Today, the circular economy, in addition to its environmental benefits, is a significant revenue stream for the consumer electronics industry.
Amazon, with over 310 million active shoppers and net sales hitting more than $630 billion every year, offers merchants a major opportunity to capture value from returned and used devices via Amazon Renewed.
What Is Amazon Renewed?
The Amazon Renewed is a dedicated program for high-quality pre-owned, refurbished, and open-box electronics. All refurbished products sold via Amazon Renewed are offered by certified vendors and meet strict inspection and testing standards. Plus, they are all backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
What Does Refurbished Mean On Amazon?
On Amazon Renewed, the term “refurbished” means an item has undergone a rigorous process by a qualified manufacturer or a specialized third-party refurbisher to be restored in as-new condition.
For electronics, the Amazon refurbishment process must include:
- A full diagnostic test.
- Replacement of any defective parts with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts.
- Thorough cleaning and inspection.
- Batteries with a minimum 80% capacity (or 90% for “Premium” condition).
- Repackaging in a new or original box with all relevant accessories.
Depending on their cosmetic condition, smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other electronic devices sold via the Amazon refurbished scheme are classified as:
- Premium: nearly perfect cosmetic condition with no screen scratches and at least 90% battery life.
- Excellent: no screen scratches and at least 80% battery life.
- Good: may have light, barely visible scratches on its body, no scratches on the screen, and at least 80% battery life.
- Acceptable: may have shallow screen scratches that aren’t visible when the screen is turned on, plus light body scratches and up to three minor dents. Battery life should be at least 80% of a new battery.
No matter the cosmetic condition, all Amazon refurbished devices must be fully functional.
What Can You Sell On Amazon Renewed?
The program is primarily geared toward items with mechanical or electrical parts that can be repaired or replaced to a like-new condition, for example, computers, headphones, television sets, and home appliances.
Common product categories include:
- Smartphones, tablets, and computers (laptops/desktops).
- Cameras and headphones/audio equipment.
- Video game consoles and accessories.
- Home and kitchen appliances (e.g., irons, vacuums, coffee machines).
- Power tools, lawn and garden equipment, and automotive parts.
Amazon-approved sellers can market inventory that falls under three primary categories:
- Refurbished: Used items returned due to minor faults or simple buyer’s remorse that have been professionally repaired.
- Pre-owned: Used devices that were typically in better cosmetic condition than standard refurbished items upon return.
- Open-box: Products that were unpackaged but never actually used by the consumer.
For many consumers, purchasing a renewed phone on Amazon is their first entry point into premium tech at an affordable price, making smartphones the most popular products on Amazon Renewed.
How To Join The Amazon Renewed Program
Amazon maintains an exclusive pool of sellers to ensure quality.
Here’s how you can qualify:
- To begin with, you must be a registered seller on Amazon (Professional selling plan) with an Order Defect Rate (ODR) of 0.8% or less in the trailing 90 days.
- You must demonstrate high-volume experience with refurbished products and supply invoices for at least $50,000 in qualifying refurbished purchases within the last 90 days. For Apple products, this threshold is significantly higher.
- Maintain an Order Defect Rate (ODR) of 0.8% or less.
- Provide a minimum 90-day warranty on all products.
- Provide sample images of your product and packaging, trademark documentation (if applicable), and confirm you will adhere to all program policies and the Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
- Submit your application through the Amazon Seller Central website or by emailing renewed-application@amazon.com. Amazon typically responds within 10 business days.
How To Sell On Amazon Renewed
Once your seller application is approved, you can then go ahead and list your renewed products:
1. Use the Certified Refurbished ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) Creation Tool
In Seller Central, go to “Catalog” > “Add Products” and select “I am adding a certified refurbished product”.
2. Match Or Create An ASIN
Enter the ASIN of the new equivalent product. If an existing Renewed ASIN is available, you can add your offer to it. If not, you may be prompted to create one. When creating from scratch, you must add (Renewed) to the product title and select “New” as the condition type (this is specific to the tool’s process).
3. Price Competitively
Renewed products must be priced at a minimum of 5% less than their new counterparts. Amazon offers an Automate Pricing tool to help manage this.
4. Fulfill Orders
You can fulfill orders yourself (FBM) or use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
5. Uphold Quality
Continuously monitor customer feedback and maintain high-quality standards to keep your selling privileges.
Leveraging Green Wave Electronics For Amazon Success
As a specialized 3PL for the reverse flow of consumer electronics, Green Wave Electronics acts as your engine for the Amazon Renewed marketplace.
Processing over 3.8 million parts annually, we are authorized to list your inventory as Amazon refurbished and handle the entire returns cycle.
Our advanced programs offer end-to-end solutions for refurbished electronics:
- Professional Photography and Listing: Ensuring your items win the Buy Box through high-quality visuals and SEO-optimized descriptions.
- In-house Refurbishment: Our IPC-A-610 inspectors and Level 2/3 technicians restore items to Amazon Refurbished Excellent condition.
- Advanced Replacement: We can instantly ship replacements to your customers to keep satisfaction high while we handle the return logistics.
Stop treating returns like a loss, and turn them into revenue. Talk to Green Wave Electronics today!
FAQs
Is Amazon Refurbished Good?
Yes, because items are professionally inspected and must meet a like-new performance bar. Furthermore, they are backed by a solid warranty.
What Does Refurbished Excellent Mean On Amazon?
An item in excellent condition shows no signs of cosmetic damage from 12 inches away and has a battery capacity of at least 80%.
Can I Trust Renewed Products On Amazon?
Yes, you can, mainly because of the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which offers a full refund or replacement within 90 days if the device fails.
Can I Return Amazon Renewed Items?
Yes. Most items have a 90-day return window, while “Premium” tier products can sometimes be returned within a full year.
Is Amazon Renewed Worth The Lower Price?
For most, the answer is yes. You can save up to 50% compared to new items while receiving a product that is functionally identical to a new unit.
