Almost half of Brits (46 per cent) would consider buying second-hand gifts for their loved ones this Christmas – with 58 per cent 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 per cent) expect second-hand gifts to be the norm this festive season, due to the cost-of-living crisis – with 19 per cent 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 per cent), jewellery (31 per cent), and artwork (30 per cent).
More than a third (37 per cent) have bought a second-hand gift for others in the past – with saving money (50 per cent), and affording an item that would otherwise be out of their price range (44 per cent), the top reasons for doing so.
Amazon Warehouse, which sells refurbished and pre-owned products, commissioned the research – which also revealed that 38 per cent plan to take sustainability into consideration when shopping for presents this upcoming festive season.
And two in five (41 per cent), of those polled, think it is a good way to help products have a longer lifespan.
But 55 per cent have never given someone a present that isn’t brand new, as a third (32 per cent) admit it has never crossed their mind.
One in four (26 per cent) believe there is a stigma about giving such gifts, but don’t think there should be – with 31 per cent 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“Pre-owned doesn’t have to mean worn or outdated – often, products have simply been unboxed but still work as good as new.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 per cent), laptops (20 per cent), and tablets (20 per cent).
While eBay (55 per cent), charity shops (49 per cent), and Amazon (26 per cent) 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 per cent) estimated they have saved more than £200, while 12 per cent think they have an extra £300 or more thanks to buying nearly-new.
It also emerged 21 per cent 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 per cent) think it can be hard to tell the difference between these products and new goods, and 17 per cent 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 per cent), or that they can’t be returned (18 per cent).
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.”
