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Technology User Profile®
TUP Overview
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Used PCs Still A Factor Among Many Consumers |
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Dan Ness, Principal Analyst,
MetaFacts, May 14, 2004 |
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Used PCs continue to account for a sizable portion
of total home/family PC market share for 2003. In U.S. homes, the market for
used PCs has hardly changed during the last three years. From 2001 through 2003,
used-PC purchases have hovered consistently around 1 in 8 (13%). Purchases of
used PCs are especially strong among singles. The highest percentage of used PC
users is attributed to the singles segment (17.6%) compared to households with
two or more children (12.9%) or households with no children (11.2%). |
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Household income is also a factor in the used-PC equation.
Households with less than $50,000 income showed 19.2% for used PC purchases in
2003, essentially unchanged from the 19.9% rate of the year before. This is more
than double the rate of households with more than $50,000 income, at 7.5% in
2003 and 8% in 2002. Consumers are not appreciating the value that new-PC
manufacturers are trying to build in their newest models. |
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2002 |
2003 |
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% of
Projected Installed Home/Family PCs that were
purchased used among households with income <
$50,000 |
19.9% |
19.2% |
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% of
Projected Installed Home/Family PCs that were
purchased used among households with income >=
$50,000 |
8.0% |
7.5% |
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Source:
MetaFacts, Inc. – Technology User Profile – 2003
and 2002
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| That
consumer’s financial concerns are a factor is evident
from the large gap between high-income and low-income
households. Yet, there are likely other considerations.
Users have said that technological complexity has been a
factor deterring them from purchasing technology
products such as computers. In purchasing used
computers, consumers may feel less risk in making the
purchase, both because the prices are lower and because
they are acquiring the PC from Consumers, not from
a company or retailer. |
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| Should the
PC industry be concerned? If their plans are based on
reaching an ever-increasing market including first-time
buyers, they need to factor the reality of used-PCs into
their thinking. This is important both for market sizing
estimates as well as promotional campaigns that might
ease users into making the move to new PCs on their next
purchase. |
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Background & Methodology |
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Factual, decision-making information like this is
only found in one place, the Technology User Profile from MetaFacts. The
Technology User Profile market research information service is based on
extensive primary research selected and balanced to represent the American
population - including technology users and non-technology users. Drawn from
more than 10,000 surveys per year reporting on over 250 questions, it is the
most comprehensive total market technology study available. TUPdates are brief
summaries of information contained in the Technology User Profile. |
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Current Technology User Profile subscribers may be
interested in the following links with related, more detailed or updated
information:
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