Responding to growing demand and evolving
consumer trends, eBay launches best-in-class online refurbished
business that underscores quality, value and trust
TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, eBay Canada is launching a new business that
features officially "Certified Refurbished" products. Canadians can
now shop popular brands on eBay at up to 40 per cent less than
buying new, but with all the same assurances, including a
"like-new" quality guarantee backed by the manufacturer and a free
two-year warranty.
"We are fundamentally changing the way Canadians shop
refurbished products by guaranteeing that eBay Certified
Refurbished products look, feel and work like new," says
Robert Bigler, General Manager of
eBay Canada. "eBay has been
successfully selling products in all conditions for twenty-five
years, so when you think about a company that can redefine the
refurbished shopping experience to not only meet, but exceed
consumer expectations, it's eBay."
This business, which was successfully launched in the US last
year, is a direct response to increasing Canadian demand for value
– high quality refurbished products at good prices. According to a
Leger survey commissioned by eBay Canada, 40 per cent of Canadians have
purchased a refurbished item in the past, but 70 per cent would
consider buying refurbished in the future if it came with the same
assurances as buying brand new. In fact, more Canadians would
rather buy a refurbished product from a top brand with a warranty
versus a new product from a lesser brand with a warranty (47% vs.
36%). However, a quarter of Canadians are concerned that
refurbished items won't work well.
"Since the onset of the pandemic, how consumers are choosing to
spend their money has evolved, with quality and value being
paramount and refurbished goods have gained popularity because of
this," says Bigler. "But consumer confidence in these products has
been a detractor in the past, so eBay built a best-in-class online
Certified Refurbished business with trust and guaranteed quality as
the foundation."
Only brands that meet eBay's strict Certified Refurbished
criteria qualify to be part of this business. This requires
products to be in a pristine, like-new condition and professionally
inspected, cleaned, and refurbished by the manufacturer or a
manufacturer-approved vendor to meet specifications. Products must
also come in new packaging with original or new accessories and
manuals. eBay is the only online company in Canada to offer a free 2-year warranty on all
Certified Refurbished items on top of a hassle-free 30-day
return. Plus items sold on eBay are covered by eBay's Money
Back Guarantee.
"We are incredibly confident that Canadians are going to be
blown away by eBay's Certified Refurbished products, but if any
issues arise, we have our customer's backs – simple as that," says
Bigler.
At launch, the business features categories such
as laptops, portable audio, and small kitchen
appliances from participating brands including Breville, Dell,
De'Longhi, HP, JBL, and Lenovo. The program also includes exclusive
partnerships with brands such as Bose. eBay Canada will continue to expand the Certified
Refurbished experience in the months ahead, including new
categories and brand partnerships.
For more information, please visit:
eBay.ca/CertifiedRefurbished
Changing Canadian Consumption Habits
- Three-quarters of Canadians (74%) have seen a change in their
consumer habits since the pandemic began.
- Over 70 per cent (71%) believe their online shopping habits
will either stay the same or increase once the pandemic is over
(51% responded "stay the same", 19% responded "increase").
- A quarter of Canadians say they are savvier and more motivated
to find new ways to make their dollars work harder (25%) and are
more budget-conscious in general (23%).
- Top 3 drivers for buying refurbished include savings (68%), the
ability to afford a better brand and high-quality product (40%) and
sustainability (22%).
- Roughly 40 per cent (41%) of Canadians say that, if they were
to buy a refurbished item, they would buy a higher-end brand than
they normally would and 40 per cent would even consider gifting a
refurbished electronic or small appliances if it was guaranteed to
be in "like new" condition.
Leger Survey Methodology
An online survey of 1501 Canadians was completed between February 5 and 11, 2021, using Leger's
online panel. No margin of error can be associated with a
non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case).
For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample
of 1501 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times
out of 20.
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that
connects millions of buyers and sellers in 190 markets around the
world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals,
entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Founded
in 1995 in San Jose, California,
eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces
for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2020, eBay
enabled $100 billion of gross
merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its
global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
SOURCE eBay Canada