Americans Want the Gifts on Their Lists, Without the Full Retail Price, New OfferUp Holiday Report Finds

1 in 2 Americans would look for the exact gift they want at a lower price on a secondhand marketplace, while 81% would consider resale for sold-out or hard-to-find gifts.

SEATTLE, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, OfferUp, the mobile marketplace that helps millions buy, sell, and connect locally, released its 2026 Recommerce Report: Holiday Special Release. The findings show that Americans are looking beyond traditional retailers to get the holiday gifts they want at better prices. When a specific gift is outside their budget, 1 in 2 Americans (51%) say they would be willing to look for the exact item at a lower price on a secondhand marketplace, making it a more popular option than waiting for a retail sale (45%) or choosing a less expensive alternative (32%).

The findings come as 77% of Americans express concern about rising holiday prices. Eight in ten (80%) expect to spend at least some of their holiday gift budget on secondhand items this year, reinforcing how secondhand gifting has become an established part of holiday shopping. More than one in three (37%) also plan to buy more secondhand gifts than they did last holiday season.

"The holidays should be about giving people something they'll love, but we know how much financial stress this time of year can bring," said Todd Dunlap, CEO of OfferUp. "A great gift isn't defined by where you bought it or how much you paid for it. We love that so many people use OfferUp to find things they might not otherwise be able to afford or track down, and the holidays are no different. There's something pretty powerful about being able to give someone exactly what they wanted without putting yourself under financial strain to do it."

Shoppers want to upgrade their gifts, without the full retail price
When given the same budget, 38% of Americans would prefer a higher-end, name-brand item from a secondhand marketplace over a lower-cost alternative from a traditional retailer. That figure rises to 50% among Gen Z. The survey also found that nearly half of Americans say getting a higher-quality or name-brand item for less (49%) or finding something unique or discontinued (49%) would make them more likely to purchase a holiday gift from a secondhand marketplace.

Rising holiday costs are changing how Americans shop
With 77% of Americans concerned about rising holiday prices, more than three in four (78%) say they're at least somewhat likely to consider buying gifts from secondhand marketplaces instead of paying full retail price to avoid debt or overspending.

Nearly half of Americans (44%) also expect to take on credit card debt for holiday gift purchases this year, and among those anticipating debt, 54% expect it will take at least three months to pay off.

Beyond finding better prices on gifts, Americans are also considering selling items they already own to help fund their holiday shopping. OfferUp's broader 2026 Recommerce Report found that 95% of Americans have items at home they could potentially resell. This holiday season, 42% have gifts from previous years that they plan to sell or are considering reselling to make extra money.

Sold-out gifts and shipping deadlines are sending shoppers to secondhand marketplaces
Secondhand marketplaces are also an option for shoppers trying to find specific gifts that are sold out or difficult to find at traditional retailers. More than eight in ten Americans (81%) say they're at least somewhat likely to look for these items on secondhand marketplaces.

With holiday shipping deadlines approaching, three in four Americans (75%) say they're at least somewhat likely to look for a gift on a local secondhand marketplace if an online order won't arrive in time. Among Gen Z, 57% are very or extremely likely to do so. Shoppers are considering secondhand for a wide range of gifts this year, from clothing and accessories (47%) to collectibles and vintage finds (38%) and toys and kids' items (33%).

From cross-shopping Black Friday deals to AI gift searches, shoppers are considering secondhand at every step
More than six in ten Americans (62%) say they already compare prices on secondhand marketplaces or would consider checking for a better price before purchasing an item advertised as a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal.

That willingness to look beyond traditional retailers extends to AI-powered gift searches, too. Two in three Americans (66%) say they're at least somewhat interested in seeing secondhand marketplace recommendations alongside traditional retailers when using AI tools like ChatGPT. Among Gen Z, 48% are very or extremely interested.

The holiday findings also build on OfferUp's earlier research, which found that 71% of Americans said economic or financial concerns influenced their decision to buy or sell secondhand over the past year, including rising living costs, inflation and tariff-related price concerns.

View the complete 2026 OfferUp Recommerce Report: Holiday Special Release, HERE.
Browse the OfferUp marketplace at https://offerup.com/. For more information on OfferUp, visit https://about.offerup.com.

Methodology
OfferUp's 2026 Recommerce Report: Holiday Special Release is based on an online survey of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted by Pollfish in October 2026. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. For questions allowing multiple responses, percentages may total more than 100%. Gen Z findings are based on survey respondents ages 18–29. Combined likelihood and interest figures include respondents selecting somewhat, very or extremely.

About OfferUp
OfferUp is unleashing the power of local. From great deals on secondhand finds to local services, home rentals, jobs, and more, our mobile marketplace helps people discover more of what they need, right where they are. Built with simplicity and safety at the core, our trusted platform empowers millions to buy, sell, and connect in their communities. The OfferUp app is available on iOS and Android and has consistently ranked among the top shopping apps.

Founded in 2011 and based in Bellevue, WA, OfferUp serves local markets nationwide and was used by more than 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. in 2024. OfferUp is backed by leading investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Warburg Pincus, GGV Capital, T. Rowe Price, and Coatue Management. Learn more: https://about.offerup.com.

SOURCE OfferUp