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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Refurbished tech marketplace Back Market’s US store closes soon.
- Consumers can test and buy used devices for significant savings.
- Back Market aims to establish a circular tech economy.
Curious about refurbished tech, but unsure where to start? Shoppers in New York City can see, touch, and test it before buying — but only for one more week.
Online refurbished tech marketplace Back Market offers buyers who want to save money on electronics (and reduce e-waste) good-as-new products repaired by experts. In October, the company opened its first-ever brick-and-mortar store in NYC’s Soho neighborhood, where buyers can shop for secondhand phones and laptops in person — just like at an Apple Store.
Also: Save on refurbished iPhones at Back Market – no trade-in required
The company’s pilot store, open until December 21, offers last-minute shoppers a chance to save on refurbished tech gifts as the holiday season draws to a close.
“When people experience refurbished tech in person, they see the quality, the savings, and the potential to live smarter,” Back Market CEO Thibaud Hug de Larauze said in a release when the store opened. “We believe this pilot can spark real trust and momentum for a more sustainable way forward.”
Many used-tech retailers, such as Gazelle or Best Buy’s outlet, exist primarily online (though the latter does have some refurbished tech in-store). Without an in-person experience, some new to pre-loved laptops, phones, and more may feel unsure about what they’re getting and whether it’s legitimate.
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Local shops that buy back and repair tech are independent, and therefore can vary widely in terms of standards and certifications. Being able to interact with and test a refurbished device before committing might help to close the consumer trust gap and increase the already growing demand for repaired technology.
Back Market’s NYC storefront.
Back Market
Sustainability – and cost savings
The store is part of Back Market’s larger mission to establish a circular economy in consumer tech and combat the consumer tech industry’s constant pressure to upgrade. Back Market’s goal, it said, is to “make sustainability practical, rewarding, and easy to act on.”
Also: Is a refurbished MacBook viable in 2025? I did the math, and here’s my expert advice
The biggest perk for consumers, however, is price. Refurbished tech can be up to 70% cheaper than new devices; at the time of writing, an iPhone 15 Plus, normally $729, goes for $443 at Black Market — already $50 cheaper than it was on the site just two months ago. That’s before you trade in an old device, which further reduces the price. Yes, you can purchase a refurbished iPhone 15 Plus from Apple, but it will still cost $619.
“As inflation, tariffs, and rising tech prices make shoppers increasingly cost-conscious, refurbished tech offers a smarter path forward,” Back Market said in the release. In April, during the first wave of the Trump administration’s tariff panic and speculation about the impact on device prices, Hug de Larauze told me the company saw a threefold uptick in demand.
Lauren Benton, Back Market’s US general manager, noted that the store aims to drive interest among US buyers, only 5% of whom buy used tech.
Also: Tariff-proof tech? Back Market’s refurbished devices keep prices down
“In Europe, refurbished tech is already a $50 billion market, and the same shift is underway in the US,” she said in the release. “We see younger consumers leading the charge, with 60% of Gen Z trying refurbished for the first time.”
In-store, Back Market also offers visitors an interactive challenge to tell new and refurbished tech apart, grading that breaks down the why behind the cost of each refurbished device, cleaning and repair services, and trade-in support that “highlight[s] the ongoing value of what people already own.” The store also offers Google Fi Wireless plans.
Visit the store
Back Market’s pilot store is now open at 449 Broadway in Manhattan, and will be open until December 21. Learn more here.
If you’re not in NYC or want another chance to see refurbished tech for yourself, the Soho store may not be permanent, but more pop-ups are on the way across the US.
Also: Should you buy a refurbished iPad in 2025? I did the math so you don’t have to
“We want to understand how people shop, what questions they ask, and what excites them about refurbished tech,” Benton told ZDNET. “While we’re excited about the response we’ve seen in New York, we’re already exploring other markets — you’ll be seeing us in Chicago very soon.”