Almost half of Brits (46%) would consider buying second-hand gifts for their loved ones this Christmas – with 58% saying they would be happy to unwrap a pre-loved item on Christmas Day, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults found that almost a third (29%) expect second-hand gifts to be the norm this festive season, due to the cost-of-living crisis – with 19% expecting to receive a pre-owned item.
And the top second-hand products Brits would be happy to be gifted on December 25th include books (50%), jewellery (31%), and artwork (30%).
More than a third (37%) have bought a second-hand gift for others in the past – with saving money (50%), and affording an item that would otherwise be out of their price range (44%), the top reasons for doing so.
Amazon Warehouse, which sells refurbished and pre-owned products, commissioned the research – which also revealed that 38% plan to take sustainability into consideration when shopping for presents this upcoming festive season.
And two in five (41%), of those polled, think it is a good way to help products have a longer lifespan.
But 55% have never given someone a present that isn’t brand new, as a third (32%) admit it has never crossed their mind.
One in four (26%) believe there is a stigma about giving such gifts, but don’t think there should be – with 31% feeling that giving and receiving pre-owned products should be normalised.
Following the findings, an online tool has been created to show how much money you could save this festive season by buying pre-loved items, from a smart watch to a coffee machine – creating a personalised wish list to reveal your savings.
John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, said: “As a nation, we’re becoming more conscious consumers, and it’s exciting to see so many people are open to shopping for nearly-new products.
“Especially this year, with the rise in living costs adding even more pressure to gift buying, there is even more reason to consider shopping from nearly-new products.
“Pre-owned doesn’t have to mean worn or outdated – often, products have simply been unboxed but still work as good as new.
“We believe that every refurbished, pre-owned, or open box purchase helps extend a product’s life, while being great value.”
It also emerged the most popular tech gifts to get “nearly-new” were mobile phones (21%), laptops (20%), and tablets (20%).
While eBay (55%), charity shops (49%), and Amazon (26%) were the top places to buy pre-loved, unboxed, or refurbished gifts.
Six in ten adults have also purchased such items for themselves – and, coupled with buying second-hand gifts, predict they have saved £128.50 on average over the past five years.
Nearly one in five (17%) estimated they have saved more than £200, while 12% think they have an extra £300 or more thanks to buying nearly-new.
It also emerged 21% of those polled, via OnePoll, are happy to gift a refurbished, unboxed, or pre-loved item as a Christmas gift, if it comes with savings.
A fifth (21%) think it can be hard to tell the difference between these products and new goods, and 17% have noticed more retailers offering nearly-new or pre-owned items.
Among the main reasons adults have refrained from gifting second-hand or nearly new items are concerns the quality may not be as good as new (27%), or that they can’t be returned (18%).
But John Boumphrey added: “Dedicated teams check and refurbish returned items daily, so they’re ready for a new home, and customers can shop with peace of mind knowing that even nearly-new products from Amazon are covered by our return policy.”
