Sustainability is a growing trend in the outdoor gear world, and now it’s even coming to dog products. This summer, Ruffwear introduced RuffWorn, an online resale program for its harnesses, jackets, life vests, and more.
The site aims to keep items in use and out of landfills, while offering discounts to customers.
“We believe deeply as a company that we have a responsibility to our community and to our planet,” Robin Skillings, Chief Marketing Officer for Ruffwear, said in a press release. “The RuffWorn program is part of a bigger commitment of our mission to inspire dog and human connections outdoors by keeping our products out of landfills and instead out on the trails or in play at the local dog parks.”
RuffWorn: Secondhand Gear for Pets
RuffWorn hinges on Ruffwear customer returns. This includes unused gear returned to Ruffwear within 30 days for a refund, all the way to well-used gear returned to help keep products out of the landfill.
Before gear is added to the RuffWorn platform, used products go through a three-step inspection process. Gear will be cleaned, evaluated, and then categorized as “Great: In like-new shape, ready to tackle the next adventure”; “Good: Some minor blemishes and/or signs of wear”; or “Fair: Well-loved with visible signs of normal wear.”
Products are listed at discounted prices, with the discount depending on the amount of use. For example, a Flagline Dog Harness in great condition costs $48; at full price, it would retail for $65. Ruffwear states that this program provides “customers with an accessible entry point to premium dog gear.”
All products bought through RuffWorn are final sale and cannot be returned. Customers are not eligible to sell their own used items through RuffWorn. Learn more and browse the virtual aisles on the RuffWorn site.
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