The average Brit has an estimated £341 worth of unwanted items gathering dust around the home – that could be sold for profit. The study of 2,000 UK adults found 85 percent sell some of their preloved goods, making an average of £126.24, at £20.17 per sale.
Clothes, phones, and tablets or gaming gear are the most lucrative items to resell online.
And 53 percent of those surveyed see this reselling side hustle as a way to supplement their primary income.
But while 19 percent resell often, 36 percent of those still considering it admitted they are unsure of how to go about it.
And 23 percent have no idea that their unwanted possessions could earn them money – potentially missing out by not joining the emerging trend, according to PayPal’s Resale Renaissance Report.
Vincent Belloc, general manager at PayPal UK, said: “It’s no surprise we’ve seen a boom in the second-hand economy with high inflation.
“You may have items that you could supplement your income by selling, stored in your attic without realising.”
The research also found that as well as selling items, 25 percent regularly purchase pre-owned goods – spending an average of £71 per year.
The pre-loved items at the top of their shopping lists include fashion (38 percent), books (31 percent), and furniture (13 percent).
Of those who do buy second-hand items, 67 percent named saving money as a key reason.
Others want to be more sustainable and help reduce waste (35 percent), or want to purchase one-of-a-kind items (23 percent).
It also emerged the most popular destinations to buy second-hand clothing and items are still charity or thrift shops (52 percent).
Reselling platforms such as Depop (44 percent) and social media (18 percent) are rapidly becoming more popular.
But car boot sales (20 percent), market stalls (14 percent), and direct from friends and family (17 percent) are still popular ways to shop for second-hand bargains, according to the stats, by OnePoll.
However, half of those polled sometimes worry about the quality of pre-owned items they might find when they’re buying online.
Vincent Belloc, for PayPal UK, added: “While the second-hand economy is booming, our research shows that people are still concerned about the quality of second-hand items they buy.
“When buying or selling peer-to-peer, via online marketplaces, or at car boot sales or on the high street, it’s important to ensure your payment information is safe and your purchase or sale is protected, in case it’s not as advertised.”
