The Take-Back Program at the Vitra Circle Store
Vitra develops products that are as timeless and durable as possible. With warranty programs, repair services, and buy-back options through the Circle Store, the lifespan of Vitra products is deliberately extended.
Returned products are inspected: if they can be repaired or reused, they are put back on sale. Heavily damaged products are professionally recycled.
The program is aimed at customers who do not wish to resell their products themselves. This way, Vitra ensures that every product is responsibly cared for throughout its entire lifecycle and ultimately recycled.
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What we buy:
- Original Vitra products, at least 4 years old
- Armchairs, such as the Eames Lounge Chair
- Chairs, such as the Eames Plastic Chair
- Side tables, such as the LTR
- Accessories, such as clocks or vases
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What we do not buy:
- Non-Vitra products, e.g. from Herman Miller
- Large quantities of Vitra furniture (for larger quantities, please contact contract.vitracircle@vitra.com)
- Individual parts/spare parts from Vitra
How does the buyback work?
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Provide information
Please use the form below to submit the required information.
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Quote received
We will review the information and provide you with a non-binding offer, which will also include the buy-back price.
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Complete repurchase
Bring your product to the Circle Store, where our service team will perform a final check and the sales contract can be concluded.
Vitra Circle Store reserves the right to decline products, even if they are in good condition. This may be due to the current availability of similar or identical products, limited storage capacity, or other operational reasons. We appreciate your understanding.
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Is your Vitra product beyond repair?
Don't worry, if your product is no longer considered repairable, we will gladly take it back free of charge. Our service team will then ensure that the products are professionally disassembled and recycled.
Repurchase Request
frequently asked Questions
What is a take-back program?
The aim of a take-back program, in view of the Earth's limited resources, is to enable raw materials and materials to be used for as long as possible by supporting proper recycling and to prevent improper disposal. Since regionally organized waste management is not designed everywhere in such a way that recyclable materials are actually recycled, product manufacturers can contribute with a take-back program to ensure that these materials are properly recycled at the end of their use.
In the end-customer sector, there are various models for product take-back. Vitra understands this to mean an offer for customers who do not wish or are unable to resell or dispose of a product themselves. This can involve products that are still functional, repairable, and resellable, or the product may be so damaged that it must be sent for proper recycling.
Why does Vitra offer a take-back program?
With a take-back program, Vitra supports the goal of using raw materials for as long as possible and, as a producer, takes responsibility for Vitra products beyond their sale to the customer.
During research into the disposal of production waste from the Eames Fiberglass Chairs, for example, it became clear that specialized recycling for glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) is possible. However, since these companies tend to work with industrial companies and not necessarily with our customers' local disposal companies, Vitra wants to make it possible to recycle the material used in the Eames Fiberglass Chairs at the end of their lifespan.
Is the take-back program regionally restricted?
The take-back program is valid internationally.
Who bears the costs of the return shipment / return transport?
The customer shall bear the costs for transporting the product to Vitra.
Who bears the costs for reuse or recycling?
Vitra will bear the costs from the moment the customer takes possession of the product.
How to distinguish take-back products from service cases?
The customer decides whether a product should be returned as part of the take-back offer or perhaps repaired again. If they are unsure, it is always recommended to contact Vitra Service first.
If the product is no longer considered repairable, Vitra Service will inform the customer that we will recycle the product – should they not want it back.
Where can products be returned?
Directly in the Vitra Circle Store Campus in Weil am Rhein.
Can customers also take the products directly to the recycler?
This could be ecologically beneficial if the customer lives in the immediate vicinity of the recyclers, but it makes contacting us the mandatory first step.
What is Vitra's relationship to the "Circular Economy"?
Vitra is interested in the entire lifecycle of its products and the associated use of resources. The concept of the Circular Economy provides interesting food for thought in this context and offers guidance for the implementation of concrete measures. For example, since 1988 Vitra has been identifying the materials used in individual product components so that they can be recycled at the end of their lives and valuable resources can be reused. In order to contribute to the Circular Economy and achieve further improvements for a regenerative system, Vitra chooses an individual approach, of which the take-back program is a part.