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Back Market Review
Back Market is a French-founded online marketplace for refurbished electronics, launched in 2014 and now operating across 16+ markets with approximate...
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Widest selection and genuine price competition with multiple refurbishers competing on every listing, consistently delivering the lowest prices in the UK refurbished market
- Strong buyer protections including 30-day no-fault returns, 12-month warranty, and platform intervention if sellers are unresponsive
- Conservative grading means devices routinely arrive in better condition than the listed grade, with Good often looking Excellent
- Available on TopCashback and Quidco with regular promotional discount codes providing additional savings on already competitive prices
Cons
- Online-only customer service with no live chat or prominently advertised phone line, and resolution times can be slow when issues arise
- 14% one-star Trustpilot rate is higher than UK competitors like MusicMagpie and The Big Phone Store which both score 4.7
- Trade-in valuations through the BuyBack programme can be revised downward after device inspection, leading to disputes
- No physical UK presence and devices do not come in original manufacturer packaging
Overview
Back Market is a French-founded online marketplace for refurbished electronics, launched in 2014 and now operating across 16+ markets with approximately 17 million customers globally. The UK arm trades as Back Market UK Ltd, registered in Bristol.
Unlike single-retailer refurbished sellers, Back Market operates a pure marketplace model connecting buyers with over 2,700 vetted professional refurbishers. Multiple sellers compete on the same product listing, naturally driving prices down. Only one in three seller applicants is accepted onto the platform, and all must meet a 25-point quality standard covering hardware, software, cosmetics, and battery health.
All phones are sold SIM-free and unlocked with a 30-day no-fault return guarantee and 12-month warranty. Devices are graded across four tiers: Premium, Excellent, Good, and Fair, with customers consistently reporting that devices arrive in better condition than the listed grade suggests. Back Market has raised over one billion dollars in funding and was valued at 5.7 billion dollars as of 2022.
Delivery
Free delivery on all orders. Typical delivery time is 2-5 working days, though many customers report receiving devices within 48 hours. Delivery is handled by the individual seller, so times can vary.
Cashback & Offers
Back Market is listed on both TopCashback and Quidco. First-order discount codes of around ten pounds off orders over one hundred pounds circulate regularly through affiliate channels. A dedicated Good Deals section offers ongoing promotions.
Our Verdict
Back Market is the dominant refurbished phone marketplace in Europe and consistently offers the most competitive prices in the UK market thanks to its multi-seller model. The combination of strict seller vetting, conservative grading, and a 30-day return guarantee makes it a reliable choice for most buyers.
The main weakness is the customer service experience when something goes wrong. The in-account messaging system and lack of live chat can make issue resolution feel slow and impersonal. The 14% one-star Trustpilot rate, while partly explained by the high volume of transactions, indicates that a meaningful minority of customers have poor experiences.
For straightforward purchases where nothing goes wrong, which is the majority of cases, Back Market delivers excellent value. If you know the specific phone model you want and are comfortable buying online without the safety net of a physical store or phone support, Back Market will almost certainly offer the best price.
Quick Specs
Latest Back Market Deals
Compare the best mobile phones available from Back Market.