Poles Turn to Secondhand Goods to Manage Household Budgets

Secondhand shopping has become an important household budgeting strategy in Poland, with 55% of Polish consumers buying used goods at least once a month. According to the eBay Recommerce Report 2026, released in findings reported by Polish media on October 9 and 10, 2026, 77% of surveyed Polish consumers consider these purchases important for managing everyday expenses, while 88% plan to maintain or increase their buying frequency over the next 12 months.

The Polish monthly purchasing rate exceeds the international figure by 8 percentage points, according to the report. Among Polish respondents, 34% intend to buy used products more frequently over the coming year, indicating continued interest in the resale market.

The report found that saving money remains a primary reason for buying secondhand goods. One-third of Polish respondents identified savings as their main motivation, while 37% said they most often choose used products when deliberately trying to reduce spending. Overall, 77% considered secondhand shopping important for household finances, compared with 70% across the global survey group.

However, price is not the only factor influencing purchasing decisions. According to the report, 28% of Polish respondents prioritize overall value when selecting an online seller, considering both competitive product prices and low or free delivery. Meanwhile, 80% said they would be willing to pay more for an item that offers greater durability and a longer useful life.

The findings suggest that consumers are weighing immediate savings against quality and long-term value. Secondhand goods provide an alternative to new products while allowing shoppers to balance current spending constraints with expectations about how long their purchases will last.

The resale market also offers a way to generate additional household income. Among Polish respondents asked about their reasons for selling used products online, 46% cited earning extra money or covering current expenses, while 22% said sales helped finance everyday household purchases and bills.

Clothing leads the list of secondhand purchases in Poland, with 56% of respondents identifying everyday fashion as a category they buy used. According to the report, footwear and sneakers rank second at 38%, followed by home and kitchen furnishings and lifestyle products at 34%.

Electronics account for 31% of reported secondhand purchases, while media and entertainment products represent 30%. Automotive products follow at 26%, demonstrating that resale activity extends beyond clothing and household essentials.

The report also found that clothing and footwear were selected by Polish respondents at a rate 12 percentage points higher than among respondents in the other markets surveyed. These categories therefore represent a particularly prominent part of Poland's secondhand shopping activity.

Globally, 47% of respondents reported buying used products at least monthly, an increase of 12 percentage points from the previous version of the study in 2025. The report also found that 76% of global respondents had purchased secondhand goods during the preceding 12 months, while 89% planned to spend the same amount or more on such products in the following year.

Jamie Iannone, CEO of eBay, said the company's marketplace had supported recommerce for 30 years and that the latest report showed its growing importance to consumers. He identified affordability, quality, trust, the discovery of distinctive deals, and environmental benefits as reasons people worldwide choose used products.

The eBay Recommerce Report 2026 draws on an online survey conducted by Bounce Insight between July 9 and 27, 2026, involving 10,522 consumers in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Austria, and Japan. The research focused on people with experience buying used or secondhand products. A separate survey of 1,707 active eBay sellers was conducted from July 15 to August 10, 2026, across seven markets: the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Japan.