The secondhand boom is just getting started

How much money is sitting in your closet? Not the cash forgotten in that tiny 5th pocket in your jeans, but the stuff just sitting there that you could sell. It's likely a lot more than you think.

The average American household has thousands of dollars' worth of belongings around the house that could be sold online. And as Jamie explained in a recent interview with USA Today, more people are discovering the value of buying and selling things that already exist.

In the interview, Jamie talks about how consumer-to-consumer sales have been eBay's largest driver of growth for several quarters. That's one of several reasons he sees plenty of opportunity ahead for the secondhand market.

The conversation, centered on the release of eBay's 2026 Recommerce Report, also explored what's behind Americans' growing enthusiasm for secondhand shopping.

For younger generations, Jamie explained, it's about more than saving money. He recalled how his daughter took him thrifting when she was a teenager, helping him understand that it was also about "being creative and being unique."

eBay's 2026 Recommerce Report shows that 46% of respondents ages 18 to 29 buy secondhand weekly or every other week, compared with 28% of respondents overall. Those shifting attitudes are likely to cause a shift in many areas. One in particular? Holiday gift-giving: Based on the report, Jamie expects an uptick in secondhand presents this year.

Good thing there are millions of great secondhand gifts, just waiting to be found.

Read the full USA Today interview