Study exhibits rising pattern of gifting pre-loved objects amongst youthful generations

On Dec 11, 2024

A study has found that those aged 18 to 27 will cut down on their new purchases by over a third in the next two years

14:44, 11 Dec 2024

Woman shopping at a thrift store. She is looking at miscellaneous items.

Brits reckon the quality of most second-hand purchases are just as good as new(Image: Getty Images)

A survey of 4,000 individuals has unveiled that 18 to 27 year olds plan to slash their new purchases by a whopping 32% over the next couple of years.

The study revealed that a third of Gen Z’s possessions are already second-hand, with 40% admitting they get a bigger buzz from scoring pre-loved items than buying them brand new.

Millennials, aged between 28 and 43, are also jumping on the bandwagon, intending to reduce their new buys by 37% in favour of more pre-loved items over the next two years. But it’s not just the young’uns; even one in 10 Boomers are getting inspired to follow suit.

A third of Gen Z are all for gifting pre-loved or refurbished presents, with 43% convinced they make for more thoughtful, unique or romantic gifts. Almost a third (32%) reckon the quality is just as good as new, while 36% are keen to lessen their environmental footprint.

Sam Littlejohn, head honcho of returns and repairs at Amazon, which commissioned the survey, said: “It’s great to see people actively planning to purchase non-new items even more in the future.”

“The second-hand economy is growing quickly, and as Christmas approaches, we expect to see a big uptick in people searching for refurbished or pre-loved items for their friends and family members.”

Second-hand goods have risen by 15% over the past two years alone(Image: SWNS)

The top second-hand items that folks are most likely to hunt for include personal tech, fashion and accessories, and homeware or kitchen gadgets.

When it comes to unwrapping presents, 30% of Gen Z have a soft spot for second-hand gifts like vintage vinyl records, retro clothing or old-school household furniture.

Gifts that involve restoring a cherished item back to its former glory also scored big. Interestingly, the research showed that Gen Z would rather receive such a gift than an expensive perfume or a ‘grand gesture’ seemingly designed for bragging rights.

Sam chimed in: “People are finding that such gifts show a level of care and thoughtfulness that stands out, especially in a time when individuality is cherished and people are hunting for bargains.”

In the quest for quality pre-loved and refurbished items online, 17% of Gen Z trust social media influencers to dish out advice and recommendations. This is a stark contrast to just 3% of Gen X.

Sam added: “It’s clear that pre-loved and refurbished gifts are celebrated as much for their quality as their uniqueness. This is reflected on our store – with sales of second-hand goods in the UK rising by 15% over the past two years alone.

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“As this trend continues, we expect to see it become a staple part of how people think about gifting, adding a new layer of meaning to special occasions.”