For the second year running, Irish gift givers have maintained their position as the undisputed leaders in regifting, according to new research from eBay Ireland. A remarkable 52% of Irish respondents admit to regifting unwanted presents, making them reigning champions in the art of giving gifts a second life, above their counterparts in Canada, Australia, the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Japan.
Among the key findings from eBay Ireland's annual Regifting Research were:
-
Almost half (49%) of Irish adults receive at least one unwanted gift every Christmas.
-
40% believe regifting is fine in certain situations, especially when the item is in excellent condition (49%).
-
Conscious regifting is key, as 30% worry about being caught by the gift-giver, so definitely worth checking for a personalised gift tag or label!
But it is not just about regifting as the research from eBay has found that more people are turning unwanted presents into extra cash.
-
27% now sell unwanted gifts online, often on platforms like eBay, compared to just 17% in 2024.
-
Over half (51%) of these sellers save the money they make, using it to fund Christmas shopping or help with household budgets.
As festive gifting trends greener, pre-loved presents are increasingly chosen by savvy, sustainable shoppers this Christmas, with 79% viewing online marketplaces like eBay as crucial for sustainable holiday shopping.
Commenting on the annual survey, Kieran Leahy, Senior Manager, eBay Marketplace Growth at eBay Ireland commented: “Irish shoppers are proving that second-hand gifting isn’t just acceptable, it’s smart and highly sustainable. This isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about conscious consumption, allowing people to give thoughtful, valuable gifts in a way that respects their budget. By browsing eBay.ie this festive season, sellers can list items with ease and connect with millions of potential buyers and gift shoppers can explore an incredible and unique selection of items perfect for the festive season.”
With the reassurance of eBay’s Money Back Guarantee on eligible items, buyers can shop with confidence, knowing they’re getting great value from thousands of trusted sellers across Ireland and beyond. Shop the smart, sustainable way this Christmas by visiting www.eBay.ie
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
-
eBay Ireland's annual Regifting Research study, was carried out online with Bounce Insights from October 23th 2025 to October 28th 2025, with 520 adults aged 18 to 55+, representative of the Irish population.
-
The study was compared with eBay’s 2025 Global recommerce report which was conducted by Forsta with a sample of approximately 16,020 consumers across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, and Japan. The survey fieldwork took place between August 25 2025 and October 9 2025. Respondents included buyers and sellers who have engaged in recommerce, defined as individuals who have bought or sold pre-loved or second-hand goods.