Direct trade in used goods is becoming more and more popular among consumers in Finland, in part because of rising consumer prices, but also because of a shift in values.
The Tori.fi website is a leader in facilitating buyers and sellers of used goods in Finland, and the most popular items listed for sale on the site are often snapped up in a matter of minutes.
Harri Hokkanen, a lecturer at the Faculty of Management and Business of the University of Tampere, believes that the continuing rise in consumer prices will further increase the trade in used goods. Price, quality and availability are most important factors for purchasers, he says.
This increase in popularity can be seen, on the Tori.fi website, which is Finland's largest online source for used goods. Sales on Tori have grown by more than 10 percent since the summer, by more than 20 percent in some categories, according to Jenni Tuomisto, Tori's business director.
The popularity of peer-to-peer trade has also been boosted by the realisation that the world is "already full of stuff", says Tori's Tuomisto, and a recent survey by the site found that almost all Finns would happily accept a used product as a Christmas present.
In addition to looking for savings and trimming the volume of consumption, she says a third reason people explore used goods is the joy of finding a unique item.
Weather affects sales
The most sought-after products are sold on Tori quickly, often within minutes. Timing can be important for sellers.
"The weekend is the most popular time. Your goods are most likely to sell quickly if you post them for sale on a Saturday or Sunday, Tuomisto advises.
In some categories, sales are high seasonally and in some there is a steady demand.
When there is snow on the ground all over the country, skis, skates, sleds and windproof outdoor clothing sell well.
Recent top selling categories include trailers, children's bicycles and infant furniture. A full 70 percent of trailers that went on sale in the autumn were sold, as were 58 percent of children's bicycles and 57 percent of goods such as cribs and highchairs.
Other options
Tori is far from the only place to look for a deal on used products. Many companies have also entered the pre-owned goods market.
You can buy and sell used phones from, for example, Swappie, clothes from Emmy, Zadaa or brick-and-mortar second-hand shops and flea markets. Facebook also functions as a marketplace for used goods, and many neighbourhoods, especially in larger cities have their own recycling groups. International platforms have also grown in popularity among consumers in Finland.
According to Tampere University's Harri Hokkanen, one concrete sign of the popularity of used goods is that some merchants have started selling used and reconditioned goods alongside their usual selection of new products.
