eBay has released its 2026 Recommerce Report, which shows that buying and selling pre-owned goods has become part of how many people manage their money. The findings suggest the trend is now well beyond eco-minded early adopters.

Cost is the main driver. Of the consumers eBay surveyed, 84% placed saving money among their three main reasons for buying second-hand. On the other side of the market, almost 30% of eBay sellers said selling pre-owned items gives them a valuable additional income.

For refurbished electronics, the findings are encouraging. Affordability is exactly what professionally restored phones, laptops and tablets offer, and the wider acceptance of second-hand goods makes it easier for refurbished devices to sit alongside new ones in buyers’ consideration.

The report also has a policy angle. Cathy Foster, eBay’s Vice President of Global Government Relations, said the growth of recommerce should matter to lawmakers as well as shoppers. She called for regulation that protects buyers without putting unnecessary burdens on individual sellers and small businesses, so the financial and environmental benefits of second-hand trade reach as many people as possible.