New Delhi: Smartphone users will now be able to trade in their used mobile phones on e-commerce site Flipkart through its new Sell Back Programme. This development comes soon after Flipkart's acquisition of Yaantra that is a brand that repairs and sells refurbished consumer tech products such as smartphones and laptops. Flipkart's Sell Back Programme will be applicable to items purchased from anywhere in the country.
In line with the homegrown e-commerce company's efforts to contribute towards a circular economy, launch of Sell Back Programme focused on “creating a meaningful re-commerce offering, gaining greater access to affordable refurbished smartphones, and providing a comprehensive service ecosystem to customers."
"With Flipkart's Sell Back Programme, we aim to help organise this market. As the Indian consumer electronics industry witnesses rapid growth, this programme will further our efforts towards reducing the generation of e-waste which is a crucial step in creating a sustainable economy," Prakash Sikaria, Senior Vice President and Head of Flipkart's Growth Charter said in a statement.
Currently, the FLipkart Sell Back Programme is live across 1,700 pin codes in cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Patna and this programme will be applicable for all mobile phones, whether purchased on Flipkart or not, and will be rolled out to additional categories later this year. Customers can visit the Flipkart app and select "Sell Back" from the options in the bottom bar. One can assess the value of the used mobile phone by answering 3 simple questions.
Post customer confirmation, a Flipkart executive will pick up the product from their doorstep within 48 hours. Post verification, Flipkart voucher to be issued within a few hours, as per the confirmed sell back value. Founded in 2013 by Jayant Jha, Ankit Saraf and Anmol Gupta, Yaantra repairs and sells refurbished consumer tech products such as smartphones and laptops.
The re-commerce market in India is growing at a rapid pace. However, the Indian smartphone refurbishment market is largely unorganised and fragmented, which has posed trust and convenience issues for end consumers.