Survey: Higher prices pushing consumers towards secondhand holiday gifts
A majority of shoppers are eyeing secondhand gifts this holiday season in an effort to stretch their budgets.
Eighty-one percent of Americans plan to put at least some of their holiday gift budget toward secondhand items, according to mobile marketplace OfferUp’s latest holiday edition of its 2025 Recommerce Report, while more than a quarter (27%) plan to allocate as much as half of their gift budget to pre-owned items.
The top reasons consumers cite for wanting to buy from a local secondhand seller this holiday season are finding unique or one-of-a-kind items (61%), getting lower prices (58%), supporting local sellers (38%), and avoiding shipping delays (37%). Resale is also becoming a key income source this holiday, with a third (32%) Americans and and nearly half (48%) of Gen Z planning to sell items to help cover the cost of holiday gifts or travel.
The overwhelming majority (93%) of those surveyed said they are concerned that rising prices will impact their holiday shopping. To manage costs, most shoppers are planning on searching for discounts (70%), waiting for sales or promotions (63%), or even buying fewer gifts (48%).
Eighty-four percent of shoppers say they would buy an item on a resale platform instead of new if they could find the same product for less. That figure climbs to nearly 95% among Gen Z.
Vintage and collectible items lead all secondhand categories this year, with 40% of shoppers naming them as the items they’re most likely to buy secondhand this holiday season. Clothing and accessories (37%) and toys and kids items (29%) follow closely behind.
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Shoppers are also increasingly comfortable receiving secondhand gifts, according to the survey. Two-thirds (67%) of Americans say they are happy receiving a secondhand item in good or excellent condition, making it more acceptable than receiving a regifted item (58%) or a dupe (40%).
Additional insights from OfferUp’s survey include the following:
- Eighty-five percent of shoppers feel stressed about holiday shipping, and 74% have had a gift arrive late or not at all.
- More than one-third (36%) plan to buy secondhand or vintage holiday decor, and 11% of people (and 16% of Gen Z) plan to borrow or swap decor with friends or family.
- Those who shop for secondhand decor say they do so to save money (74%), find unique or one-of-a-kind pieces (61%), or reduce waste (43%). Gen Z, in particular, is driven by sustainability, with nearly half (49%) saying they choose secondhand decor to reduce their environmental impact.
The 2025 OfferUp Recommerce Report: Holiday Special Release was fielded in November 2025, with a sample of 1,500 U.S. adults. The survey was conducted by the online market research company Pollfish.
