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While the resale market is growing dramatically, it’s not everyone’s (gently used) cup of tea, leaving its enthusiasts to wonder whether it’s appropriate to give secondhand items as holiday gifts. And while there’s no telling how a preloved hoodie is going to go over with your surly teen, as a general rule, the practice is gaining steam.
Nearly 3 in 4 shoppers (74%) believe that giving secondhand presents has grown more acceptable over the past year, a 7% increase over last year, according to a new survey from OfferUp, a resale marketplace for local transactions.
Even more respondents, 83%, would welcome a secondhand item as a gift.
Beyond sentiment, though, there’s real intent to gift-wrap pre-loved items this holiday season, with 68% of respondents saying they’ll purchase used gifts this year; among Gen Z, 83% plan to do so.
The online survey of 1,500 US respondents was conducted on October 13.
Circular reasoning: The most popular category for secondhand gift-giving this year among respondents was electronics (55%), followed by sporting goods (47%), and furniture (42%).
Many clean out their own closets to afford all those gifts, with 36% of respondents having already sold items online (or planning to do so) to fund holiday shopping this year. Among Gen Z, more than half (53%) are selling items online to bolster their gift-shopping budget.
“The stigma around secondhand gifting is rapidly diminishing,” Todd Dunlap, CEO of OfferUp, said in a press release. “Pre-owned items are no longer just a practical choice—they’re now a preferred option for many, offering a way to give memorable gifts while being mindful of budget constraints.”