John Lewis furniture on ebay - catch?

jd87

What's the catch with an item like this on ebay?: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/House-by-John-Lewis-Dice-Shelving-Unit-Oak-Grey/293036431631

How can this seller be selling it new for £70 less than the John Lewis price? Is it really just because of damaged packaging? Is it refurbished / returns?

theonlywayisup

jd87 wrote: »

What's the catch with an item like this on ebay?: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/House-by-John-Lewis-Dice-Shelving-Unit-Oak-Grey/293036431631

How can this seller be selling it new for £70 less than the John Lewis price? Is it really just because of damaged packaging? Is it refurbished / returns?

Have you ever been to a JL outlet? That's the first place to find cheaper (70% off) let alone £70 off, JL items, sold by them....

jd87

Re: JL Outlet - A quick google shows it's in Swindon. Bit far from me I'm afraid!

theonlywayisup

jd87 wrote: »

Re: JL Outlet - A quick google shows it's in Swindon. Bit far from me I'm afraid!

Too far from me....but they deliver and it's inexpensive. I was just trying to answer your question.....

charlies_mum

John Lewis furniture often goes through certain auction houses. It's usually customer returns, so in lots of cases it's fine but the packaging may be damaged

I could be wrong, but that's what I would think they are selling.

RFW

charlies_mum wrote: »

John Lewis furniture often goes through certain auction houses. It's usually customer returns, so in lots of cases it's fine but the packaging may be damaged

I could be wrong, but that's what I would think they are selling.

That's true. I'd be slightly cautious if it's too cheap. As far as auctions go it tends to get sorted by the auctioneer. So they'll sell pieces individually, the more damaged stuff would end up on pallets and sold cheaper. It's not always the case but tends to be. Damaged packaging is usually a good thing in my experience of returns, similarly minor cosmetic damage. The kind of thing someone would return it for having paid full price is often acceptable to most when paying a discount price.



As far as I know JL sell on their returns rather than auctioning it themselves, the vendor will either be the auction house or a third party.

charlies_mum

I have bought John Lewis returns from auction, but they used to insist on it being de-branded before reselling