7 things you’ve always wanted to know about our resale platform

Whether it’s the kids’ old baby monitor, a brick of a mobile phone or a pre-streaming-era TV, we’ve all got stuff lying around at home, gathering dust. Galaxus and Digitec have been giving their customers the chance to resell items like these since autumn 2017. Ads for the products appear in the popular second-hand section of both online shops and as affordable alternatives on product pages.

Thousands upon thousands of these resales have taken place, creating a veritable mountain of data over the years. We’ll now be using that data to reveal seven surprising facts on second-hand shopping.

1. The resale pros

Of the almost 2,400 product groups in our shop’s range, just seven could be consistently resold at a profit between autumn 2017 and autumn 2023.

Topping the rankings? Bobsleds, sledges and snowshoes. A little detective work reveals that true second-hand pros were behind these particular sales. The sellers snapped up winter products at bargain prices during the warmer months, then stowed them away until the first snowfall. As soon as supplies were running low, they sold off their purchases at a profit. Again defying the seasonal cycle, resourceful Galaxus customers did the same thing with inflatable boats and tents, albeit with a slightly smaller profit margin.

To make a profit on a resale, it’s key that the products are new and in their original packaging. So if you’re thinking about putting your ancient, beat-up Davos sledge up for sale, expect your returns to take a hit.

You can also rake in the cash by selling LEGO in its original packaging. Some sets have changed hands on Galaxus for more than three times the original purchase price.

2. Poor prospects for your tatty couch

Some things are almost impossible to resell without a markdown. This is particularly true of second-hand furniture. On average, second-hand shoppers will only buy sofas at least 51 per cent lower than the original price. Meanwhile, beds are resold at an average of 43 per cent less. Then again, that’s hardly surprising.

Products for babies and parents also prove unpopular as second-hand items. With parents convinced only the best and newest is good enough for their offspring, they’ll only go for used baby carriers or cot bumpers if they’re on offer at a serious discount.

3. LEGO ages well

Some things increase in value as they age. This is often the case with art or exclusive designer furniture. And the same goes for rare LEGO sets – as long as they’re still shrink-wrapped. On average, LEGO that’s more than two years old changes hands on Galaxus for more than twice the original purchase price.

4. Mobile phones lose value at an alarming rate

The iPhone 13 or the Google Pixel 6 are already considered old hat in techie circles. Only the most cutting-edge phones are good enough for them, with new handsets constantly being released as a result. The flipside of this? Used smartphones appearing on Galaxus at bargain prices. For devices purchased more than a year ago, buyers can expect discounts in excess of 50 per cent.

In fact, the only products in the Galaxus and Digitec range that lose value faster than smartphones are used sofas. Other product groups are better at retaining their value.

5. Apples stay fresh for longer

Samsung and Apple dominate the Swiss mobile phone market. As a poll (article in German) commissioned by the comparison site Moneyland demonstrated, around four out of ten adults in Switzerland currently own a Samsung device, while five out of ten have an Apple model. Apple’s also got the edge in the second-hand market, with its phones dropping in value less quickly over time than Samsung devices.

6. Gadgets – hot, clothes – not

As part of her Master’s thesis, University of St. Gallen student Annik Müller asked 259 Galaxus customers what kind of products they’d be willing to buy used. You can see the results in the chart below. Electronics, multimedia (e.g. books, DVDs and games) and leisure equipment took joint first place. Used clothes or watches, on the other hand, were ranked as less appealing.

7. Half of resale products find a new home within 28 days

Not every product Galaxus customers put up for sale finds a new home straight away. At around 50 per cent, the sales rate on Galaxus is roughly in line with the Swiss second-hand sector average.

The items Galaxus and Digitec customers most frequently put up for sale are IT products. And it’s these very products that rank among the top third of the best-selling second-hand items.

Customers are particularly quick to buy used household appliances, smartphones and consumer electronics. Second-hand ads for pet supplies or products for babies and parents are few and far between. However, when these items do turn up in the second-hand section, it’s highly likely they’ll be sold.

Multimedia products, which landed in second place in Annik Müller’s survey (see fact number 6), trail behind in second-last place on Galaxus and Digitec. The only used products customers are more likely to avoid than these are watches and jewellery.

What do you think of our resale platform? Do you love snapping up second-hand bargains? Or do you turn up your nose at used products? What surprised you most about the facts listed above? Let us know in the comments!