Ahead of back-to-school, one of the largest shopping moments for electronics, Canadians are rethinking what “new” means to them when buying tech. A new report from Best Buy Canada found that 63% of Canadians have purchased refurbished, open box or traded in devices in the past year, but openness varies by generation, pointing to a growing divide in how Canadians purchase technology and what draws them to supporting the circular economy in the first place.
The 2026 Back-to-School Tech Shopping Report found that 71% of Gen Z have purchased recirculated technology (open box, refurbished, or trade-in) in the past year, with millennials and Gen X trailing slightly behind at 65%, followed by 55% of boomers.
While consideration across all age groups is high, the why behind each purchase differs, explained Best Buy. Saving money remains a top motivator across all age demographics, including 81% of Gen Z and millennials, but reducing environmental impact is the second most important factor for Gen Z (44%, millennials (40%), and Gen X (30%), compared to only 24% of boomers.
This gap points to how young Canadians think about technology ownership. For Gen Z and millennials, buying isn’t just a budget decision; it’s weighed against their own values. Extending a device’s life, keeping it out of the landfill, and ensuring it is responsibly recycled at the end of its lifecycle are becoming key considerations for young Canadians throughout the circular product journey, added the retailer.
A contributor to the increase in recirculated technology purchases? Access.
“The category looks vastly different now than a few years ago, and with the scale of new product releases from top brands over the last few years, there’s no shortage of quality in the secondary market as Canadians have opted to upgrade to newer models,” said Mark Leahy, Senior Director, Service Programs, Service Centres & Reverse Logistics. “Canadians have more options for non-new technology making it more accessible than ever before. For those looking for cost savings, buying a refurbished, open box or traded in device is a way to bring down initial costs while still getting a product that is in great condition.”
Best Buy said refurbished products are used electronics that have been inspected, tested, repaired, and restored through a certified refurbishment process. According to Best Buy Canada, refurbished products save customers about 40% off the original retail price, and come with a minimum three-month guarantee, giving Canadians added peace of mind.
“Those savings are a big reason a growing number of Canadians are choosing refurbished, which helps stretch their budget and gives them access to newer models with more features. That appeal is especially strong among younger generations. Among Gen Z and millennials who have not purchased refurbished products in the past year, 35% and 37%, respectively, say they would consider doing so,” said the retailer.
Open box products are items that have been unboxed, returned or previously used for in-store displays. It has the broadest appeal among younger shoppers, with Gen Z (47%) and millennials (45%) showing the highest rates of consideration, though interest sits above 30% across all generations, it said.
On average, open box products save around 28% off the original sales price, making them a great option for Canadians who want a specific model, or want to step up to more features, without paying full price, it added.
The most popular refurbished product categories are:
1. Wireless
2. Laptops
3. Computers
4. Tablets
5. Video game consoles
The most popular open box product categories are:
1. Laptops
2. Wireless
3. TVs
4. Tablets
5. Wearables
This Back-to-School season, Canadian parents are also turning to recirculated technology purchases. About 53% of parents with children ages four to five have purchased open box technology, dipping as children get older and resurging to 48% among parents of children ages 13 to 17.
Additionally, when looking to replace existing devices, 84% of parents have traded in technology or considered trading in, giving them increased cost savings and opportunities to upgrade, noted Best Buy.
“Price continues to be a main purchase factor across all generations, but durability is a growing consideration for Gen Z (25.1%) and parents (23%) who are looking to ensure they are buying products that will last.
When shopping for electronics, parents with teenagers (ages 13-17) are the most price-driven technology buyers (39%), significantly higher compared to parents with kids ages six to nine (25%) and those with no kids at home (24%),” said the retailer.
In an interview with Retail Insider, Leahy discussed the report’s findings.
Question: What do the generational differences in used-tech adoption tell you about how Canadians’ attitudes toward refurbished, open-box and trade-in products are changing?
Answer: The generational differences suggest that recirculated tech (refurbished, open box, trade-in) is moving from a niche or budget-driven option to a mainstream, intentional purchase. Unsurprisingly, Gen Z is leading the charge, with 71% having purchased recirculated technology, followed closely by millennials and Gen X. Gen Z is often considered the most tech-savvy generation, and as this age group has gotten older and is gaining independent purchasing power, it is leading where technology purchases will go next. In the last few years alone, there’s been a real shift toward considering recirculated technology as part of the normal purchasing process rather than only a price-focused alternative.
Q: With 44% of Gen Z citing environmental impact as a reason for choosing refurbished technology, how significant do you expect sustainability and e-waste concerns to become in tech purchasing decisions?
A: I expect sustainability and e-waste concerns to become an increasingly important factor in tech purchasing decisions particularly among younger Canadians. As recirculated tech continues to offer price savings to Canadians it gives shoppers more room to consider products that align with their personal values. That said, sustainability isn’t yet overtaking price as the primary consideration. Price remains the strongest driver, but as Canadian shoppers look for back-to-school options, environmental values can be the tiebreaker when evaluating whether to buy new or recirculated technology. The shift we’re seeing is less about consumers choosing refurbished technology purely to save money and more about recognizing that they can save money while also making a more sustainable choice.
Q: Price remains the top motivator across generations, but durability is also emerging as a factor—how can retailers better communicate the value and reliability of used and refurbished technology to consumers?
A: Retailers need to move the conversation beyond simply positioning refurbished technology as the cheaper option. Price is clearly an important factor, but consumers also want confidence that they’re getting a product that will perform and last.
Transparency is the key to building consumer trust. At Best Buy Canada, clear communication about the refurbishment process and certification, the device’s condition, testing, quality checks and minimum three month warranty has been a crucial way to assure consumers that the product they’re buying is reliable.
There’s also an opportunity to reframe refurbished technology as a smart choice rather than a compromise. Many perceive refurbished devices as inferior to new ones, but with updated hardware, electronics can have a longer lifespan than many expect. Retailers that make that case clearly, backed by proof, will build long-term consumer confidence in refurbished tech.
Q: With 84% of parents trading in devices when replacing them, what role do trade-in programs play in making the used-tech market more attractive and accessible to Canadian consumers?
A: Trade-in programs make recirculated technology feel like a natural part of the upgrade cycle rather than a separate or unfamiliar way to buy tech. By allowing consumers to get value from an old device and put it toward their next purchase, trade-ins make upgrading more affordable and convenient.
They also make the sustainability benefit tangible by keeping devices in circulation rather than leaving them unused or contributing to e-waste. Trade-ins bring together the two things consumers care about: saving money and getting value from the technology they already own.
Q: As back-to-school shoppers face rising technology costs, what opportunities do you see for retailers to make open-box, refurbished and trade-in products a more prominent part of the back-to-school shopping experience?
A: Back-to-school is a strong opportunity to position refurbished and open-box technology as a smart way for families to not only manage budgets but also stretch them further to try out new technology. This is especially true for parents who may be buying tech not only for themselves but also for multiple children in the family, each with different tech needs based on the school curriculum or extracurriculars.
Retailers could also tailor messaging by age group, recognizing that younger children may need tablets or basic devices, while teens are more likely to need higher-value technology like laptops, cameras, and wireless accessories. This also creates an opportunity to mix and match new, refurbished and open-box products based on a family’s specific needs, priorities and desired features, helping them maximize value without compromising on functionality. Pairing these products with trade-in offers could make upgrading more affordable while giving devices a second life.
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