D2C+ Provides a True Circular Economy That Extends Beyond Simply Relisting Returned and Used Products
In response to a British ITV report critical of a retailer’s destruction of returned and unused products, the company announced changes to its policies in an effort to build a circular economy. While good in theory, how they execute the new policies will be vital to true success. Companies like D2C+ in Dallas, Texas have demonstrated a solution that is both good for the environment and consumers.
A major online retailer announced last week that it was launching initiatives to give returned electronics a second chance at being sold by online sellers instead of forcing them to the scrap heap. The move comes after a report by British ITV that the retailer previously prohibited the returned products being sold on its platform and that the company simply destroyed the products.
What the online giant has overlooked is something smaller and more environmentally conscious businesses have adopted and practiced for years– selling returns online is an excellent way to support the circular economy. However, the retailer is still overlooking an important step in closing the loop on the circular economy.
“Selling as-is goods on online platforms can result in more damage to the circular economy than good as it can result in further returns and the potential for defective hardware to be improperly disposed of.”
“Selling as-is goods on online platforms can result in more damage to the circular economy than good as it can result in further returns and the potential for defective hardware to be improperly disposed of,” said Craig Boswell, CEO of D2C+, an online direct-to-consumer retailer of used mobile devices.
D2C+ has pioneered and demonstrated a process for maximizing return value with expertise in efficient testing, grading, and multi-platform listing. The company leverages sophisticated systems for proper testing, grading, and repairs to meet varying online retail platform requirements.
Rather than list inventory and sell on a single sales channel, such as Amazon, D2C+ achieves its high sales volumes using a multi-platform sales solution. Maximizing that return requires a thorough understanding of the listing nuances of the various platforms and the ability to provide as much information as possible on the used device.
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“You can’t just list it as-is across multiple platforms and expect it to sell,” said Boswell. “Consumers are smart and sophisticated and want to have confidence in the product they are purchasing.”
D2C+ views the key backbone of its sales success as marketplace integration. D2C+ uses an internally developed proprietary software called AMP, which allows products to be listed across multiple sales channels within three days of onboarding. AMP recognizes the critical product data elements for achieving maximum sales. The software quickly relays diagnostic data into supply chain systems, assigns SKUs, generates purchase orders, manages exception handling, and more.
“The future of the circular economy when it comes to processing returns is centered on sophisticated solutions that deliver quality products to consumers worldwide in an efficient manner,” said Scott Walker, president of D2C+.
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