Refurbed vs Swappie

Refurbed and Swappie are both startups that have created marketplaces for used electronics. They offer a warranty on refurbished devices to build buyer confidence and provide repair/quality inspection/preparation services to ensure devices are as functional as new.

But Refurbed (founded in 2017) is an Austrian marketplace that operates in Europe and partners with numerous sellers and repairers (rather than performing repairs themselves). Refurbed takes a commission from sellers (approximately 5-10%) on each sale. It offers a wider selection: not only smartphones and tablets, but also laptops, home appliances, audio devices. The startup adheres to its "plant a tree" environmental program: for every item sold, they plant a tree to reduce the carbon footprint.

Swappie (2016) is a Finnish marketplace focused primarily on selling used iPhones and iPads. Most of the processes (repairs, inspections, cleaning and refurbishment) are performed by its own service centers. Therefore, the company emphasizes transparency of device condition: it counts and shows one of the exact levels of aesthetic defects and battery residual capacity. The marketplace operates in more than 15 European countries and utilizes logistics hubs in various locations, such as Helsinki and Tallinn.