Industry News

The US refurbished electronics market continues its strong growth trajectory, driven by inflation-conscious consumers, increased smartphone upgrade cycles, and a growing awareness of e-waste. Back Market reports US revenues up 34% year-on-year, while Amazon Renewed has expanded its certified category to cover over 1 million SKUs.

Sweetwater, already the gold standard for used audio equipment in the US, has expanded its Gear Exchange division to include a broader range of studio monitors, synthesizers and DJ equipment. The platform maintains its legendary customer service model, with Trustpilot scores consistently above 4.8★.

KEH Camera, widely regarded as the most trusted used camera marketplace in the US, celebrated its 40th anniversary with the launch of a new sustainability report. The company estimates it has kept over 4 million devices out of landfill and saved consumers more than $2 billion compared to new retail prices.

The Federal Trade Commission has signalled increased scrutiny of vendors making "certified refurbished" claims without clear grading standards or third-party verification. Vendors without documented quality control processes may face enforcement action. This development is expected to benefit platforms like Swappa and Orchard that maintain transparent grading criteria.

Other World Computing (OWC/macsales.com), a long-trusted name in Apple-compatible refurbished hardware, has launched an expanded trade-in and resale program for Mac computers. OWC continues to hold some of the strongest Google Reviews scores in the laptop resale segment, with a 4.7★ average across thousands of verified purchases.

The enterprise IT asset disposition (ITAD) sector — covered in RefurbVerify's Tier 7 — is seeing rapid growth as Fortune 500 companies prioritise ESG reporting and sustainable IT lifecycle management. Ingram Micro Lifecycle, Sims Lifecycle Services and ERI are among the leaders benefiting from corporate sustainability mandates.