High Prices Boost Popularity of 'Repaired' Home Appliances... Companies Embrace 'Eco-Friendly Management'

Products Eligible for Exchange or Refund Due to Simple Change of Mind
Available for Purchase at Reasonable Prices

As high inflation and economic recession persist, more people are seeking 'refurbished' home appliances. Refurbished products refer to items that have been repaired and repackaged for sale at a lower price, including products returned due to simple change of mind, items with minor scratches, or products used for short-term display. Consumers can purchase products commonly called 'refurbs' at reasonable prices, and companies receive positive responses as they can pursue eco-friendly management.

Refurbished rice cooker sold on the Cuckoo official website
[Photo by Cuckoo official website capture]

According to Cuckoo on the 24th, the average monthly sales of refurbished rice cookers increased by about 15% last year. Compared to December 2022, when refurbished rice cookers were first introduced, sales have grown more than threefold. Cuckoo began selling refurbished home appliances centered on air purifiers in November 2022. Although minor scratches may exist due to the nature of the products, they carefully selected and reworked items that do not affect usage.

Cuchen also operates refurbished product promotions on its official shopping mall, 'Cuchen Mall.' However, these are conducted irregularly, not as regular sales, by collecting refurbished products and selling them all at once. A Cuchen representative explained, “As more people seek reasonable products amid high inflation, customer response to refurbished products is gradually increasing,” adding, “We are planning to hold refurbished product promotions quarterly.”

Cheongho Nice provides management and inspection for refurbished products such as water purifiers for three years. Benefits include free on-site inspections every 12 months, filter delivery every 8 months, and free installation and registration fees.

The biggest advantage of refurbished products is that consumers can purchase items they have wanted to try at a reasonable price. Depending on the grade and condition, refurbished products are priced 20-50%, and up to 70%, cheaper than the regular price.

From a corporate perspective, selling refurbished products is seen as part of eco-friendly management. As corporate social responsibility increases due to climate change, selling refurbished products helps reduce waste. Some products reuse parts to minimize unnecessary waste. Under strict quality control standards, refurbished products identical to new ones are produced by thoroughly inspecting and reusing non-contact parts that customers do not touch, realizing resource circulation.

An industry insider said, “Costs related to managing or disposing of inventory can be reduced through refurbished product sales,” adding, “As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management becomes increasingly important, the refurbished product category is expected to expand.”