Shopping, refurbished tech products conquer Italians

Refurbished technology products appeal to Italians. Even for a gift, the product that lives a new life manages to win over buyers. And this trend is also confirmed for the Christmas period. Photographing this scenario is a survey conducted by Appinio on behalf of refurbed. The study, which was carried out on a sample of 500 people aged between 18 and 65, confirms that "the refurbished product is no longer a niche, but has established itself as a real purchasing alternative to new, especially in the electronics sector".

According to the survey, more than half of the respondents have already purchased a refurbished product at least once, and as many as a third have done so more than once. The main reason for buying a refurbished product is to save money. 75.4 per cent of the sample surveyed claimed to resort to reconditioning because of the cheaper price. "However," emphasise the promoters of the study, "it is not just a question of economic convenience: 34.6% cite the reduction in environmental impact and 38.8% recognise that the quality is now fully comparable to new".

There is another aspect and it concerns trust. 66% of Italians consider the quality of refurbished products to be 'largely' or 'completely' reliable, demonstrating how rigorous procedures, high standards and extended warranties are redefining the market. "The main concerns remain product durability (34.6%) and after-sales warranties (23.6%), aspects on which specialised platforms - the promoters emphasise - have built their credibility, offering certifications, accurate tests and guarantees of up to 30 months".

The trend is also confirmed for this festive period. "57% of the sample would consider a reconditioned product as a technology gift, with 20.6% determined to do so and 36.6% inclined - they go on to emphasise -. And it is not just a good intention: almost one in five people have already given a reconditioned product as a gift, while 34% say they are ready to do so for the first time. Among the most popular gifts are smartphones (53.4%), laptops and PCs (33.6%) and tablets (22.6%): categories in which refurbished products offer the greatest savings and availability, a crucial factor in a context of rising prices".

No less important is sustainability, now considered a pillar of a real cultural change. "For 77% of Italians, it represents an 'important' or 'very important' element in their purchasing decisions," says the study, "a clear sign of how much the environmental impact of electronic devices is now at the centre of consumer awareness.