MediaMarkt: Gadgets gathering dust in Hungarian drawers could be worth hundreds of thousands

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 04. 28. 11:29

The amount of unused electronic devices accumulated in Hungarian households is alarmingly high, according to a recent, nationally representative study commissioned by MediaMarkt. While we typically replace mobile phones only every 4-5 years (or even less often) (68%), more than half of the tired, replaced, but still functional devices (54%) simply end up in the back of a drawer. Yet they have enormous, untapped potential: nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (62%) have heard of the possibility of device trade-in, but have never tried it, while we are increasingly open to buying refurbished products.

Although spring is a time of renewal for many, this momentum rarely extends to our electronic devices. According to the study, only 28 percent of Hungarians do a seasonal spring cleaning, while the majority (61%) either do it independently or constantly try to keep things tidy. And replacing electronics is not tied to this period at all: more than half of respondents (54%) only replace their old devices at this time if they are permanently broken.

Hidden treasures in drawers: what do we do with old gadgets?

But what happens to the devices that we replace because we want a new one or because they no longer meet our needs but are still functional? According to the survey, a significant proportion (54%) simply end up in a drawer or cupboard on the basis of “let’s put them away, they will be useful for something else”. Although more and more people are looking for conscious solutions – 18% already have their old devices credited to an electronics store, 19% sell them on online marketplaces, and 26% give them away – there is still a segment (6%) who simply throw them in the municipal waste, thereby seriously burdening the environment.

Mobile phones are particularly characterized by a long lifespan: only 2% replace their devices annually, while the vast majority (68%) use the same phone for 4-5 years or even longer. On the one hand, this indicates a commendable awareness, but on the other hand, it also means that many potentially valuable devices are taken out of use without being returned to the economic cycle.

Huge potential in trade-in and the refurbished products market

One of the most important lessons from the research is that although a significant portion of Hungarians (54%) still keep their unused devices, they are very open to change. 62% of those surveyed have heard of the possibility of trade-in, but have never used it – this represents a huge untapped opportunity. They would most like to bring mobile phones (56%), household appliances (49%), TVs or audio devices (47%), and laptops (42%) into stores in this way.

The attractiveness of the credit is indicated by the fact that 41% of respondents find this option particularly appealing, and another 35% would be open to it if they received a suitable discount on the price of the new device in return.