Auchan expands partnership with Recommerce Group for selling refurbished phones with warranty

Recommerce Group, a pioneer and leader in Europe in the field of smartphone refurbishment, has concluded a strategic partnership with Auchan Retail Romania.

Through this, the smartphones refurbished by Recommerce Group are sold in 30 of the Auchan hypermarkets in Romania, located in Bucharest, Cluj, Craiova, Sibiu, Timisoara, Constanta, Brasov, Suceava, Bacau, Baia Mare, Deva, Galati, Oradea , Pitesti, Satu Mare and Targu Mures.

Auchan was the first retailer to integrate refurbished smartphones in its offer, being, as well, a pioneer in Romania in the field of the circular economy and sustainable electro products. The first partnership for the distribution of refurbished smartphones was concluded by Auchan in 2020 with the Romanian start-up, Fenix, which specialized in refurbishing smartphones and co-founded in 2020 by entrepreneurs Grégoire Vigroux, Adrien Arnoux, and Hector Destailleur.

“Environmental and business sustainability is a common issue which requires a collective effort. Our strategic partnership with Auchan Retail Romania is essential in this regard and is an important opportunity for Recommerce Group to grow its business in Eastern Europe as well as the refurbished devices market in Romania. Our refurbished smartphones offer consumers many of the benefits of new phones. Our goal is to gain 2-3% of the new smartphones market, and Auchan’s distribution capacity is a great way to get our devices to as many consumers in Romania as possible”, said Grégoire Vigroux, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor Recommerce Eastern Europe.

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“We are always open to collaborations with actors whose innovative ideas meet our constant concern for protecting the environment. We are pleased that our partnership for the distribution of refurbished smartphones is now moving to the next level, and we are confident that this will have a significant impact, both in developing the market as well as in expanding the range of environmental liability options by reusing phones and by involving consumers to actively contribute to a more sustainable future “, said Tiberiu Dănețiu, Marketing Director of Auchan Retail Romania.

Recommerce Group uses patented and innovative technologies to redeem, repair, and sell used devices. Founded in 2009, the company has been present in Romania since July 2021, when it acquired the Romanian start-up Fenix.

A refurbished Recommerce smartphone is an already used one, which goes through a series of inspections made by specialists to bring it in a 100% functional and perfectly aesthetic condition. After verification, it can be purchased at a discount of up to 50% less than a new one with a 12-month warranty, which covers any possible operating problems.

Moreover, the consumer who chooses a refurbished phone over a new one actively contributes to the circular economy and makes a real impact on the environment.

Recommerce Group sells refurbished smartphones in 24 European countries and over 20 models in Romania, guaranteeing customers the following 12 key benefits of their products:

-100% functional                   – Flawless appearance

-Affordable price                  – Checked battery

-Latest software version     -Unlocked in any network

-Reset, ready to use             -Antibacterial cleaning

-New charger included       -Eco friendly

-12-month warranty            -Possibility to pay in installments

The global market for refurbished smartphones is growing to 351.6 million units, with a market value of $ 65 billion in 2024, according to IDC estimates. At European level, consumers’ appetite for refurbished smartphones is growing, with state-of-the-art devices being the fastest moving through the second-hand ecosystem.