On May 21, eBay celebrated its first Recommerce Day with the release of its Recommerce Report 2024. Now in its fourth year, the report has traditionally explored the insights and motivations of eBay sellers and buyers when shopping for used items. This year, the company explored the importance of reselling to the eBay community and the overall trends and sentiment towards reselling on a global scale by surveying more than 28,000 people worldwide.
On Recommerce Day, eBay’s home page was taken over and offered the opportunity to learn more about recommerce, find great deals on used items and participate in an eBay Live program featuring only used items. The company also teamed up with actress and sustainability advocate Alicia Silverstone to highlight the benefits of reselling. Silverstone is a passionate advocate for environmental protection and has repeatedly expressed her preference for buying used items to promote a conscious and sustainable lifestyle.
The eBay Recommerce Report 2024 shows that consumers worldwide – both current eBay customers and general consumers – are increasingly buying pre-owned items to find unique items and great prices. Consumers have also recognized another important benefit of reselling: It’s good for the environment.
The number of second-hand purchases is steadily increasing, with the younger generation increasingly looking for authentic shopping experiences. The Recommerce Report survey found that almost three in five consumers (59 percent) worldwide have bought second-hand goods in the last year, and over 70 percent of consumers surveyed plan to buy second-hand goods this year. 18- to 24-year-olds are the most likely to have purchased used goods in the last 12 months (65 percent).
California State Senator Dave Cortese has introduced a resolution in the California legislature to recognize May 21 as Recommerce Day. The City of San Jose, California, has also introduced a resolution declaring May 21 as Recommerce Day. These resolutions will help to further increase interest in buying used, deepen the conversation about supporting sustainable practices, and remind people of the benefits to themselves and the environment.
