In the initial days of bidorbuy there was a big demand for second-hand goods in the South African online marketplace. The market these days is a little different with only 20% of the 2 million items offered for sale on the site are pre-owned. This leaves the majority of the items, 80%, are new items for sale.
This however has not changed the popularity of second-hand items on the online store. The sales figures show that recently on the site as much as 40% of the items sold have all been pre-owned.
“This is mainly due to the undiminished demand for antiques, collectibles and memorabilia”’ says bidorbuy CEO Jaco Jonker. “This type of merchandise gives bidorbuy its unique flavour and popularity.
With second-hand items offering consumers reasonable and affordable options, it is no surprise that items such as cameras, laptops. Other items such as books and video games also have a high preference in the second-hand market for obvious reasons.
“We definitely value the presence of second-hand products on our platform”, says bidorbuy CEO Jaco Jonker and adds: “In many cases, our buyers can compare a new and a similar second-hand item and decide which one to buy. Used and refurbished goods mean more choices for the shoppers in terms of price as well as variety, allowing even people on a tight budget to own a high-end product. On top of that, a marketplace with a well-developed second-hand segment gives small businesses and occasional sellers an opportunity to offer their used or refurbished wares to the public and thus ensure a steady income or some extra cash”.
With second-hand goods still proving to hold their own in the South African online market, will the trend continue in 2017 or will the expected expansion of the online market effect the value of pre-owned items?
Staff Writer
