You might have seen a Back Market pop up occasionally while browsing for electronics on Amazon or any other site. It’s an online marketplace that sells refurbished devices and promises great deals on tablets, laptops, phones, and more. But is Back Market legit? Is it safe to buy from them? There are many opinions on the internet, so we’ll give you an honest review of Back Market, what the website is like to use, payment methods accepted, warranty, shipping, return policy, product variety, what buyers think of it, and whether or not you may find great deals on refurbished tech items.
Table of contents
What is Back Market?
Back Market is an online marketplace that specializes in selling refurbished electronics.
Founded in France in 2014, the company has grown to become one of the world’s largest distributors of refurbished devices. The company encourages people to join their refurb revolution and shift perceptions about the quality and reliability of refurbished items.
Back Market offers products such as smartphones, laptops, video game consoles, kitchen appliances, and more, all of which are certified to be in working condition.
The company also offers a one-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee, providing customers with peace of mind when making a purchase.
How does Back Market work?
Back Market is an online marketplace designed to offer refurbished electronics and tech products at prices that are typically far cheaper than buying them new.
To use Back Market, start by searching for the product you want to purchase, such as smartphones, laptops, cameras, TVs, home appliances, or other devices. You can use keywords or browse by category, and the results will populate in a clean, card-style layout, with the product cost visible.
To refine your search, you can use various filters on the left side of the page, such as price, brand, model, and individual specs.
Once you’ve selected the product, you’ll be able to choose its cosmetic condition: Excellent, Good, or Fair (also called Grade A, B, and C). You’ll also be able to view a quick description of the condition and comments from the seller.
To ensure quality, Back Market only works with established, certified refurbishing companies with proven track records. Only one-third of merchants are approved to sell on the marketplace. You can read reviews of individual sellers on their profiles to get an idea of their consistency.
10 things you should know before buying on Back Market
Check the following sections to understand if Back Market is legit and what you should look out for in your next purchase.
1. Marketplace reviews
The reputation of Back Market is quite good. These are the scores of the Back Market customer review page and two of the most popular review portals as of the end of 2023:
- Back Market customer reviews: 4.2/5 ⭐ from 35,844 verified reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.5/5 ⭐ from 11,527 reviews
- Sitejabber: 3.97/5 ⭐from 1,482 reviews
Although they have quite a few positive reviews, some users also have concerns. Carefully consider the pros and cons. Anyway, it’s safe to say that the significant amount of positive reviews makes Back Market reliable.
2. Refurbishment process
The refurbishment process for Back Market is rigorous and done with great attention to detail.
Firstly, each product is meticulously inspected for quality and functionality, and any parts not functioning properly are replaced with new ones.
To ensure the highest level of quality, Back Market works with trusted partners specializing in electronics repair and refurbishment.
3. Pricing
When buying on Back Market, pricing is one of the most important considerations. Prices can vary greatly depending on the product and seller, so it’s important to do your research before making a purchase.
On the one hand, you can sometimes find an item at a fraction of the retail price. On the other hand, you might end up paying only a few dollars less than the retail price.
Take a look at these iPhones refurbished by Back Market in real time and see the discounts for yourself:
It’s also important to keep in mind that there are alternatives to Back Market, like Amazon Renewed and Apple Certified Refurbished, where you can find similar deals.
👉 Learn more: Renewed vs. Refurbished: Is There Any Difference?
4. Cosmetic condition
Every item sold on the platform goes through a strict quality grading process for its cosmetic condition since its functionality is like a brand-new product. These are Back Market’s refurbished grades:
| Condition level | Appearance | Durability score | Chances of technical issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Like new | High | Very low |
| Good | Light signs of wear | Above average | Low |
| Fair | Notable signs of wear | Average | Average |
You will be able to see and choose the cosmetic condition of a Back Market product inside the product details, as is the case with this MacBook:
Fair products are the cheapest, while Excellent-graded items are the most expensive. Sometimes, Back Market devices also come with a completely new battery.
👉 Learn more: What Are Refurbished Grades A, B, and C?
