Amazon saw a 9% increase in the sale of used products and returns in Europe in 2024, surpassing 2 billion euros. The online market for secondhand goods in Europe is worth 21.6 billion euros, Amazon said, with over two out of three European shoppers buying secondhand goods.
Second-hand items include used products, opened but unused returns, and refurbished items—used goods that have been professionally inspected, cleaned, and repaired to near-new condition.
Amazon commissioned the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) to analyze the market volume of used products, opened but unused returns, and refurbished items.
CEBR found average monthly spending on second-hand items purchased online has increased by 39% over the past five years, from €84.70 to €118.20. Leading this trend in Germany are clothing (52%), small household appliances (39%), and smartphones and tablets (35%).
CEBR found that rising living costs, environmental awareness, and the convenience of ecommerce are among the most important purchasing drivers. In Germany, the trend contributes 4.4 billion euros to economic output.
Amazon Germany published a press release about the study’s findings on July 21, 2025 (Google Translate used to translate the release into English).