Shoppers can now trade-in their unwanted gadgets at Argos stores up and down the country
in the first ever initiative launched by a generalist UK retailer, which offers an immediate
quote and redemption.
Argos, in partnership with circular economy experts WRAP, has introduced the innovative
new service at all its 788 UK stores, providing customers with a convenient way to exchange
their gadgets.
UK householders are estimated to have around £1 billion worth of electrical and electronic
equipment in their homes which is no longer used1, and two-thirds of those surveyed by
WRAP said they would be willing to trade in their tech products with reputable retailers2.
The Argos and WRAP initiative will not only extend the lifecycle of products but will also help
the environment, such as by reducing the volume of electrical items sent to landfill.
Unlike existing schemes, where people have to post gadgets and wait several days or weeks
for payment, the new scheme offers them an instant quote and payment for their device
over the Argos counter.
Customers can walk into any Argos store, drop off unwanted tech items (initially mobile
phones and tablets), receive an instant quote and, if they trade it in, get an Argos gift card
to spend on anything in-store from Argos’ range of 50,000+ products. The items are then
refurbished in the UK and re-sold.
Amy
Whidburn, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Argos, said: “As a leading
technology retailer we know that our customers are looking for solutions to
responsibly dispose of unwanted
gadgets when they replace or trade-up devices. Our new scheme in conjunction
with WRAP offers them a safe way to do this, in a really convenient location on
their local high street or retail park, with the added benefit of receiving a
gift card in return immediately.
“Depending
on the response from customers, we may extend the scheme to include other electrical
items in the future, such as camera, sat-navs or laptops.”
Marcus Gover, Director of WRAP, said: “We’re delighted to
see this type of service become available over Argos store counters. Our
research told us consumers have an appetite for trading in and Argos is now
providing a convenient and easy way for them to do just that and release the
value from their unwanted gadgets. By doing so we’re keeping valuable resources
out of landfill and in use longer, reducing the impact on diminishing virgin materials
and protecting our environment.”
This new service is the result of Argos’ work
with WRAP through the REBus project, which helps companies implement new
resource efficient business models that keep products, and their materials, in
use for longer.
Argos’s gadget trade-in service is one of a
number of pilots supported by the EU Life+ funded REBus project – through which
WRAP is helping businesses take action and make the circular economy a reality.
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