Graduating students at a university in Zhengzhou, Henan province, set up stalls on campus to sell their various secondhand items June 2024. - Photo provided to China Daily
For Kang, buying secondhand goods is more than just a cost-saving measure - it's a lifestyle choice that celebrates sustainability and uncovers hidden treasures from the past. Kang has discovered"gems" from the 1920s to 1950s with no signs of wear, such as a 1925 thermos flask and 1950s woolen military long johns.
"Previously, we used WeChat and Weibo, but recently we've tried new lifestyle platforms like Xiaohongshu, product reviews, and articles, to better connect with users and make them more comfortable with secondhand goods," Ye said. "We have been witnesses to the gradual development of the secondhand market in China over the years, and it fills us with confidence about the future," Ye said.The transaction volume of China's used goods market surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2020, and is expected to reach 3 trillion yuan in 2025, according to a report issued by the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy of Tsinghua University.
Wen Tianyi, a 21-year-old advertising major at a university in Beijing, spends around 1,000 to 2,000 yuan on secondhand goods every year and gets rid of around 10 items annually. She said buying and selling secondhand merchandise had reshaped her ideas on consumption."Previously, items might have just been left unused, but now they can be revitalised with the incentive of earning some money, thereby supporting sustainable consumption," Wen said.
Jiang Shujie is the chief executive officer of Buy42, a charitable organisation founded in 2010, which operates 14 charity stores in Shanghai and sells donated goods at 30 to 70 percent below market prices."The popularity of secondhand purchases is also linked to economic development — as basic needs are met and material accumulation increases in developed countries, a prosperous secondhand market emerges from the surplus goods," she said.
"Secondhand trading platforms play a crucial role in establishing trust — acting as a bond between buyers and strangers," Jiang said."A high level of trust is required for consumers to accept purchasing and using secondhand goods with potential flaws from unknown previous owners. The value of these platforms lies in facilitating trust for the secondhand market to operate."