Consumer finance expert Jasmine Birtles has identified a pattern of regret among British shoppers buying products on Facebook Marketplace, with walking pads, VR headsets, portable projectors, giant tumblers, and home gym kits frequently appearing in second-hand listings.
Birtles said many purchases are driven by an 'aspirational version of life' rather than genuine need, often fueled by social media trends. “People want to improve their lives, get healthier, be more organised or make their homes feel nicer,” she explained. “But social media is incredibly powerful at making us believe one product will suddenly transform our routines — and very often that simply doesn’t happen.”
Home fitness equipment is a major resale category, especially after New Year or summer fitness pushes. Walking pads, foldable treadmills, exercise bikes, and compact home gyms are common. Birtles noted that if gear is “awkward to set up or difficult to fit into everyday life, it quickly becomes an expensive clothes rail.”
VR headsets also rank high for regret, with buyers losing interest after a few weeks or citing motion sickness and space requirements. “VR is one of those technologies people absolutely love in theory,” Birtles said. “But the reality is you need space, time and genuine enthusiasm to use it regularly.” Rapid tech upgrades also cause values to drop quickly.
Portable projectors, popular due to ‘home cinema’ videos, often disappoint with poor brightness and sound. Birtles advised that serious buyers should save for premium brands like Epson. Other regretted items include oversized tumblers, countertop ice machines, and niche kitchen appliances such as bread makers and automatic cocktail machines.
Birtles urged consumers to question whether a product fits their existing lifestyle or appeals only during a temporary phase: “Shopping has become entertainment now. We’re constantly shown videos of beautifully organised homes, perfect routines and gadgets that supposedly solve every problem. But most people don’t suddenly become different people because they bought a walking pad or a mini projector.”
