Refurbished revolution as Brits buy into second-hand tech

• One in three Brits set to buy refurbished tech this winter, with pre-used electronics becoming more popular than second-hand clothing 

• Environmental awareness, value for money and consumer trust in buying from well-established retailers among the key drivers of refurbished boom 

• Currys introduces new deals on refurbished mobiles range

Over a third (36 percent) of Brits say they are likely to buy second-hand tech ahead of Black Friday and Christmas shopping this year.

New research by technology retailer, Currys, has dug into what is powering a ‘refurbished revolution’ in consumer tech, with Brits now more likely to buy second-hand technology (32 percent) than they are clothes (19 percent).

Environmental concerns appear to be a key driver behind this boom, with 75 percent of respondents saying they were worried about the amount of e-waste Brits produce.

Over a quarter (29 percent) said that they would be more likely to buy refurbished rather than new devices if it helped them reduce their environmental footprint.

Fully owning its repair and refurbishment facility¹, Currys is on a mission to give technology a longer life, and has unveiled a range of discounts across its refurbished phones to help keep tech in circulation for longer.

As part of its Black Friday deals, customers can get up to £50 off selected refurbished mobiles until Tuesday 28th November… but don’t hang around as stock isn’t expected to last, with 80 percent of Currys’ initial refurbished product lines selling out within a week of their launch earlier this year.

Currys’ research suggests that deal-savvy consumers and an increasing trust in refurbished retailers are both accelerating this boom, with half of respondents (47 percent) saying that buying refurbished tech appeals to them as it helps them to save money. A third (34 percent) suggested that being able to buy from a well-known retailer, like Currys – which offers refurbed customers a 12-month technical guarantee for extra peace of mind – makes them more likely to shop second-hand.

Customers are able to access the deals online at currys.co.uk where they can be purchased with the same payment and delivery options as any other product, with support available in any one of Currys’ 301 UK&I stores if required.

Digging deeper into the data, the ‘refurbished revolution’ appears to be led by younger generations, with 67 percent of 18–24 year-olds more likely to buy refurbished tech this year compared to this time last year.

Whilst environmental concerns are very real for this age group – four in five (83 percent) said that they were concerned by the e-waste crisis; one in three (31 percent) want to actively reduce their environmental footprint – refurbished tech also appeals to them when it can be bought with flexible credit options. A quarter (24 percent) said they would be more likely to buy a refurbished item if it could be purchased with flexible payment options like interest-free credit, compared to the all-ages average of 10 percent.

Steve Pendleton, Services Director, Currys said: “We know that our customers are buying into the refurbished revolution for two main reasons: a desire to be more environmentally mindful – buying a refurbished product means that a valuable device remains in use, rather than being left unused, discarded or recycled – and amazing value for money, with top of the range devices available at a cut-price cost. We’re incredibly proud to support our customers on both of these fronts, thanks to our team in Newark who repair, refurbish and re-sell a whole host of previously unwanted tech at amazing prices.

Then, there’s the fact that we now sell refurbished devices right alongside new items. That means customers can trust in the same great brands they always have done, have peace of mind thanks to our one-year guarantee and take advantage of the same flexible payment options that are available when you buy any other new product with Currys. Three incredibly compelling reasons to buy refurbed.”

¹ Currys owns Europe’s largest electronics repair lab, located in Newark