Makro Restored takes refurbished tech online in South Africa

If Cash Converters isn’t living up to your lofty expectations, then perhaps Makro Restored will. The Massmart-owned retailer, famed for its gargantuan physical stores dotted around SA, has opened a new online store that specialises in old, unwanted, and, critically, refurbished tech. Old iPhones, laptops, consoles — you get the idea.

Makro restores faith in second-hand

The retailer said that it hoped to make the tech, which it sources from approved third-party resellers, more affordable to the average consumer by tacking on a price tag lower than something brand-new. That’s… typically how second-hand stores work, and isn’t quite the revelation Makro thinks it is. Still, it’s got a worthy collection.

Each device sold on makro Restored has undergone ‘comprehensive functional checks’ and a data wipe to ensure it won’t fail the second you boot it up, or that you see something you weren’t meant to. There may be some cosmetic damage, but the devices themselves are still fully functional. And, in the case of a faulty appliance, the store offers 6-12 month warranties, depending on the seller in question.

“Nielsen trends show that restored tech is now central to consumer choice with for example at least 10% of all tech devices bought in the UK being refurbished in the first quarter of 2025,” said Laura Hartnady, VP Marketplace, Massmart.

“And the trend is growing globally all over the world including in SA. This growth is being driven by rising prices of new devices, increasing acceptance of refurbished products, and a stronger focus on sustainability and re-use.”

All the purchases made from Makro Restored are subject to the company’s standard returns and refunds policy, and a proof of purchase is required for any warranty claims the purchaser may have. You can check out the full refurbished catalogue available in the Makro Restored store here.