Demand from European customers has propelled second-hand shopping on Amazon into a billion euros business. The trend is likely to persist as shoppers seek to save money and make more sustainable choices.
Amazon shared figures for the growing second-hand sales on its European websites for the first time this week. The company did this at the opening of a temporary store filled with second-hand items in London.
15 percent growth in the UK
John Boumphrey, Amazon’s country manager for the UK, explained that in the kingdom alone, the online retail giant sold more than 4 million used or refurbished products at a discount in 2022. In the first nine months of this year, Amazon’s sales of second-hand goods in the UK increased by more than 15 percent compared to the same period last year.
The UK boss stated: “Amazon is committed to giving more products a second chance – both through helping customers shop pre-loved, and through programs to recycle, trade-in, and repair products, contributing to a more circular economy.”
‘Amazon is committed to giving products a second chance’
Elsewhere Amazon in Europe is also experiencing second-hand sales growth, driven by a combination of financial and environmental awareness among consumers.
Physical second-hand store in London
This week, Amazon launched an in-person ‘Second Chance Store‘ in London. In this first-of-its-kind UK physical store, shoppers can find over 4,000 quality returned, refurbished, and open-box items. The company states that customers can shop more conscientiously while benefiting from up to 50 percent in savings compared to recommended retail prices.
Amazon launched a physical ‘Second Chance Store’
The temporary London store also features a Repairs Zone, run by GXO ServiceTech, a longtime partner to the leading marketplace in the UK. Customers can participate in free repair workshops from experts in-store, learning to fix broken laptops and household tech through live demonstrations.