Survey: Majority of consumers open to receiving secondhand holiday gifts

With shoppers remaining budget-conscious ahead of the holidays, a vast majority of consumers are open to receiving secondhand gifts this year.

More than eight-in-10 shoppers (82%) surveyed by online marketplace OfferUp are open to receiving secondhand holiday gifts in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022. More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents believe the stigma around secondhand gifting has lessened with inflation continuing its impact on consumers’ finances.

In August, OfferUp’s 2023 Recommerce Report found that 85% of consumers surveyed buy and/or sell secondhand goods, a 3% increase from 2022. In addition, 27% of respondents ventured into the secondhand market for the first time within the last year.

According to the survey, the primary reasons shoppers believe the stigma around secondhand holiday gifting has lessened include more affordable options compared to buying new items (52%), increased availability and variety of secondhand items (49%), and positive experiences shared by friends or family members (48%).

The top three categories for potential secondhand gifts include electronics (72%), sporting goods (68%) and home improvement items (66%), while notably excluding apparel. According to OfferUp’s findings, the top three motivators for purchasing secondhand holiday gifts this year include getting a good deal (58%), avoiding higher retail prices (52%) and helping shoppers stay within their budget (43%).

With product prices and the cost of living remaining high, it’s no surprise that secondhand gifts are gaining traction. Nearly half (46%) of shoppers surveyed note that prices for the gifts they want to purchase this year are notably higher than years prior, and 32% are encountering greater difficulties in finding holiday bargains this year.

“As it becomes increasingly clear that a majority of these economic factors are unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, 33% of shoppers have or plan to sell items on online resale platforms this year to better afford holiday gifts,” said OfferUp. “While the surge in secondhand gifting this holiday season is of great significance to shoppers at the present, it also signals a larger trend of not only acceptance, but reliance on recommerce.”

Showing a similar consciousness for prices, a recent Jungle Scout survey found that 20% of consumers across each four age groups (Gen Z: 13%, Millennial: 20%, Gen X: 20%, Baby Boomers: 24%) said they plan on giving homemade or DIY gifts this year.

OfferUp polled 1,500 U.S. adults for its holiday survey.