Amazon UK launches Second Chance Deal Days
Amazon UK has launched its first-ever Second Chance Deal Days. This new initiative aims to extend product life cycles while offering customers discounted prices on returned and refurbished goods. This initiative runs from the 3rd to the 8th of September, whereby Amazon gives discounts up to 50% across major categories, including tech and computing, home and kitchen, fitness, and toys. Over 30 million second-hand products are available on Amazon in the UK, demonstrating Amazon's push for normalising second-hand shopping while tackling waste.
This event also sets Amazon in a new light and keeps up with the recent drive of second-hand buying. As shown by recent research carried out by the Centre for Economic Business Research and commissioned by Amazon, two-thirds of Brits are now buying second-hand, driven by cost of living and environmental concerns. Therefore, this initiative keeps in tune with the recent drive to purchase second-hand, offering these refurbished items inspected, tested, and backed by Amazon's customer service. Which creates customer trust, which is an essential factor with top concerns including product condition, lack of warranties and seller trust.
For Amazon sellers, this brings both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, by giving products a "second life" through Amazon Renewed or Resale, sellers can reduce their waste while still generating revenue. Furthermore, when customers buy refurbished items and see their high quality, they will want to return to buy something new from the same store, building trust and loyalty. On the other hand, sellers must be extra careful managing their returns because Amazon is now reselling them. Therefore, the process after the first sale is as important as the initial sale.
This strategic move helps Amazon align with the building of the second-hand market. For sellers, it opens new opportunities through additional revenue and loyalty, but demands tighter control over the returns and refurbishment processes.
Pete Davis & Milly Batchelor
