Getting Started
Buying pre-loved with confidence
Buying less is always the biggest win, but when you do need something, second-hand is the next best thing. From furniture that lasts decades to bikes that work perfectly, pre-loved items offer quality, often at a fraction of retail prices. Every year, around 11 million second hand items are bought in Ireland. But knowing how to spot the gems and avoid the duds takes insider knowledge. Here's how to choose pre-loved like a pro.
Nicer to your wallet
Quality furniture, working electronics, and barely-used home goods become more affordable the second time around. If we take just online retailers as an example, pre-loved items can cost around 70% less than full retail prices. If the average Irish household bought 40% of their goods second-hand, they could save as much as €1,000 annually.
Nicer to the planet
Buying pre-loved gives more life to the items that already exist, preventing them from becoming waste while reducing demand for new goods. Each second-hand purchase - whether a sofa, laptop or winter coat - can save on the resources and emissions needed to make its replacement. When you buy from a charity shop, you also support environmental and social causes in Ireland and around the world via charitable causes.
In 2023, second hand sales in charity shops alone saved 103 tonnes carbon, equivalent to taking 17 million cars off the road for one day
Ireland’s charity shops also have a huge social impact, employing 1,100 people, and supporting 650 trainees and over 8,400 volunteers in 2023
Extending the lifetime of the 632 million smartphones in the EU by just one year would save around 2.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030, the equivalent of taking over 1 million cars off the roads for a year
Doubling the number of times a garment is worn, on average, would reduce emissions by 44% compared with producing a new item of clothing
Where to find the best pieces
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Charity shops and thrift stores
Furniture, books, homeware and clothes. Quality varies but prices are unbeatable. Check regularly for new stock. See Charity Retail for a nationwide map.
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Car boots sales and markets
Great for browsing and bargaining. Early morning gets the best selection, mostly cash-only deals. Perfect for books, household items and unique finds. Check out Collect Ireland for nationwide options.
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Online marketplaces
DoneDeal, Adverts.ie, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, Depop - each offer a huge selection, filtered searches and negotiable prices. Always check seller ratings and profiles! Specialty marketplaces for electronics include GreenIT, CeX, Refurbed, Back Market and Swappie.
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Swaps and Rentals
Second hand is not always about shopping - there are many ways to find the items you want through the likes of rental services and swaps. Look for local tool hire providers online. Check out the regional directories for swaps near you (such as Change Clothes, Cork Clothes Swap or Little Tots Clothes Swap) or, if you’d like to organise your own, try Dublin City Councils’s handy guide.
Shopping like a pro
For furniture
Don’t forget a few upcycling or repair skills can transform a dead or dated item into something unique for your home. Check for structural soundness - wobbles, loose joints or sagging can often be fixed as can minor scratches. Solid wood beats particle board.
For electronics
Check terms and conditions, warranties and for original chargers and accessories. Find out how easy it is to repair in future with Ifixit. Remember, when you buy second hand from a business (rather than a private sale), you have the right to return and request a replacement, repair or refund if it is not fit for purpose or as described.
For clothing
Don’t know where to get started? Many online influencers like @VintageIrishKat give great tips and insights into charity shopping. You could try joining an organised charity shop crawl - or learn how to visibly repair or upcycle to turn an unloved item into something special to you.
If everyone in the EU used their phone an extra year, instead of replacing it, we'd cut the same amount of emissions annually as taking 1 million cars off the roads for a year.
