The rise of “ugly” and refurbished computers

They are stunted, misshapen, crooked or just a little worn. Not compliant, in any case, with the standards established as norms. In a society where appearance matters more than anything, it's not easy for ugly objects to find a place. But the revolt of the “broken faces” is underway. We already knew about ugly fruits and vegetables sold at reduced prices to combat food waste. Now it’s time for unsightly computers.

In Deux-Sèvres, the Les Ateliers du bocage cooperative has been offering laptop computers with small aesthetic or functional imperfections since the spring but are perfectly usable. “We named this range the K-Bossés because these computers have already been used and have been reconditioned by people who have had damaged life paths,” underlines Olivier Bien, deputy director in charge of the digital division of the cooperative, member of the Emmaüs network.

“An aberration to scrap them”

The latter obtains its supplies from companies in the region which regularly renew their stocks of laptop PCs. In the hands of employees, these computers have taken a few “pocs” with visible marks of scratches, small cracks or peeling paint. For others, it's a USB port that's faulty, a keyboard key that's missing, or a ghost spot that appears on the screen. “But after inspection, they still work perfectly and are recent, so it seemed an aberration to scrap them,” says Olivier Bien, undermining the idea that “the performance of a PC depends on its aesthetics. »

Since the launch of the range, 150 K-Bossés have already found buyers and 250 are still available for sale at very attractive prices. “We start at 144 euros with professional PCs which are sold at least 30% cheaper than a reconditioned PC,” he explains. This allows people who do not necessarily have the means to acquire high-performance equipment. » To “pimp up” their ugly PC, Les Ateliers du Bocage even offer their customers a sheet of stickers inspired by the world of comics to hide its imperfections and make it even more unique.

The giant Back Market is also launching

In the wake of the cooperative, Back Market, the French and world leader in refurbished goods, also began marketing ugly computers in May, sold in the “Obsolete” category. Among the many PCs running Windows 10 whose end is soon to be announced, we now also find computers on the platform that are still working but whose only fault is that they have traces of stickers.

These signs of use have until now condemned them to the recycling center. “Over the last decade, consumers are placing more and more importance on functionality rather than novelty, and on usefulness rather than appearance,” explains Charlotte Souleau, Managing Director France of Back Market.

She hopes that the “ugly computer” will “click” with consumers. “The one where we realize that it is not necessary to change devices every two years for the technology to remain useful on a daily basis,” she emphasizes. After fruits and vegetables, ugly computers have their revenge. Which would not displease the late Serge Gainsbourg, for whom “ugliness is superior to beauty in that it does not disappear over time. »