Buying and selling of used goods is something that has been done for centuries. Throughout the last 20 years, rapid growth of second-hand products consumption has got the attention of researchers and raised the question why customers buy second-hand products. The growth of the Internet has developed different applications, and this combined with the introduction of new electronic devices, provides users with buying and selling facilities of goods over the Internet and mobile devices. The uses of social networks and smart-phones have also revolutionized the second-hand product market among all economic classes. The consumption of second-hand products is increasing daily. Therefore it is important to pay attention to the factors that affect the purchase of second-hand products since it is not a simple form of mercantilism. It's a lifestyle, a way to acquire goods that we need and get rid of those that we do not see as useful anymore. The purpose of this study is to create new knowledge in the area of second-hand products consumption and customer buying behavior by identifying factors that influence the customer in buying second-hand products. In order to fulfill the research purpose, a quantitative research approach and cross sectional research design were adopted. Questionnaires were designed using Google survey tool and through this method 169 questionnaires were collected from respondents. After which, SPSS was used to perform the required tests of descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, bivariate correlation, single item measurement and multiple regression analysis. It was observed that price was the most important factor influencing customers when purchasing second-hand products; risk is the second most influencing factor and brand is the third and location come last as most influencing factor.  The results show that the factors such as brand, price and purchase intention of second-hand products have no association and influence on each other during the purchase decision. In contrast, risk and location factors have a weak association with each other but both factors lack association with brand, price and intention. This study contributes to the existing literature on second-hand products consumption and customer buying behavior as well as touching upon theories of brand, price, risk, and seller location.

A implantação de uma rede de Logística Reversa (LR) é fundamental em modelos de negócio Sistema Produto-Serviço (PSS) para o retorno, recuperação e maximização da vida útil de peças e componentes. Ambos os sistemas, LR e PSS, necessitam ser projetados a partir da perspectiva do consumidor para serem bem-sucedidos, pois o envolvimento prévio com o usuário possibilita o desenvolvimento de soluções especificas que atendem às suas demandas. Porém, há uma escassez de estudos que destacam as atividades de LR em um contexto de PSS, assim como o papel e a relevância do usuário. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa busca compreender as necessidades do usuário na LR em um PSS, considerando como produto de análise o equipamento eletromédico bomba de infusão. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo de caso inicial com uma empresa que manufatura e comercializa dispositivos médicos no Brasil. Além disso, múltiplos estudos de caso foram realizados em organizações da área da saúde para a coleta in loco de necessidades relacionadas ao contexto de uso e retorno do equipamento. Como resultado, identificou-se quatro serviços que envolvem atividades de LR no modelo de negócio PSS. Vinte e cinco problemas que interferem diretamente e indiretamente a LR foram analisados para o entendimento em profundidade das necessidades dos usuários. O estudo ainda apresenta quais são os principais desafios e dificuldades de um fornecedor de PSS para operacionalizar a LR. Os resultados indicam que a ausência de agilidade no processo de retorno do produto pode propiciar situações críticas internas ao hospital referente à falta de equipamentos. A realização do inventário de equipamentos ao término do contrato de PSS pode gerar situações estressantes para todos os stakeholders envolvidos no processo. / The implementation of a Reverse Logistics network (RL) is important in Product-Service Systems (PSS) business model for returning, recovering and maximizing the life span of parts and components. Both systems, RL and PSS, need to be designed from the perspective of the consumer to be successful because the prior involvement with users seeks to achieve better solutions to satisfy their specific demands. However, there is a lack of studies that highlight RL activities in a PSS context, as well as the role and relevance of users. In this sense, this research aims to understand users\' needs in reverse logistics in a PSS, considering as main product the electromedical infusion pump. For this, I conducted a case study with a company that manufactures and markets medical devices throughout Brazil. In addition, five other case studies were carried out in health organizations for in situ collection of needs related to the context of use and return of the equipment. As a result, four services involving RL activities were identified in the PSS business model. Also, twenty-five problems that directly and indirectly interfere the operation of RL were analyzed for an in-depth understanding of users\' needs. The study further presents the main challenges and difficulties of a PSS provider to operationalize the LR. The results indicate that the absence of agility in the LR process can lead to critical situations inside the hospital regarding the lack of equipment. The inventory of equipment at the end of the PSS contract can generate stressful situations for all stakeholders involved in the process.

