
Amazon is restructuring its refurbished devices business, Renewed, by discontinuing the sale of externally reconditioned products. Moving forward, only products returned on its platform and refurbished by certified professionals will be available for sale.
The company has informed Renewed sellers of this change, citing high return and rejection rates as the reason for the decision. A spokesperson confirmed that the move is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the selection of refurbished products.
Products returned on Amazon will continue to undergo inspection and refurbishment by Amazon’s professionals before being listed on Renewed.
Analysts note that the refurbished device market, particularly for mobile phones, is becoming more consolidated, with established players expanding while smaller businesses exit the sector.
Data from Tracxn indicates a decline in the number of new entrants in this space. In India, the number of new refurbished device companies dropped from four in both 2020 and 2021 to just one in 2024. Globally, new companies peaked at ten in 2021 before falling to four in 2023 and one in 2024.
The market remains largely dependent on mobile phones, with iPhones comprising over half of all refurbished sales. Other products, such as laptops and hard drives, are seeing reduced demand as consumers increasingly opt for new devices, supported by the growing availability of EMI payment options.
The demand for refurbished mobile phones may also decline due to the rising popularity of 5G devices, which is expected to reduce interest in 4G models and older technologies.
Amazon introduced Renewed in 2017 to provide quality refurbished electronics, including hard drives, laptops, PCs, smartphones, and gaming accessories. Initially, these products were tested and certified by third-party refurbishers or qualified technicians to ensure they functioned and appeared like new.