Reverse logistics
Operations
Reverse logistics covers the supply chain processes involved in collecting, transporting, and receiving used devices from consumers or businesses back to a processing facility for grading, refurbishment, or disposal.
Reverse logistics cost is a major component of total acquisition cost in buyback programmes. Postage, packaging, insurance, and handling add a fixed per-unit cost that must be factored into minimum buyback offer thresholds. For low-value devices, reverse logistics cost can exceed the device value entirely, making certain trade-in categories economically unviable unless logistics are heavily optimised or subsidised as part of a new device upsell.