May 7th, 2021
Has the pandemic discouraged Canadians from buying and selling used items?
Results from our recent survey indicate that one-half (49%) of Canadians have bought a used item online from Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or another online platform within the last year, with one-quarter (23%) of Canadians having done so in the past month. One-quarter (25%) of Canadian residents say they have bought a used item using an online re-sale platform more than a year ago, while a similar portion of residents (26%) have never bought a used item online.
Across the country, residents of Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia (61%), Newfoundland & Labrador (60%) and New Brunswick (58%)) are more likely to have bought used items online within the past year, compared to residents in other provinces. This could reflect the fact that the Atlantic region generally experienced less impact from the pandemic than other regions during the past year.
Across the population, Millenials (those aged 25-34 yrs) are more likely to have shopped online, compared to Boomers (55+) who are least likely to have done so.
Canadians were also asked when, if ever, they had last sold an item online. Over four in ten (44%) residents report having sold an item in the past year, with two in ten (22%) having done so in the past month. Additionally, one-quarter (26%) have sold an item more than a year ago and three in ten (30%) Canadians have never sold an item online before. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who have purchased used items online are also more likely than others to have sold items online.
Across the country, residents of Quebec (37%) are least likely to have sold an item online within the past year. Across the population, Boomers are least likely to have sold something online within the past year, compared to any other age category.
Results are from an online survey conducted April 13-16, 2021, with 1,230 Canadians 18 years of age or older from the Logit Group’s Canadian Omnibus. Fielding every month, the Logit Group’s COVID-19 Omnibus surveys Canadians to ask their opinions and behaviours related to topical issues. Results were analyzed by Narrative Research. Data was weighted based on the 2016 Census, by gender, age, and region to reflect population characteristics in each province. As a non-probability sample (i.e., a panel sample where residents have joined a panel to share their opinions), and in accordance with CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards, a margin of error is not applied.
Questions included in this release:
- When have you most recently, if ever, shopped and bought a used product or item online from Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, or another online re-sale platform?
- When have you most recently, if ever, sold a product or item online?
For more information, contact:
Margaret Brigley, CEO, Narrative Research – 902.493.3830, mbrigley@narrativeresearch.ca
OR
Margaret Chapman, COO, Narrative Research – 902.493.3834, mchapman@narrativeresearch.ca
OR
Sam Pisani, Managing Partner, Logit Group – 416.629.4116, sam.pisani@logitgroup.com
Narrative Research (www.narrativeresearch.ca), is a leading public opinion and market research company headquartered in Canada. The company is certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise). As a non-partisan, 100% Canadian-owned research company, Narrative Research is dedicated to providing clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services. Follow us on Twitter at @EveryNarrative
The Logit Group (https://logitgroup.com/) is a leading North American data collection and market research execution company headquartered in Toronto, conducting large-scale projects for a variety of well-known research agencies and brands. Logit employs industry-best technologies across an array of methodologies, and is independent, experienced and quality-oriented. Follow us on Twitter at @LogitGroup
