Older generations flock to Vinted and Ebay for cheap second-hand clothing

Older generations are embracing second-hand clothing platforms such as Vinted and Depop, as consumers become increasingly aware of both the costs and environmental impact of their purchases.

Spending among over-55s on resale platforms such as Vinted, Ebay and Depop has increased by 12 percent in the past year, according to data from financial app Revolut.

And some resale sites have seen an even bigger increase among older age groups.

Depop has seen significant growth among 45 to 54 year olds, with the group spending 56 percent more on the platform in 2024 than the year before.

Meanwhile, people aged 65 to 74 spent 32 percent more on Vinted in 2024 than the year before.

In general, online sales platforms have younger users, who are often driven by environmental consciousness and their desire to get a good deal.

Data from Statista shows that the most common age of visitors to Vinted is 25 to 34 years old, with 33 percent of visitors falling into this category. The vast majority of visitors are still younger than 44 years old.

However, as environmental concerns continue to rise and many continue to suffer from the cost of living crisis, older generations are shifting towards buying second-hand items.

Fiona Davies, head of growth for UK, Ireland and Scandinavia at Revolut, said: ‘We’ve seen a trend of customers seeking affordable alternatives to their spending – this is further evidence of that.

‘From children to grandparents, it’s clear that smart spenders are looking for options that maximize value for money and offer sustainability, and resale sites are important in giving them that choice.’

The oldest group of consumers, those over 75, increased their spending on Ebay, Vinted and Depop by 18 percent in the past year, more than the 13 percent increase among the youngest between 18 and 24 years old.

There was a 16 percent increase in spending for people aged 55 to 64.

Meanwhile, Depop saw 55- to 64-year-olds increase their spending by 46 percent, the same amount as Generation Z.

Davies added: ‘We also know that many of our customers have their finger on the pulse when it comes to entrepreneurship, so re-commerce platforms also offer individuals an easy way to sell their own items and make some extra money.’

‘My daughter suggested I start selling on Vinted’

Anne-Marie Vladar, 59, started selling on Vinted in May after her daughter encouraged her to sign up for the platform.

Anne-Marie told This is Money: ‘In the past I have used eBay to buy and sell various items and I have also done a car boot sale on occasion when clearing out my children’s old toys or outgrown clothes. I am now hooked on the simplicity and ease of use of the Vinted platform.”

Selling on the platform, she said, has allowed her to clear her wardrobe of unwanted items that she can pass on to new owners and give it new life. In addition, she has benefited from some extra money in the bank and the feeling that the clothes will not go to waste.

‘I think we should all start using this way of selling and buying. We need to help the planet in a small way by recycling our unwanted stuff. We all have a lot of unnecessary stuff in our homes… I think our local shops and the post office are also benefiting from it,” she said.

‘I recently transferred two friends, both in their 60s, to Vinted. They are eager to get started, especially when they see how easy the platform is to use.”

While she largely sells clothes and shoes on the platform, Anne-Marie has used Vinted to make purchases in addition to clothes, including books and CDs.

Ebay is seeing a rise among a younger audience

Ebay, which typically caters to an older user base, has seen a 95 percent increase in spending on the platform by people between the ages of 25 and 34 in the past year.

Among the youngest group of adults, between 18 and 24 years old, there has been a 90 percent increase in expenditure.

Ebay recently announced that it will lower the costs of buying and selling to compete with companies like Vinted and Depop.

The site had already reduced rates on second-hand clothing, but has now expanded this to include all other items, except car ads.

Kirsty Keoghan, managing director of eBay UK, said: ‘The removal of sales charges across categories is designed to give buyers access to a greater breadth and depth of inventory, while creating a simplified and streamlined experience for sellers.’