eBay Predicts Growth in Christmas Pre-loved Gifts

Today, eBay is predicting that on Christmas morning the nation will wake up to pre-loved and refurbished presents, as shoppers turn away from new products this Black Friday in a bid to save money.

New research from eBay UK finds 52% of people will be shopping for second-hand or refurbished products this festive season, with saving money as the top incentive (56%) for changing their shopping preferences*.

Black Friday, traditionally represents the start of the festive retail rush*, and this year consumers are intending to spend over £100 less on average than last year, as inflation bites and anxiety about the cost of living soars.

In fact, if everyone shops for only pre-loved or refurbished items, new data reveals that the nation could save a huge £8 billion per year, equating to as much as £280 per household**.

The nation’s appetite is ripe for this shift, in 2021, 8 out of 10 best-selling Black Friday deals purchased on the online marketplace were refurbished.

The data, compiled in partnership with WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme), also suggests that these efforts could save 300,000 tonnes from landfill per year, which would fill the Royal Albert Hall six times over, and reduce carbon emissions by at least 1.5 million tonnes***, an equivalent of taking 323,000 cars off the road for 1 year.

Following its pre-loved fashion sponsorship of Love Island earlier this summer, eBay is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to driving better shopping habits with a new approach to Black Friday.

Helping shoppers make purchases that are better for their wallet and the planet, the marketplace will only promote refurbished and pre-loved deals for Black Friday this year across all its marketing content.

Customers can expect refurbished items like laptops, phones, vacuum cleaners and furniture up for grabs, alongside deals on pre-loved fashion from top brands.

Murray Lambell, General Manager of eBay UK said: “In its current form Black Friday is broken, but it’s not too late to make it relevant for today’s consumer.

While it was first introduced to offer consumers big savings ahead of the festive period, it no longer delivers on that same promise of value. For shoppers it creates a frenzy, with a ‘buying for buying sake’ mentality.

The cost of living and climate crisis presents new parameters as consumer shopping habits continue to change, as we’ve seen a sharp increase in purchases for pre-loved and refurbished.

We know there’s a better way that we can do Black Friday together. Our hope is to inspire the nation to think differently when they’re doing their Christmas or Black Friday shopping this year – if they buy one or two pre-loved or refurbished items to start with, it’s a positive step that allows products to take on a new life by keeping them out of the landfill.”

‘Refurbished’ items on eBay have been expertly restored and vetted to work like new, allowing shoppers to save on popular products including recent releases and previously discounted models. Buying refurbished is not only better value, but it significantly expands the lifespan of the item, preventing it from going to landfill and reducing its overall environmental impact.