Ireland’s Smart Shift: Refurbed’s Rise as Consumers Ditch New for Refurbished Tech

Ireland is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation in how it buys electronics, according to Kilian Kaminski, co-founder of Vienna-based refurbished tech giant Refurbed. As smartphone prices soar and global supply chains wobble, Kaminski says Irish consumers are making “smarter consumption choices” — turning to refurbished devices in record numbers.

The Perfect Storm: AI, Chips, and Price Hikes

The AI boom isn’t just changing how we work — it’s also driving up the cost of our gadgets. Industry analysts predict smartphone prices could jump by as much as 13% this year, fueled by AI’s insatiable appetite for memory chips. Leading manufacturers like Oppo, OnePlus, and Vivo have already begun passing these costs onto consumers in China, with the rest of the world bracing for similar hikes.

The chip shortage isn’t just affecting phones. Counterpoint Research warns that ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iran could further disrupt global smartphone shipments. The Irish Times reports that similar pressures threaten to drive consumer electronics prices up by 20% across the board.

Refurbed’s Remarkable Growth Story

Amid this perfect storm of rising prices and supply chain chaos, Refurbed is thriving. The company, founded in 2017, recently announced a staggering 40% year-on-year growth in gross merchandise volume (GMV), with over €3 billion in cumulative sales since launch.

Operating across 11 EU countries and planning expansion into 12 more, Refurbed hit profitability last year and secured €50 million in funding to fuel its growth. The company’s portfolio extends beyond phones to include refurbished computers, kitchen electronics, and other gadgets.

The Economics of Refurbished

Kaminski attributes Refurbed’s success to a fundamental shift in consumer behavior. “What we see specifically is that if the price difference between new and refurbished goods is bigger, automatically much more consumers are buying refurbished,” he explains.

This trend is particularly pronounced in Ireland, where Refurbed has operated for five years. During this time, the company has generated approximately €146 million in GMV, served over 200,000 customers, and sold more than 400,000 products. The environmental impact is equally impressive: 17 million kg of CO2 equivalent has been saved through these second-hand purchases, with over 50% of customers returning for repeat business.

Why Refurbed Works

Several factors converge to make Refurbed’s model particularly attractive right now. First, rising prices make refurbished devices the economically sensible choice, regardless of environmental concerns. Second, the continued growth in new device sales ensures a steady supply of parts for refurbishment.

“The majority of sustainable products are always more expensive,” Kaminski notes, pointing to fair fashion as an example. “But refurbished electronics are cheaper. Plus, you do something positive for the environment, and you get a similar good product like a new product.”

Refurbed’s supply chain is remarkably efficient. The company sources old devices from corporations, harvesting parts that get passed from product to product until they’re back in the circular economy. Most phone refurbishments require replacing only a few components anyway, Kaminski explains.

The company has also launched a trade-in program allowing consumers to send in their old devices, though this currently represents a small portion of their refurbishment inventory. Kaminski aims to expand this significantly, noting that approximately 7.6 million unused electronic items sit idle in Irish homes — “valuable resources which are just lying around,” containing gold, silver, copper, lithium, and other precious materials.

The Upgrade Question

There’s a growing realization that the most sustainable device is the one you already own. Research has long suggested that consumers are deferring smartphone upgrades due to slowed innovation, yet manufacturers continue releasing new models at a rapid pace.

Kaminski observes that consumers are “really questioning” whether upgrades make sense, creating “huge growth in the refurbished market.” This shift represents only part of the solution, however. Better device design and stronger repair rights are also essential.

Kaminski himself can no longer repair his own devices — a hobby he enjoyed as a child. “I couldn’t repair my own device because it’s so complexly designed and glued and everything,” he laments.

Fighting for the Right to Repair

As a board member of the European Refurbishment Association, Kaminski is advocating for regulatory changes to extend device lifespans. The association is pushing for reforms to prevent software updates from unnecessarily reducing smartphone longevity and supporting the EU’s “right to repair” initiatives, which aim to ensure manufacturers provide timely and cost-effective repair services.

The message is clear: in an era of AI-driven price hikes and environmental awareness, refurbished tech isn’t just a budget option — it’s becoming the smart choice for Irish consumers.

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