Ikea launches recycling scheme to buy back your old furniture - but is it a good deal?

Want money off new Ikea furniture? - Yes please!

Ikea is a household favourite when it comes to affordable furniture and the giant chain has announced plans to make itself more sustainable with a buy back scheme.

But before we all start dismantling our flat packs, filling the car and heading over to our nearest store to receive up to 50% of the original cost of our items, lets look at whether the scheme is as good as it seems...

The buy back initiative, set to launch in stores from Friday 27th November - but the amount you could get back depends on the condition of the item - and it has to remain built.

• View the Ikea buy back deal here

VIEW IKEA FURNITURE BUY BACK SCHEME IN FULL HERE: Up to 50% back from trading in your old furniture.

Before taking part in the scheme, customers wishing to trade in their old Ikea furniture must first fill out an online offer request form.

This will automatically generate an offer, which will be either 50%, 40% or £30% of the item's original price.

"By making sustainable living more simple and accessible, Ikea hopes that the initiative will help its customers take a stand against excessive consumption this Black Friday and in the years to come," said a company spokesperson.

The goods will be resold as second-hand in its 'as-is' section of the store - formerly known as 'Bargain Corner'.

VIEW IKEA DEAL HERE

But what do you need to do in order to qualify for the scheme?

After being given an offer - graded as below - customers will need to take the fully assembled product and preliminary offer to the returns and exchanges desk in their nearest store.

• As new– no scratches: 50% of the original price
• Very good– minor scratches: 40% of original price
• Well-used– several scratches: 30% of original price

But be warned as the valuation given online isn't the guaranteed amount you will receive back. Why? Well the furniture has to be inspected by a member of Ikea staff to make sure the condition meets the requirements - so there's no point in trying to swap a broken item, claiming it's good as new!

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Customers will then be given an Ikea refund card to spend in store for the value of the traded in item, which won't have an expiry date.

What Ikea items does the deal include?

The following items will be eligible for the initiative – dressers, office drawer cabinets, small structures with drawers, display storage and sideboards. Bookcases and shelf units, small tables, multimedia furniture, cabinets, dining tables and desks. Plus chairs and stools without upholstery, chests of drawers, children's products excluding baby items and PAX accessories.

What is NOT allowed with the buy back offer?

• Products that are not assembled, not Ikea, hacked or modified.
• Non-furniture items such as market hall products, appliances, electrical items.
• Products that have been used outside, including outdoor furniture.
• Any items containing glass.
• kitchens, including worktops, cabinets and fronts.
• PAX wardrobes.
• Baby products including, cots, mattresses and changing tables.
• Textile, upholstered or leather goods - e.e. mattresses, blankets, pillows, towels, curtains, sofas.

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Are there any downsides to the Ikea buy back scheme?

By trading in your old Ikea furniture you might be given a price which is lower than you could get by selling it elsewhere on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

You do have to take the item fully built to your nearest store, so it's worth thinking about the transport cost involved. If you were to sell the items yourself, often buyers are able to pick up the item from your home.

But if you want to get money for your old Ikea furniture to help you get discounts off some new pieces in store, what are you waiting for? Simply visit their website to get form filling and see how much money you could save.