Flipkart launches own platform for refurbished goods, ends tie-up with eBay
23 Aug 2018
Indian e-commerce major Flipkart, which is now part of US retail giant Walmart, has announced the launch of its own platform for selling refurbished goods — 2GUD – ending an year-old strategic alliance with US e-commerce form eBay.
Flipkart’s 2GUD platform will initially include smartphones, laptops, tablets and electronic accessories, with plans to add several more categories over time.
The company the new platform would ensure affordability, accessibility and availability in the refurbished market, while ensuring quality and convenience to the customer.
“As a market leader, Flipkart has always tried to solve for India and offer a more fulfilling shopping experience in every aspect. With 2GUD, we have removed the trust deficit that exists in the refurbished goods market, and along with the added convenience, are offering customers yet another avenue to access quality products at the most affordable prices,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart.
Some of the features of 2GUD as highlighted by the company are:
- 2GUD will take care of quality assurance through a vast selection of certified products;
- The post-purchase warranty of 3 to 12 months for each product will be serviced through an extensive network of service centres across the country; and
- Users will be assured of convenience in payments and logistics.
2GUD with its robust structure claims to completely remove the hassle of buyer-seller interaction
The price for products will vary 50-80 per cent of the price of a new one.
The company is first rolling out the platform via mobile web initially, but will soon take it across other channels including desktop and mobile app.
Anil Goteti, VP, Flipkart, who will be heading 2GUD along with Flipkart Marketplace said, “The refurbished goods market has remained highly fragmented and unorganised despite its size, primarily due to complex processes, and missing assurance on the quality of products. Unlike existing C2C platforms, 2GUD offers an organised space devoid of regular buyer-seller interactions, which simplifies the process for both parties.”
2GUD will remain a distinct and separate platform aimed at value buyers, while Flipkart shall remain the preferred online shopping destination home for new goods, the company stated.
With 2GUD, Flipkart wants to focus on acquiring new customers in a different segment, and further cement its leadership position in the Indian ecommerce space.