High service charges, misleading promotions, a contractual guarantee that is actually legal… The consumer defense association UFC-Que Choisir will file a complaint with the Paris court this Wednesday, like the start-up Back Market, the online platform for refurbished products, accusing it of “misleading commercial practices”.
The UFC-Que Choisir explains that “if the circular economy must be encouraged, it must still respect the fundamental rights of consumers. »
Back Market is accused of making customers believe that they are getting a good deal by displaying the sale price of the refurbished product next to the price of the new product which is not sold on the site. For the association, “it’s not about promotions”. UFC Que-Choisir also denounces “service fees” systematically billed to consumers, which can reach 5.99 euros, and which only appear “at the payment stage”.
Refurbished electronics, a booming sector
Another black point: “Back Market offers consumers a 12-month contractual guarantee, suggesting a considerable advantage offered by the company”, when in reality “this guarantee is imposed by law, but above all lasts 24 months , including for reconditioned products”, specifies the consumer association.
This is “the first complaint in Europe by a consumer association against the reconditioned giant”, even if it has already been pinned down by other associations, such as VZBV in Germany. The president of the UFC-Que Choisir Alain Bazot hopes that “the reconditioned unicorn continues to put glitter in the lives of consumers, without its communication being only window dressing”.
The start-up Back Market, created in 2014, has established itself since its creation as the essential place for refurbished electronics, a booming sector, driven by ecological discourse which advocates a reduction in the environmental impact of products. electronics. Last January, it announced that it had raised 450 million euros, a funding round which then propelled it, with a capitalization of 5.1 billion euros, to the podium of French unicorns. It then had more than 650 employees and planned to recruit 400 in 2022.