5. Warranty
Back Market provides a one-year warranty on all of its products, plus a 30-day return policy. The warranty covers the following:
- Hardware and software defects
- Replacement or repair for a defective device
- Refund if the seller can’t repair or replace the device
In addition, Back Market offers an extended protection plan through Asurion that covers accidental damage for 13 or 24 months and extends the original warranty for an extra year, along with battery replacement. This warranty ensures that Back Market is a legitimate place to buy refurbished devices.
6. Shipping
Back Market offers free shipping to 48 contiguous United States, and the item is usually delivered to your home in 1-3 business days.
Their system will track your products, which are typically shipped within one business day, depending on when you complete your order. However, if your order contains a large device, it will ship within two business days.
7. Payment
You can pay for any product you buy from Back Market with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Affirm (which allows splitting your payments for every product sold in the marketplace). Some sellers accept PayPal as an optional payment method. They also accept prepaid cards associated with all of the major brands.
Lastly, you can trade in your current tech item to save more on eligible products. You can trade in:
- Phones
- MacBooks
- Tablets
- Game consoles
- Audio products
You can assess your item directly on the product page if it’s eligible for a trade-in:
8. Product variety
Back Market offers a wide variety of both electronic and home products.
Electronics available on the website include smartphones, tablets, laptops, home theaters, gaming consoles, headphones, cameras, and other items. It also offers home and kitchen products, including cooking appliances and vacuum cleaners.
9. Packaging
The refurbished items sold by Back Market don’t come with the original packaging. They come with the refurbisher’s packaging, which can vary depending on the seller, the brand, and the product. All in all, they guarantee a safe delivery to your home.
10. Accessories
If the product of your choice comes with accessories, they will be new and compatible with it.
- Smartphones will always come with a compatible charging cable.
- Laptops will always include a charger.
Check the product details if you want more information about what’s in the box. Nonetheless, Back Market ensures it provides the necessary accessories for every purchase.
Conclusion: Is Back Market legit?
Absolutely! Back Market is a legitimate marketplace that has been around since 2014, with operations in 17 countries. The company has been featured in publications like Forbes and TechCrunch and has good ratings on Trustpilot, which suggests most customers are satisfied.
Moreover, marketplace sellers are verified, providing customers with extra assurance. Additionally, customers are offered 1-2 years of warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. All these reasons can lead one to believe that Back Market is indeed a trustworthy company, and your purchase will contribute to a greater circular economy.
If you’re looking for good deals on refurbished Apple electronics, head on to RefurbMe and start comparing deals from Back Market and other certified third-party refurbishers. This way, you can easily find the best deals and even set up price alerts to save even more on your next purchase.
Check out all refurbished Apple products sold by Back Market in real time here:
Good luck with your next purchase!
FAQ
You can purchase a product on Back Market by following these simple steps:
1. Browse the marketplace by categories or searching with a keyword.
2. Select the product you’d like to buy and click on it to enter the details page.
3. Select the condition, storage, color, wireless plan, and other specifications the item may have.
4. Add the item to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout.
5. Enter your billing and shipping information.
6. Review and confirm your order.
7. Submit your payment.
We recommend comparing products on platforms like RefurbMe to find the best possible deal.
How can I contact Back Market for customer service?
To contact Back Market for customer service, check the Help Center section on their website for any previously answered questions your query might have. If you cannot find an answer, you can reach out to customer service directly through email if you log in to your account. They will typically respond within one business day.
Back Market’s business model is based on the assumption that there is a large market for refurbished devices. Back Market vets and grades its merchants while offering buyers a warranty on their nearly new device. This allows customers to purchase products cheaper than new ones while still receiving the same functionality.
Back Market only allows certified, reputable companies to join its platform. These companies must have a proven track record and undergo a rigorous vetting process to ensure they operate in good faith and provide quality products. These approved companies include Classic sellers, second-hand sellers, and retailers u0026 distributors. Additionally, Back Market orders anonymous products from them every week to ensure that products are working properly.
Once you have chosen the product you want to buy, scroll down until you see the seller’s name before the You may also like section. Click on the seller’s name, and you will be able to see the seller’s page with reviews, lifespan on Back Market, other products being currently sold, and information about the merchant.
An electronic item sold by Back Market has a minimum of 85% battery health the moment you receive it and should not decrease under 80% in the first six months.
