IKEA Offers To Buy Back Customers' Used Furniture in Return for Vouchers | 22 Words

IKEA have just announced a new scheme in which they offer to buy back customer's used furniture, but it's received mixed reactions...

The team behind IKEA are striving to make a difference...

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 The popular franchise has just launched a new scheme, and people have some strong opinions on it.

Everyone's been to IKEA, right?

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 The Swedish-found multinational group that specializes in all things home-wear, is probably one of the most popular furniture stores in the world.

IKEA has a pretty rich history.

The story starts in the '60s when Swedish founder Ingvar Kamprad decided to make his little business venture into a reality.

After releasing some iconic products such as POÄNG and BILLY bookcase...

Things really began to take off.

And by the early '00s, he managed to build a furniture empire.

With over 313 IKEA stores in thirty-eight countries/territories, it has cemented itself as one of our staple shopping stores.

The stores are even popular places for people to hang out!

Don't tell me you've never taken a trip down to your local IKEA just because you wanted to? No shopping lists, no baskets, just you and your spontaneous trip around the store.

This week, the company has announced a game-changing initiative.

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 Dubbed the "Buy Back" scheme,  the company will now buy back unwanted furniture for up to half of its original price as part of a new sustainability initiative.

Rather than throwing your furniture into a skip...

IKEA is encouraging customers to exchange tables, chairs, and other furniture items for vouchers.

And what does IKEA do with the second-hand furniture, you ask?

Well, they will sell your second-hand furniture to customers looking for a cheaper alternative.

That's not even the best part...

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 The vouchers customers receive in return for their furniture will not have an expiry date, so you can use them wherever you wish.

Furniture returned in good as new condition with no scratches can be exchanged for a voucher worth fifty percent of its original value.

While minor scratches will decrease the voucher down to forty percent and items that have been well-used can be returned for a thirty percent voucher.

These returned items will be sold in the "As-Is" area of stores...

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 And anything that hasn't been resold will be recycled or donated to local community projects.

However, prior to returning furniture, customers must fill out an online offer request.

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 This will generate a preliminary offer, which customers will be asked to bring along with the fully assembled item to the returns and exchanges desk.

Here's exactly what's eligible to be bought back:

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 Vanity tables, office drawer cabinets, small structures with drawers, display storage, sideboards, bookcases, and shelf units, small tables, multimedia furniture, cabinets, dining tables and desks, chairs and stools without upholstery, chests of drawers, children's products excluding baby items and PAX accessories.

The move, which is being implemented on Black Friday, is a stand against the "excessive consumption" associated with the shopping event.

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 "Sustainability is the defining issue of our time and Ikea is committed to being part of the solution to promote sustainable consumption and combat climate change," Peter Jelkeby, Country Retail Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer Ikea UK & Ireland explained.

He continued:

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 "With the launch of Buy Back we are giving a second life to many more Ikea products and creating more easy and affordable solutions to help people live more sustainably. It is an exciting step forward in our journey towards becoming a fully circular and climate positive business by 2030."

Once the scheme was announced, people had a lot to say...

And reactions have been very mixed.

Many praised the retailer for the move...

Others, however, saw the funny side...

Sadly, the initiative is only being rolled out across the UK and Ireland.

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 Let's hope they bring it to the States soon! Want more IKEA-related news? Scroll on to read about one man's unfortunate accident at the hands of an IKEA chair...