S. Korean consumers turn to refurbished items amid economic downturn

Amid the economic gloom,... local consumers are turning to the so-called refurbishment stores... with hopes of doing some cost-effective shopping.
Cho Sung-min reports.

The sofa she's sitting on is a refurbished piece she was recently lucky enough to get her hands on.
Originally retailing for around two-thousand U.S. dollars, she got it for less than half that.

"I went to my sister's place and compared her new sofa to mine, and there was literally no difference. Also, it's cheaper and was delivered quickly."

Refurbished products have been disassembled, cleaned, fixed, packaged, and put back out on the shelves.
No performance flaws could be found in these goods, but because they are not "new," the prices are thirty to sixty percent lower than what they would have sold for originally.

South Korean consumers are becoming more cost-conscious.
Industry experts note that unlike the past, consumers feel it's smarter to buy refurbished goods, and now it's become sort of a trend.
The rising number of warehouses and online stores that strictly specialize in refurbished items... is an indication that it's becoming a trend,... and the kinds of things for sale now vary from clothes to cosmetics, and even food.

"As the trend changes, we're seeing more customers visiting our store and buying more than what they initially planned to because the prices are so low."

With the popularity of refurbished goods on a rapid rise, experts believe the Korean market for refurbished goods has already grown to more than one trillion won, or nearly 850 million dollars,...and expect it to get even bigger.
Cho Sung-min, Arirang News.