US ecommerce resale to grow backed by shoppers looking to save money

Ecommerce resale is one of the fastest-growing segments in retail, accounting for nearly three-quarters of total resale volume. And with the effects of inflation and concerns over sustainability weighing on consumers, secondhand is becoming more and more attractive.

Resale shoppers care most about saving money.

Resale is ultimately better for the environment, but consumers tend to cite savings—not sustainability—as the most important reason for purchasing used goods.

• More than 90% of shoppers said money is a reason to buy resale, with 68% deeming it a “major reason,” per a May 2022 Morning Consult poll.
• Uniqueness is another key selling point. The ability to purchase one-of-a-kind items ranked above sustainability as both a major and minor reason for shopping secondhand in Morning Consult’s survey.
• Shoppers will also look to resale during product shortages. Around a quarter of consumers said they searched resale channels to source hard-to-find items. This was a particularly common trend amid the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis that reached its peak in late 2021.