Does the GPSR apply to second-hand products I sell?
Yes, in most cases it does. The GPSR makes no general distinction between new and second-hand: as soon as a consumer product is offered on the market again, that offering is in principle within the scope of the regulation. The fact that a product has already been used or sold does not change that in itself.
The regulation does provide two specific exceptions, and they are narrower than many sellers expect. A product escapes the GPSR if it is offered as antique, or if it is offered with a clear statement that it must first be repaired or fully restored before it can be used. Outside those two situations, the ordinary rules apply: role determines obligation.
When the regulation does apply
If you sell second-hand electronics, toys, household appliances, sports equipment or other ready-to-use consumer products in the condition they are in, there is essentially nothing different from selling new products. The product is offered on the market, a consumer can buy and use it, and therefore the same principles apply: a responsible market participant must be identifiable, contact details must be provided and, where relevant, warnings must be included, and someone must be in charge if a complaint or safety notification arrives.
This applies equally to a second-hand shop with an online store, a business that resells returns or showroom models, and a marketplace seller who systematically offers second-hand items. The scale of the trade or the fact that individual items are involved is not in itself an exemption.
The two exceptions the regulation itself sets out
Antique
Products offered as antique fall outside the regulation. Where exactly the boundary lies between "second-hand item in use" and "antique" is a factual question that varies from case to case and which we do not determine here. If you are unsure whether your range qualifies as antique, that is a question for a lawyer or, if there is doubt about the safety of a specific product, for the competent enforcement authority.
Products that must first be repaired
The second exception applies to products offered with an explicit and clear statement that they must first be repaired or restored before they can be used. This is different from a product that works fine but shows signs of use: the exception is intended for components, faulty devices or objects that only become a consumer product again after repair. A vague statement such as "in original condition" is not the same as this notice.
What role you then have
Once it is established that the GPSR applies, your position in the supply chain determines what is expected of you. Whoever repackages or resells second-hand products under their own name or brand may qualify as a manufacturer. Whoever passes them on unchanged is more likely to be a distributor or reseller, with a lighter set of obligations. Whoever imports second-hand stock from outside the EU also has to deal with the role of importer. Which situation applies to you can be find that out yourself in a few questions.
What this means in practice for your file
With second-hand products too, it remains relevant what information must appear on the product page, in which languages warnings are needed, and what documents you may need to request from a previous seller or supplier. For common borderline cases, such as showroom models, returns or batches from insolvencies, it is advisable to check per product category whether either of the two exceptions applies or not. An overview of these and other considerations can be found in the knowledge base by topic, and the way we arrive at this classification is explained on the page about the source of our information.
In brief
Second-hand is not an exemption in itself. Only antiques and products explicitly offered as repair objects fall outside the regulation; all other second-hand supply follows the ordinary rules, depending on your role. If you are unsure about your own assortment, take the free role check or read the frequently asked questions on our frequently asked questions page — without account and without obligation.