?
That is the place a bit MoneyMagpie maths is available in.
Earlier than handing something over, get three figures for those who can:
1. The retailer’s trade-in or buyback provide.
2. The reasonable value you might get promoting it your self.
3. The value of the alternative merchandise you really intend to purchase.
Don’t examine your trade-in quote with wildly optimistic market listings which have been sitting unsold for six months. Have a look at what comparable gadgets genuinely seem like promoting for.
Then put a worth by yourself time.
If promoting privately would possibly earn you one other £15 however requires pictures, a list, six messages, two ridiculous presents and a day ready for any person who might or might not seem at your entrance door, the moment trade-in begins wanting extra enticing.
If the distinction is £150, doing the work your self might instantly really feel worthwhile.
Earlier than throwing one thing away, ask one query
“Is that this really value one thing?”
A telephone could possibly be traded in. Furnishings could possibly be bought to a different IKEA buyer. A motorcycle would possibly qualify for a buyback scheme. Sneakers might earn a recycling reward. Video games and previous expertise might probably be bought.
Solely when an merchandise can’t realistically be reused ought to recycling turn into the primary possibility.
Second-hand procuring might turn into a traditional a part of the excessive avenue
The round economic system can sound like an unlimited environmental idea, however for households it may be a lot easier.
Earlier than shopping for new, examine whether or not any person else has already purchased the factor you want and not needs it.
And earlier than throwing one thing away, examine whether or not any person is ready to pay you for it.
You may find yourself with much less litter, more cash in your pocket and fewer completely usable possessions going to waste.
Steadily requested questions
Can I promote my previous IKEA furnishings again to IKEA?
There are actually two routes value checking. IKEA’s second-hand market permits eligible IKEA Members of the family to promote qualifying IKEA merchandise to different prospects, whereas its Buyback service can provide IKEA credit score for eligible furnishings.
Can I promote second-hand gadgets on Argos?
Argos’s introduced market just isn’t a customer-to-customer second-hand market. Nevertheless, Argos does function a separate expertise trade-in service for chosen units.
Which excessive avenue retailers purchase previous gadgets?
Relying on the product, retailers and companies together with IKEA, Argos, Currys, Decathlon, Apple and CeX have trade-in, buyback or resale choices. Different retailers provide recycling rewards slightly than money.
Is it cheaper to purchase second-hand?
It may be significantly cheaper, however all the time examine the used value with the present new value and embrace supply, assortment and potential restore prices. For electronics, examine the age, situation, battery well being, software program assist and guarantee too.
Ought to I promote or recycle undesirable gadgets?
If an merchandise is protected and usable, promoting, buying and selling in or donating it may well hold the product in use for longer. If it has reached the tip of its helpful life, examine the proper recycling route slightly than placing electrical merchandise or different recyclable supplies into common waste.