The informal sector is described as groups of persons who act in parallel to official waste management systems without official authorisation. Such informal activities can result in risks as well as benefits both to the environment and involved stakeholders, which explains the continuing lively discussions in politics, science and society. Transhipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are increasingly focused in Germany. In addition to informal exports via the port of Hamburg to countries such as China, Ghana or Nigeria, informal transports to Eastern European countries have been recognised for decades. This paper describes investigations regarding the characteristics, transhipped amounts as well as the eco-efficiency of informal sector activities originating from Eastern European countries, while thereby highlighting transhipments of used appliances to destination countries and a corresponding sale for reuse. Investigations reveal that a majority of informal collectors originate from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania and are recognised across Germany. A high WEEE specialisation was determined, whereby average annual transhipped amounts are estimated at 77,000 tons. Collected materials are transhipped and partially sold for reuse. A case study considers the example of Polish informal collectors. The ratio between economic and environmental performance reveal that informal sector reuse activities in Poland achieve a higher environmentally sound performance in comparison to further usage of appliances under consideration. The informal collection of a television in Germany (and subsequent reuse in Poland) causes 8.34 kg less specific CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€) than the production, usage and further use in Poland. Conversely, a further use of a television in Germany only results in 2.2 kg less CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€). These results demonstrate that reuse as a result of informal sector activities can have a positive effect. Future electrical and electronic products available for reuse will have lower energy consumptions. A positive contribution to resource protection is thereby achieved while extending already short life cycles. Taking into account a dependency on collections with respect to their income, a pure ban of informal sector activities would therefore be socially counterproductive. A structured and controlled accomplishment of informal collection processes would open up new opportunities to enlarge the (already existing) concept of reuse at an international level.

The informal sector is described as groups of persons who act in parallel to official waste management systems without official authorisation. Such informal activities can result in risks as well as benefits both to the environment and involved stakeholders, which explains the continuing lively discussions in politics, science and society. Transhipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are increasingly focused in Germany. In addition to informal exports via the port of Hamburg to countries such as China, Ghana or Nigeria, informal transports to Eastern European countries have been recognised for decades. This paper describes investigations regarding the characteristics, transhipped amounts as well as the eco-efficiency of informal sector activities originating from Eastern European countries, while thereby highlighting transhipments of used appliances to destination countries and a corresponding sale for reuse. Investigations reveal that a majority of informal collectors originate from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania and are recognised across Germany. A high WEEE specialisation was determined, whereby average annual transhipped amounts are estimated at 77,000 tons. Collected materials are transhipped and partially sold for reuse. A case study considers the example of Polish informal collectors. The ratio between economic and environmental performance reveal that informal sector reuse activities in Poland achieve a higher environmentally sound performance in comparison to further usage of appliances under consideration. The informal collection of a television in Germany (and subsequent reuse in Poland) causes 8.34 kg less specific CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€) than the production, usage and further use in Poland. Conversely, a further use of a television in Germany only results in 2.2 kg less CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€). These results demonstrate that reuse as a result of informal sector activities can have a positive effect. Future electrical and electronic products available for reuse will have lower energy consumptions. A positive contribution to resource protection is thereby achieved while extending already short life cycles. Taking into account a dependency on collections with respect to their income, a pure ban of informal sector activities would therefore be socially counterproductive. A structured and controlled accomplishment of informal collection processes would open up new opportunities to enlarge the (already existing) concept of reuse at an international level.