The UK online second-hand goods market is to expand to sales of £4.8bn this year, up from £4.3bn in 2024. Two-thirds of Brits bought second-hand goods online last year, saving more £5.6bn as a result and keeping 199 million products in circulation.
The figures were compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) and were commissioned by Amazon. The research defines the second-hand market as used products, ‘open-box’ items (where an item has been returned unused), and refurbished products, where a pre-owned product is inspected, cleaned, and repaired to return it to near-new condition. The report follows another study into the second-hand market published by the BRC last week.
Factors fuelling the shift to second-hand
The report, which included a survey of 10,000 adults across Europe, showed that for UK shoppers, three key factors are fuelling the shift to second-hand, including increasing cost-of-living pressures (31%), wider availability of pre-owned products (26%), and heightened consideration of environmental issues among shoppers (25%).
According to the study, second-hand products now account for between 34-45% of UK spending. Two-thirds (65%) of Britons bought second-hand goods online last year, with clothing (54%), smartphones and tablets (26%), and small household appliances (24%) leading the way.
Younger consumers are more likely to buy second-hand goods, with 74% of consumers aged 34 and under doing so. This compares to just over half (52%) of over-55s.
Growing share of spend
Average monthly spending on such items has more than doubled over five years, up by 113% from £58.40 to £124.80 a month. More than a quarter (27%) of online second-hand purchases in the UK would not have happened without the used option being available as customers take advantage of cheaper options by buying such products, including returns.
However, barriers remain despite the growth. According to the report, three key factors can hamper wider adoption. These include product condition concerns (43%), lack of warranties (39%), and seller trust (29%).
Second-hand goods, including refurbished returns, are becoming an important part of retailer’s strategies, with Oh Polly recently introducing a pre-loved resale marketplace while Vinted continues to thrive.
At Amazon, the company has a range of ‘second chance’ offerings that include resale and renewed. “We believe that putting returned items back on sale isn’t just good for the planet and for business – it’s what our customers want,” says John Boumphrey, Amazon UK country manager. Amazon’s second chance sales in the UK and across Europe, including from Amazon Resale and renewed, exceeded £1.7bn in 2024.
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