Barbara Yaffe: In my opinion

Many Canadians deciding second-hand is more than second-best.

So, how is it that I can afford to have Christian Dior and Balenciaga in my clothes closet? For those who do not know that I have long been a consignment shopper, that would be a fair question.

The truth is, presumably wealthy Vancouverites are regularly recycling such clothing at shops around the city where the apparel then re-sells at down-toearth prices. And I am only too happy to take advantage.

My purchases are part of a burgeoning market in Canada, according to a just-released study carried out by the University of Victoria and the Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

The so-called “second-hand economy” contributes $36 billion annually to Canada’s GDP — without being so recorded by economists.

While 85 per cent of Canadians buy, sell, or donate used stuff, Vancouverites are the most enthusiastic participants — perhaps because discretionary income here is constrained by high housing costs.

This market is not just about purchasing — the non-monetary exchange of goods reflects 60 per cent of all second-hand transactions.

The most commonly exchanged groups of goods, on both the monetary and non-monetary side, are clothing, shoes and accessories, followed by books and CDs. Baby clothes and accessories occupy third spot.

The study included a poll of nearly 6,000 consumers who explained their reasons for second-hand shopping. Most commonly, they were seeking to save money.

But a majority of them also cited environmental motivations, such as recycling and waste reduction. Still others reported enjoying the treasurehunt aspect of the activity, the possibility of finding a dusty old van Gogh among the ruins.

Second-hand shopping is especially big in B.C., second only to the Prairie provinces in the preference for low-cost or free goods.

Vancouverites, followed by Edmontonians and then Montrealers, display the strongest “acquisitional practices” in the country. In fact, they are the only urbanites acquiring more second-hand goods in the run of a year than they dispose of.

The popularity of second-hand shopping is on full view around the city. At the lower end, Value Village has long been a regular stop for many. At the higher end, shoppers line up in front of cash registers at Turnabout on Granville Street, or Turnabout Home.

The business of exchanging goods takes place less formally in Vancouver’s back lanes, where homeowners and tenants regularly dispose of everything from armchairs to old TVs.

And, of course, the Internet is a growing marketplace for the exchange of goods, usually for cash. Online sales represent 20 per cent of the second-hand market.

There is no uniform profile for those exchanging or buying used goods. Big earners are as likely to be involved as those struggling to make ends meet.

The study gives some insight into the bargaining that sometimes accompanies the purchases of second-hand goods. It reports that 21 per cent of purchasers do not pay full asking price, with bargaining most prevalent on the purchase of vehicles and hardware items.

Bargaining is least likely for household appliances, medical accessories, clothing and small electronics.

If there is a downside to all the second-hand buying and exchanging, it is that governments may not be able to realize all the sales tax revenues that might be applicable on some of these transactions.

But there is plenty of upside. Overall economic activity is boosted by the second-hand economy, which puts money into people’s pockets and generates income tax revenues for government. As many as 350,000 jobs derive from the second-hand economy.

And consumers, who on average spend nearly $1,000 annually on used goods, can save a bit of cash, generally paying 50 per cent less than full retail price. Which means being able to access goods they could not otherwise afford.

“Doing so,” says the study, “increases Canadians’ purchasing power, raises their economic well-being and narrows economic inequality.”

And the evidence is right there in my closet.

Vancouver it es, followed by Edmonton ian sand then Montrealers, display the strongest ‘acquisition al practices’ in the country.