Secondhand Laptop Market Goes 'Mainstream' Amid Memory Crunch

Source: Slashdot

Market Overview

• Sales of refurbished PCs are rising amid shortages of key components, especially memory chips, which are driving up prices for brand‑new devices.
• Market watcher Context reports that sales of refurbished PCs via distribution climbed 7 % in calendar Q4 across five of the biggest European markets: Italy, the UK, Germany, Spain, and France.

Key Drivers

• Affordability is the primary driver in the second‑hand segment, according to the analyst:
  • Around 40 % of sales come from budget‑conscious users shopping in the $235 – $355 price band for laptops.
  • The $355 – $475 tier is also expanding, now representing 23 % of the refurbished market, up from 15 % a year earlier, indicating that some buyers are willing to spend more for improved specifications.