Thirty-six percent of South Africans would appreciate a pre-loved give this festive season

With just a month to go until the festive season is in full swing, Gumtree ran a poll to gauge if South Africans would appreciate a pre-loved gift this festive season. Of the 1800 who responded, 36% said that they wouldn’t mind something pre-loved, 53% said it depends on what the item is, while just under 10% would be completely unimpressed.

After a year that’s seen soaring unemployment statistics, low consumer confidence, and tightened spending habits, many South Africans are having to become more creative for holiday gifting ideas this year. While many people have reduced their festive budgets, opting for home-crafted items hand-made with love, others will turn to pre-loved products.

Claire Cobbledick, general manager of Gumtree South Africa says, “It’s been an emotionally-taxing year, coupled with the financial strain that this year has brought to so many of us. We believe our platform is a great place to find a meaningful yet affordable gift for loved ones.”

“Electronics are particularly pricey if they’re bought new, but they’re among the popular requests among tweens and teens,” she adds. “Buying a pre-loved game console, speaker or smartphone is a great way to bring some festive joy to kids who too have had a really tough year, without the stress and anguish of trying to afford buying everything new. Gumtree.co.za currently has over 80,000 pre-loved electronics for sale that would make an ideal gift for that special someone.”

Fortunately for consumers, online buying and selling platforms offer the obvious benefit of cost savings – but as ever, there are some steps to bear in mind when shopping or listing items for sale online.

Tips for buying

The festive season is synonymous with some people being dishonest. The most common scam involves asking for deposits or payments while avoiding showing you the item or coming up with excuses as to why they can’t meet.  Your best defence is to never pay for the item – in cash or by EFT – until you’ve seen, tested and examined the item.

When meeting sellers, meet in a public space rather than in an isolated area such as your home or their home. Second-hand items are not protected by the Consumer Protection Act and therefore buyers have no recourse other than pleading their case with the seller, or in the case of fraud or theft, reporting it to the SAPS. Test the item you want to buy carefully – for example, if you’re looking to buy a phone, turn it on, insert your SIM, test the charger, examine the device for scratches, dents and most importantly – ask questions.

Savvy selling

For those looking to sell their pre-loved items online, a professional-looking photo of the product is best, along with a professionally written description, while being transparent about the quality and condition of the item. You can also use Gumtree’s price checkers to come up with the best price.

Be honest about any dents or scratches or you may compromise your sale. Furthermore, if the item for sale is too big to carry yourself, make sure that you’re not home alone when a potential buyer comes to view.

Make your listing stand out

With thousands of competing second-hand products online, you need to think of yourself as a marketer when posting your product. Does your listing stand out from the crowd among thousands of other similar items at competing prices? Think about a quirky headline or offering a price that is better than a competitor listing, which will pop out when a potential customer is scrolling through their desktop browser or app.

“The reality of an economy in recession is that there are genuine sellers out there who are keen to make a good deal, just as there are many buyers wanting to get the best value possible. This combination means that there are more bargains online than ever before – a win for everyone as we head towards the season of giving.” Cobbledick concludes.

Below is Gumtree’s tech gift guide, which includes listings for more than 80,000 potential gifts.

• 19,307 computers and laptops
• 12,045 cell phones and accessories
• 8,913 sound equipment choices
• 8,806 listings in gaming and consoles
• 7,161 printers, scanners and ink
• 6,283 cameras, video cameras and photography options
• 4,381 TVs, displays and DVDs
• 868 wearables, and
• 517 drones and gadgets