The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is calling for UK-built vehicles, components and batteries to be granted equivalent status to EU-made products under the proposed 'Made in Europe' framework, arguing that the current draft risks undermining a deeply integrated cross-border industry.
Thrift stores often refuse to accept donated small kitchen appliances due to liability issues. These appliances can contain electrical components and moving parts that may degrade over time.
The fix, he told me, was temporary - he didn't have the right part and couldn't get it. This experience revealed a broader shift in how modern products are designed, sold, and owned - one that increasingly treats repair as optional and replacement as inevitable.
Within roughly the past six months alone, Swiftly expanded its alcohol rebate programs from about 11,000 stores to more than 33,000 stores in 44 states. Swiftly had built an alcohol cashback product in 2023 but scaled it through the acquisition of alcohol promotions platform BYBE in 2024.
"We have seen a significant change in the dynamic. So definitely, when the American consumer sees an increase in fuel prices they try to move to solutions which are more friendly in terms of cost, especially in states like California."
Affordability is the primary driver in the secondhand segment, the analyst says, with around 40 percent of sales driven by budget-conscious users shopping in the €200 to €300 price band for laptops. The €300 to €400 tier is also expanding - representing 23 percent of the refurbished market, up from 15 percent a year earlier - indicating some buyers are prepared to spend a bit more for improved specifications.
The age of smartphones that were traded in reached a record high during the 2025 upgrade cycle, according to a new report from Circana and B-Stock. Most of the devices traded in were at least three generations old, yet even older phones are in high demand on a global basis. As of October 2025, nearly 11% of U.S. consumers own a pre-owned smartphone, with almost one-third (30%) of those being certified pre-owned (CPO) models.
My grandmother's refrigerator ran for forty years. The washing machine she bought in the 1970s? Still spinning when she passed away. Meanwhile, I'm on my third coffee maker in five years, and don't get me started on the laptop that mysteriously died two weeks after the warranty expired. This isn't just bad luck or nostalgia talking. There's something fundamentally different about how products are made today versus decades ago.
2025-model used cars sold in the fourth quarter of last year went for $6,370 less than their average new car transaction price. That's already substantial savings, but the numbers are even better for EV and PHEV shoppers. Models like the Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wrangler 4XE have truly staggering discounts after less than a year on the road.
For years, car dealerships had a terrible reputation. Pushy sales tactics, confusing pricing, and long hours spent negotiating made the entire experience feel more like a battle than a purchase. Like many buyers, I assumed that avoiding dealerships altogether was the smartest way to buy a car, especially as online platforms and direct-to-consumer models gained popularity. Over time, however, my perspective began to shift.
