Away has opened a new resale channel for its own returned and unsold merchandise, offering discounted suitcases and bags through a platform called Away Reclaimed. The move gives the luggage brand a way to recapture value from products that cannot be sold as new while appealing to shoppers who want the brand at a lower price.
The discounts are significant. Away's aluminum carry-on, which normally sells for $625, is listed at $436 on Reclaimed. A medium suitcase in navy, usually $345, is available for $293. The trade-off is condition: some items may show minor scuffs or dents. Inventory comes from customer returns, which Away accepts within 100 days of purchase, as well as from final units of limited-edition colors or collaborations that did not sell out. The site also carries Away backpacks, totes, and duffles. Later this month, the company plans to add an Employee Archive featuring gently tested luggage from staff and one-of-a-kind production samples.
Jessica Schinazi, Away's chief executive, said Reclaimed could serve as an entry point for new customers who are looking for slightly more affordable products, potentially turning them into loyal buyers over time. The platform also creates a new revenue stream and reduces waste by keeping usable inventory in circulation.
Before Reclaimed, returned merchandise had few clear destinations. Returns are among the largest sources of waste in retail. U.S. retailers expected 15.8% of annual sales to be returned in 2025, representing $849.9 billion worth of merchandise, according to a study by the National Retail Federation and the return platform Happy Returns. Many returned products never return to shelves. Some are liquidated to off-price retailers, others are donated, and a large share ends up in landfills. The reverse logistics company Optoro estimates that 9.6 billion pounds of returns are landfilled annually.
Consumer attitudes have shifted in ways that make resale more viable. According to ThredUp's most recent report, 59% of consumers shopped secondhand apparel in 2025, up 7% over three years. Schinazi said Away's own customers had been asking for a resale option for years. Building one is complicated because it requires a reverse logistics system to collect, inspect, and list products online. Away partnered with Trove, which powers resale programs for brands including Carhartt, Cotopaxi, and Eileen Fisher, and opened a dedicated reverse logistics warehouse. Every product is inspected, cleaned, refurbished, and graded on a three-point scale from excellent, meaning essentially new, to good, meaning noticeable wear. Away replaces wheels, trolley handles, linings, or anything else affecting functionality.
Schinazi said items that do not perform as they should are not sold through Reclaimed at all. A sticky zipper, for example, would disqualify a product from the platform.
Demand has been strong. Away soft-launched Reclaimed in August without marketing and sold 80% of its initial inventory within two weeks. The company said return rates on Reclaimed purchases have been low, and some customers have already returned to buy a second piece. Schinazi described the response as a testament to how important such programs are for American consumers today, citing both interest in sustainability and shoppers watching their budgets.
Supply is the biggest constraint. Because inventory largely comes from returns, Away cannot control how many pieces arrive. Schinazi said the company is learning as it goes in these early months and is exploring a buyback program that would take back suitcases customers have owned for years. This month, Away is running a test through its Trade In, Trade Up event. Customers can bring a wheeled suitcase from any brand in any condition to a participating Away store October 16 through 18 and October 23 through 25 by appointment and receive $100 toward a new suitcase from Away's redesigned Series 3 line. The company will use the event to learn how trade-in programs might eventually feed into Reclaimed.
Selling discounted versions of its own products could theoretically cannibalize Away's full-price sales, but Schinazi is not especially worried. She believes Reclaimed will function as an entry point, particularly for younger shoppers unwilling to pay full price for a carry-on. She said Reclaimed might be a customer's first Away purchase, but it will let them experience the brand's bags. As those customers travel more, she hopes they will buy new pieces for themselves, their families, or as gifts.