Irish consumers selling goods online to fund purchases, eBay survey finds

AN INCREASING number of Irish internet users are selling online to support their purchases, a spokesman for the online auctioneer eBay has said.

Eamonn Galvin of eBay Ireland says the company has seen a growth in people selling so they can buy online as the State moves into harder economic times.

Commenting on the results of eBay’s annual survey of Irish spending habits, Mr Galvin said: “People have realised they can sell things they no longer need . . . to upgrade to new items . . . they can find products costing up to 70 per cent less than in a retail store.”

An Irish version of eBay, which allows users to host their own virtual auctions, was launched in 2005 and it claims to have around 500,000 users in the Republic.

The survey revealed Co Carlow to be the highest per capita eBay spender in Ireland. Wicklow was runner-up in the spending survey, with residents pending most on gourmet food, antiques and computers.

The study found that Dubliners spent most on phones and accessories. EBay declined to say how much was spent by Irish users.

The survey found Clare people sell the most music and photography equipment, while Donegal residents sell the most art.

Roscommon and Offaly were the lowest spenders online.