Second-hand online shopping boom: what buyers and sellers should know

Value of living and sustainability worries are driving a 2nd-hand buying growth, according to new study from eBay Ads. 

The survey of 1,000 shoppers located that a quarter bought 2nd-hand style in 2021, with one in 5 declaring they often obtain next-hand or refurbished objects. 

The details company which is a companion of eBay saw queries for ‘upcycled’ increase by 40% concerning December 2021 and January 2022, along with improves in related look for conditions like ‘second hand’ (up 24%) and ‘repair kit’ (up 21%).

This will come as ITV actuality clearly show Appreciate Island’s most recent time has started, positioning a aim on 2nd-hand manner by means of its partnership with eBay. For the previous a few yrs, Love Island was sponsored by quickly-fashion chain I Observed It First. 

Listed here, Which? appears to be at what’s driving individuals to second-hand purchasing and shares advice on the platforms to use if you are contemplating of purchasing or providing pre-cherished goods.

What’s powering the increase of second-hand shopping?

eBay Adverts discovered that 20% of those surveyed say they acquire a lot more second-hand goods than they did two many years ago. 

Purchasing goods 2nd-hand can probably deal with two difficulties. It’s typically much less expensive, which is crucial for the duration of the ongoing expense of residing disaster. It’s also generally more sustainable, an significantly crucial issue for shoppers.

With inflation at a 40-12 months large, customers’ budgets are remaining squeezed from all directions. Vehicle and gasoline expenditures are the greatest motorists of inflation, in accordance to the ONS, but food stuff price ranges are also skyrocketing. 

You can not buy petrol that’s currently been burned or foods that’s presently been eaten. But you can invest in clothing that have been worn and phones that have been used. So it is a crystal clear funds-conserving and money-making possibility for money-strapped customers. 

• Find out more: 15 strategies to save money on dresses and shoes

How can I make income promoting on the internet?

With ‘second hand’ searches expanding, the need for pre-beloved merchandise is very substantially there. 

Offering your very own possessions could be a great way to capitalise on this and make some additional dollars. As well as, it will help you save any wearable or repairable objects going to landfill if the different was throwing them away. 

Though eBay may nevertheless be the most properly-regarded, there are now a quantity of on the web marketplaces to choose from if you are on the lookout to sell. So how do you know which one warrants your outdated t-shirts or game titles consoles?

In January, we asked 4,000 people about offering through 10 of the most popular 2nd-hand on the net marketplaces. We asked concerns on aspects this sort of as delivery alternatives, relieve of use and payments to come across out which website was very best. 

Sellers rated Vinted the maximum, with the internet site earning a 75% customer rating. Fb Market and Gumtree adopted, each with 68%. eBay and Freecycle were being tied third greatest, with 67% consumer scores. 

• Uncover out extra: greatest areas to acquire and promote 2nd-hand on-line

What are men and women acquiring next-hand?

In January we also requested 4,000 people about their ordeals of getting using the most popular 2nd-hand marketplaces.

Consumers also rated Vinted as the ideal place to go, with major scores for simplicity of making contact with the vendor, making an offer and looking for products.

The study also uncovered the most well-liked merchandise purchased making use of second-hand marketplaces had been publications (33%), apparel, components or footwear (27%) and games and toys (19%).

• Discover out extra: how to acquire 2nd-hand on-line

Is offering online truly worth it?

We can not say precisely how considerably you will make from advertising your old products, but our survey of 4,000 sellers discovered the most preferred merchandise sold had been dresses (32%), textbooks (26%) furniture (21%) and game titles (21%).

Read our guide on how to market second-hand on the internet for guidelines on how to make it as quick as attainable. 

What are my rights when buying second-hand on-line?

If you’re pondering of switching to 2nd-hand buying – potentially you are motivated by the outfits you’ve viewed on Like Island contestants – maintain in head your client rights. 

Returns

This is dependent on if you get from an personal or business.

If you obtain from a trader or retailer you have the exact same return legal rights when getting 2nd-hand online as you would when shopping by using a business’s website. 

When you purchase from an unique (as opposed to a retailer), it is not as straightforward.  Be mindful that most sellers/marketplaces will never have a returns coverage. The exception is Amazon Marketplace where by sellers must have a single.

So it really is essential to test who is liable if a thing goes erroneous – does the internet site supply any form of buyer protection or dispute resolution, or are you likely to be on your have?  If there is customer security verify for time boundaries on generating a declare and what type of buys are eligible.

Refunds

You can still claim a refund if the products you acquire is defective or not as explained. You may also be ready to declare your dollars back again by way of Section 75 if you bought a thing worthy of in between £100 and £30,000 through credit card. 

• Uncover out extra: what are my shopping legal rights on an on line market?