Online resale platforms have transitioned from niche to mainstream, driven by technology and consumer demand for affordable and sustainable options. Major platforms use AI to automate listings, detect counterfeits, and…
US
eCommerce
simple
US Online Resale Platforms Market Report 2025
"Online resale platforms blur the line between resale and retail, offering polished experiences making recommerce and secondhand a first choice."
Online resale platforms have transitioned from niche to mainstream, driven by technology and consumer demand for affordable and sustainable options.
Major platforms use AI to automate listings, detect counterfeits, and provide personalized search experiences, simplifying the process for users.
While sustainability messaging is important, it is not the primary motivation for consumers engaging with resale platforms. Economic challenges, including tariff changes and government shutdowns, have led more cost-conscious Americans to explore resale options.
The future success of online resale platforms relies on their ability to seamlessly integrate technology, build trust, and foster engaged communities to scale inventory and loyalty.
Key Issues Covered in the Report:
The mainstream adoption of online resale platforms fueled by technology and consumer demand.
The role of AI in enhancing listing automation, counterfeit detection, and tailored search.
Economic factors, such as government shutdowns, driving cost-conscious Americans toward resale.
The impact of brand and retailer initiatives on consumer adoption and market competition.
The importance of trust, technology, and community engagement for platform success.
The evolving landscape of online resale due to policy shifts and technological advancements.
The challenges and opportunities for platforms in balancing seamless technology and consumer trust.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Market predictions
What consumers want & why
Opportunities
Turn buyers into sellers with friction-free tools
Trust the process
Activate under-served audiences
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market context
Market drivers
US govenment shutdown reduces consumer confidence
AMCIRC leads efforts to transform circular market
Changes to the de minimis exemption reshapes secondhand landscape
Tech-driven evolution of resale
Major retailers target secondhand market
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Consumer fast facts
Where consumers are buying and selling
Ethnographic vignettes: three different consumers
Auctions are comfortable for most
Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace’s dominance is undeniable
Graph 1: secondhand online retailers or marketplaces used to shop in the past 12 months, 2025
Graph 2: secondhand online retailers or marketplaces used to sell items in the past 12 months, 2025
Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace’s dominance is undeniable
eBay stands apart from the pack for buying with older consumers
Graph 3: secondhand online retailers or marketplaces used to shop in the past 12 months, by age, 2025
Amazon’s stronghold on selling is clear
Graph 4: secondhand online retailers or marketplaces used to sell in the past 12 months, by age, 2025
Older men’s love for eBay selling is obvious
Graph 5: has used eBay to sell items in the past 12 months, by age and gender, 2025
Loyalty runs deep
What consumers are buying and selling
Second-hand doesn’t have to be second choice
Recognizing not all items get better with age
Graph 6: purchases in past 12 months, any acquisition vs purchased new vs purchased any pre-owned (NET), 2025
Collectibles stand apart from the pack
Graph 7: collectibles purchase method, 2025
Online vs in-person…not all categories stack up the same
Graph 8: pre-owned purchases in past 12 months, purchased any pre-owned via online resale platform vs second-hand in person, 2025
Turn buyers into sellers
Online trumps in-person secondhand sales
Graph 9: modes of selling items in the past 12 months, by online resale platform vs in-person, 2025
Middle-aged women are hesitant around clothing and accessories
Graph 10: purchased clothing and/or accessories in past 12 months via online resale platform (NET), by age and gender, 2025
Graph 11: sold clothing and/or accessories in past 12 months via online resale platform (NET), by age and gender, 2025
Middle-aged women are hesitant around clothing and accessories
Why consumers are buying and selling pre-owned
Gamifying the shopping experience
Affordability and uniqueness top purchase motivations
Graph 12: reasons for purchasing items through online resale platforms in the past 12 months, overall vs men vs women, 2025
Older consumers associate secondhand with affordability
Graph 13: reasons for purchasing items through online resale platforms in the past 12 months (select), by age, 2025
Decluttering is the dominant reason for selling
Graph 14: reasons for having sold items via online resale platforms in the past 12 months, 2025
Older Americans look to make occasional income
Graph 15: have sold items via online resale platforms in the past 12 months to make occasional money, by age, 2025
Not all regions foreground sustainability equally
Graph 16: have sold items via online resale platform in the past 12 months because it is more sustainable, by region, 2025
Fast fashion is a faux pas
What consumers value in online resale platforms
Older consumers seek different reassurances
Graph 17: most valued services and features in online resale platforms/marketplaces (select), by age, 2025
Women are more wary of their shopping and purchasing via online resale platforms
Graph 18: most valued services and features in online resale platforms/marketplaces, by gender, 2025
Rural locales need different services
Graph 19: most valued services and features in online resale platforms/marketplaces (select), by area lived, 2025
AI is an atttractive tool for most
Graph 20: “I would be interested in AI recommendations” (% agree), by age, 2025
BNPL buys consumers a chance at pre-owned
Graph 21: buy-now-pay-later options make online shopping a better experience (% agree), by age, 2025
What is stopping consumers from buying and selling via online resale platforms
Rebranding recommerce
Buying pre-owned doesn’t feel the same for financially-healthier Americans
Graph 22: “I do not like purchasing pre-owned items” (% agree), by household financial situation, 2025
Good seller ratings are essential
Women’s concerns abound
Graph 23: barriers to buying items through online resale platforms/marketplaces (select), overall vs men vs women, 2025
Fears of scammers are foregrounded for older Americans
Graph 24: barriers to buying items through online resale platforms/marketplaces, by age, 2025
Parents are not prepared to wait on shipping
Donation and selling in-person are the largest hurdles to overcome
Graph 25: barriers to selling items through online resale platforms/marketplaces, by age, 2025
Urbanites have more in-person options
The juice doesn’t seem worth the squeeze
INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
Product, innovation, and marketing
NYFW redefines fashion
eBay endeavors into livestreaming
Depop shows the human side of selling
Simplifying the listing process
ThredUp reminds buyers and sellers how easy it really is
Visual Search allows consumers to find fashions with just a picture
eBay appeals to collectors
Authentication is an absolutely necessity
The RealReal combines AI and human experts to speed up authenticaiton process
Poshmark hosts K-Beauty Week
eBay appeals to younger women
Goldin offers upper echelon auctions
Walmart angles to be a collectible haven
Chairish foregrounds secondhand with its “Tariff-Free” marketing campaign
APPENDIX
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
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