Ikea Strictens Return Policy: Items Must Be New and Unused

The furniture dealer Ikea has tightened his right of return in Germany. Customers could not return goods for purchases from September 1 against a refund of the purchase price, if they are new and unused, reports the "world". "By limiting the right of return on unused products, we also want to ensure that customers do not have furniture and accessories after a brief use, but value the value of the product. resource use, which was necessary for this, "said Ikea boss Dennis Balslev the newspaper. But we must also prevent abuse. "We hear about houses that, year after year, just before the end of the conversion period, the same people always come forward and ask for their money," said Balslev. "It seems like homeowners are refreshing their homes this way."

Ikea had already withdrawn its unlimited right of return after two years in the fall of 2016. Since then, customers have had a year to return the goods without giving any reason and to obtain reimbursement of the price of the goods. ;purchase. The company said at the time that the 365-day period was still above the usual level in the industry and would provide security against counterfeit purchases.

"The time of the great furniture palaces on the outskirts is over"

Balslev also announced to the newspaper that there will be more new Ikea outlets in outlying areas. Instead, Swedes grow in city centers, either with their own stores or with exhibition halls and ephemeral stores in malls and department stores. "The time of the great furniture palaces on the outskirts is over."

The subject of online commerce is gaining importance, according to Balslev. Ikea is setting up new distribution centers nationwide to significantly increase throughput, especially in large cities such as Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Hamburg, or in metropolitan areas such as Rhine-Westphalia. Main and Ruhr. "In the future, we want to deliver there in three hours."

Balslev is managing director of Ikea Germany since 1 January 2018. He followed Peter Betzel, who held the position of national director in Germany for six years and took the leadership of the country in India on October 1, 2017.

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