Dyson Airwrap refurbished on Back Market: is it worth it?

With Valentine’s Day approaching, the same question crops up every year: do you really need to buy brand new to make someone happy? Refurbished gear was once mostly about smartphones, but it has now spread to far more personal items - right up to Dyson’s Airwrap. The real issue is whether this option genuinely stands up when the product is almost intimate.

When I’m short of ideas for a present, my default move is often to wander around FNAC. This time it was for my girlfriend’s birthday. After five years of birthdays - plus Christmases - truly original inspiration is bound to dry up.

I’d barely stepped inside when I spotted it, displayed proudly nearby: a Dyson Airwrap. I knew its reputation, and I also knew how close to iconic Dyson has become in the haircare world. I immediately thought back to those mornings when my girlfriend would curse her ageing straighteners, which would randomly cut out every other time. Then I looked at the price: 549 euros. For a straightener–hairdryer, even a Dyson, it’s a sobering figure.

So I left without buying it. A few days later, the topic came up again almost by chance over drinks with a friend. “Have you looked on Back Market?” The suggestion threw me at first. In my head, Back Market meant refurbished smartphones, tablets, AirPods - maybe a console or a Bluetooth speaker. A hair styling tool wasn’t really on my list.

Out of curiosity, I checked the site anyway. And sure enough, it was there. The same model - a Dyson Airwrap - but a Back Market refurbished one, priced at 379 euros, which is still a saving of 170 euros. Instantly, the doubts kicked in: where has it come from? Who used it before? What condition does it actually arrive in? And above all, can you buy something this personal as refurbished without nasty surprises?

Two weeks later, when it was time to blow out the candles, my girlfriend opened her present and looked genuinely delighted. Meanwhile, I had my own plan: the 30-day return window would become a proper real-world test for her, while I took a closer look at these unexpected kinds of products you can now find on Back Market.

Back Market, far more than a refurbished smartphone site

Back Market launched in 2014 with a straightforward mission: offer a convincing alternative to buying new in mainstream consumer electronics. From day one, the bulk of sales came - and still comes - from classic tech categories. Smartphones lead the way, followed by tablets, computers and headphones. That was more or less where my understanding ended.

Because I don’t use the platform much, I’d long preferred rummaging around Le Bon Coin for bargains, even if it meant taking on a bit more risk. So when I went to order the Dyson Airwrap, I wasn’t expecting to land on a site that now feels like a refurbished tech supermarket. Smartwatches, gaming accessories, soundbars, cameras - seeing all of that available there surprised me, though it didn’t exactly knock me sideways.

The biggest shift, however, is in home appliances. Back Market’s range is now far broader than I’d imagined. Robot vacuums, cordless stick vacuums, coffee machines, food processors - plus fans, beard trimmers, wine fridges, and even bean-to-cup coffee makers with built-in grinders. These are exactly the sorts of items people don’t instinctively link with refurbished buying.

Then there’s the “retro” section, which is full of little tech madeleines. You might come across the original PlayStation, or older phones like the Sony Ericsson W595. The selection is limited within each category, but the sheer mix is striking: cult classics, everyday kit and premium devices all sharing the same storefront - all having been through refurbishment.

Why refurbished is no longer just for smartphones

If Back Market’s catalogue is now so wide, it’s largely because refurbished products have become normal for many people. In 2025, nearly 47% of French consumers say they have already bought at least one refurbished item, and among those who haven’t, 40% say they’re interested.

The smartphone - the flagship refurbished purchase - shows how fast attitudes have shifted. In France, more than one in five phones in use, or 22%, is now second-hand or refurbished, compared with roughly 7% in 2018. That steady, rapid rise has done a lot to reduce earlier worries about reliability and lifespan.

Globally, the trend is just as clear. The refurbished electronics market is valued at nearly 58 billion dollars in 2025 and is expected to double by 2032, with average annual growth of around 10%. That kind of growth goes a long way towards explaining why refurbishment has expanded into so many categories.

Even so, not every concern has vanished. I had that same psychological hurdle - will it last, can you trust it? - when buying the Dyson Airwrap. In practice, refurbishment quality varies widely depending on who does it, and not all products labelled “refurbished” are equal. That’s exactly why the platform, the seller and the type of refurbishment matter.

Refurbished by the brand or by a partner: what’s the difference?

Unlike integrated players such as the French company Reborn, Back Market does not refurbish the products it sells itself. It operates as a go-between, relying on a network of around 1,500 partner refurbishers that it selects and monitors. It’s well known, but it’s worth stating clearly.

So there isn’t just one version of “refurbished” on Back Market - there are two distinct scenarios, and you can see which applies on the product page.

First scenario, and the one that feels most reassuring. Some products are refurbished directly by the brand, and that detail is explicitly shown when you choose the condition - as it is for certain Dyson, Shark or Ninja references. These options are usually slightly more expensive and are also often out of stock, which says something about the confidence they inspire. In these cases, the devices go through the manufacturer’s own process: full inspections, deep cleaning and parts replaced if needed.

Second scenario - the most common, and the one my Dyson Airwrap fell under. Here, a partner refurbisher handles the device. It’s received, taken apart, cleaned, tested across all functions, restored as needed, and then graded by condition. Back Market enforces a set of requirements, provides a guarantee and a right of return, and keeps an eye on return rates and customer reviews.

It isn’t risk-free - but it isn’t pure chance either. As with any marketplace, Amazon included, there can be a lag before an unreliable seller is spotted and then removed. It happens, but it’s relatively rare. With a refurbished product - and even more so with a personal item like a Dyson Airwrap refurbished Back Market - understanding who refurbished it and through what channel was a key step before spending 370 euros.

Dyson Airwrap refurbished Back Market: send it back or keep it?

When it arrived, my first reaction was immediate relief. It was spotless: the device had clearly been cleaned properly, and there were no worrying signs of prior use. For something so personal, that was the main point I was watching for.

In day-to-day use, there were no unpleasant surprises either. The Dyson Airwrap ran perfectly - no strange noises, no loss of power - and it felt exactly like a new unit. My girlfriend had owned an Airwrap a few years ago, and she couldn’t tell any difference. Even the attachments were flawless: complete, in excellent condition.

As the days went by, the whole “refurbished” question simply faded into the background. The device became just another everyday item, with no special status. The initial uncertainty didn’t last long. Not only did the Airwrap deliver what it promises, it never once felt like second-hand kit.

Without turning it into a manifesto, the experience mainly reminded me of one thing. Between buying new without thinking twice and extending the life of a product that already exists, it’s sometimes worth pausing to make that choice consciously. And not only for clothes on Vinted or for a smartphone. In the Dyson Airwrap’s case, refurbished from Back Market didn’t feel like a compromise at all.

And, ultimately, it also shifts how you think about gifts. Not necessarily for this Valentine’s Day - it’s too close now - but perhaps for the next one. While scrolling Back Market’s “Retro Tech” section, that little Game Boy Color really caught my eye. A reminder that the best present isn’t always brand new - sometimes it’s simply the right one.