Flipkart launches 2GUD, an ecommerce platform to sell refurbished goods

The independent platform that will sell smartphones, laptops, tablets and electronic accessories has been initially roll-out via mobile web, but will soon be taken across other channels.

Ecommerce market leader Flipkart has launched a new online platform to sell refurbished goods exclusively. Named 2GUD, the independent platform will sell smartphones, laptops, tablets and electronic accessories. A press release from Flipkart has stated that several more categories will be added soon. The platform has been roll-out via mobile web initially, but will soon be taken across other channels including desktop and mobile app.

“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 most-affordable prices,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart, in a press statement.

The move is an effort to acquire more customers for Flipkart, which already claims to have 100 million registered customers. While 2GUD will remain a separate platform, Flipkart will continue to sell only new products. Recently, Flipkart shut down the India arm of Ebay, which followed a consumer-to-consumer marketplace model. (Flipkart had bought it last year.)

Besides payment and logistics, Flipkart will also take care of quality assurance for refurbished goods by selling only verified and certified products. It claims that the post-purchase warranty of three to 12 months will be serviced through an extensive network of service centers across the country.

(In September 2017, Flipkart had acquired F1 Info Solutions, a mobile and IT repair services’ company with a pan-India presence of owned and franchised centres. It is now a part of Flipkart’s other acquisition, Jeeves, a service provider for home appliances and furniture.)

The refurbished goods market is expected to touch $20 billion in the next six years. Besides biggies like Quikr and OLX, startups like Rocking Deals, Reboot, Yaantra and GoZunk are also vying to make the best of the refurbished goods market.

Gurgaon-based online marketplace ShopClues has been building on this category for the past couple of years. Their refurbished and unboxed categories included electronic devices - including laptops, smartphones, and tablets. (Shopclues sold 5,780 refurbished phones in 2018, which is 35 percent higher than the average of 2017.)

“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. 2GUD offers an organised space devoid of regular buyer-seller interactions, which simplifies the process for both parties. 2GUD further leverages Flipkart’s capabilities in the service and support network to make it the preferred destination for certified, great-quality refurbished products,” said Anil Goteti, VP, Flipkart, who will be heading 2GUD along with Flipkart Marketplace.