The recent imposition of a 145% tariff on imported electronics is set to dramatically reshape the consumer electronics landscape. As prices for new devices soar and availability dwindles, consumers are expected to pivot towards the secondary market, making platforms like eBay and Audiogon more vital than ever.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) projects that these tariffs could lead to substantial price hikes across a range of electronics. Laptops and tablets may see price increases of up to 46%, video game consoles by 40%, and smartphones by 26%. Such dramatic cost increases are expected to push consumers away from buying new gear and toward more economical options.
Compounding the issue is a likely disruption in global supply chains. With manufacturers reevaluating sourcing and logistics, product delays and availability gaps could become more common. This scarcity will drive consumers to seek alternatives, especially through the used market, where products are already in circulation and tariffs don’t apply.
In this rapidly changing environment, online marketplaces specializing in secondhand goods are uniquely positioned for growth. eBay’s enormous catalog and trusted ecosystem make it a go-to for everything from headphones to AV receivers. Audiogon, more niche but highly respected among audiophiles, offers high-end used equipment at a fraction of the cost of new imports.
These platforms don’t just provide cheaper options—they deliver immediate access. As new gear becomes scarce or delayed, consumers will turn to what's available now, and that means tapping into the used market. Sellers on these platforms may also see increased demand and rising prices for desirable gear as bidding competition intensifies.
While tariffs are already triggering inflationary pressure, it’s important to differentiate this scenario from a traditional recession like the 2007–2008 financial crisis. Back then, demand collapsed due to credit tightening, mass layoffs, and a systemic banking failure. People stopped spending because they had no means or confidence to do so.
This time, it’s not about a lack of consumer desire, but a constraint in supply and affordability. Consumers still want electronics, but tariffs are making new gear unattainable or impractical. That changes how people spend, not whether they spend. eBay and Audiogon, as flexible and resilient platforms, are set to absorb that redirected demand.
That said, some economists caution that aggressive tariffs could act as a drag on economic growth and potentially trigger a broader slowdown. But even in that event, the behavior shift is already underway: frugality, repair, and secondhand buying are all strategies consumers adopt when navigating high prices. In short, tariffs may spark a recession, but it would play out very differently than the last one.
As the cost of new electronics soars due to tariffs, one of the most significant cultural and economic shifts will be the return of a “repair-first” mindset. For decades, especially in the U.S., the norm has been to replace rather than fix. But with tariffs pushing prices of new imports beyond reach for many households, consumers will be far more motivated to breathe new life into their existing gear.
This shift dovetails perfectly with growing momentum around the Right to Repair movement—a push for legislation and manufacturer cooperation that gives consumers and independent technicians access to repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and replacement parts.
Where these policies have taken hold, repair shops have seen a resurgence in business, and with tariffs now creating financial urgency, that trend is poised to accelerate nationwide.
Expect to see a wave of new repair businesses emerge, especially local, small-scale electronics repair shops focused on smartphones, laptops, home audio equipment, game consoles, and more.
These shops not only serve individual consumers but also operate as intermediaries in the growing secondhand economy. They refurbish items for resale on platforms like eBay and Audiogon, providing a new supply channel for quality used gear that doesn’t incur any tariff costs.
Large tech platforms may also start offering more repair-friendly programs or expand existing initiatives. For example, Apple has already begun offering self-service repair kits for certain devices, and similar strategies may become more common as both demand and pressure mount.
From a macroeconomic perspective, this creates new job opportunities in technical repair, electronics refurbishing, and parts logistics—sectors that have seen relative decline in recent decades. It also means reduced e-waste and longer product life cycles, aligning with sustainability goals.
Most importantly, the psychology of consumers is shifting, from a mindset of disposability to one of maintenance and preservation. That’s a long-term cultural change with effects that will extend far beyond this round of tariffs.
