We present a qualitative study of reacquisition-the acquisition of previously possessed goods-involving in-depth interviews with 18 reacquirers within or nearby Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Based on critiques of sustainable consumption and our findings, we reframe technology consumption as acquisition, possession, dispossession and reacquisition. We present four reacquisition orientations describing our participants' motivations and practices: casual, necessary, critical, and experiential. We then present a range of findings including issues with work, time and effort involved in reacquisition, and values and practices of care and patience associated with invested reacquirers. We conclude with implications for designing technologies to support current reacquisition practices, as well as broader opportunities for HCI and interaction design to incorporate non-mainstream reacquisition practices and values into more mainstream technologies.

1. Second-Hand Interactions
Investigating Reaquisition & Dispossession
Practices around Domestic Objects
James Pierce & Eric Paulos
Carnegie Mellon University, HCII
Living Environments Lab

3. How can we design to support sustainable
second-hand consumption practices?

4. What can we learn from second-hand consumers
about “sustainable consumption” ?

5. Consumption
Acquisition | Possession | Dispossesion | Reacquisition

6. Study & Methods

7. Study & Methods
Observation at local second-hand sites (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Thrift stores
Vintage stores
Flea markets
Estate sales
Yard sales
Building material re-use
Trash and things left on the street

8. Study & Methods
18 In-Depth interviews with reacquirers

9. Findings

10. Findings
4 Reacquisition orientations
1. Casual
2. Necessary
3. Critical
4. Experiential

11. Findings
4 Reacquisition orientations
1. Casual
2. Necessary
3. Critical
Invested reacquirers
4. Experiential

12. Casual Reacquisition

13. Findings
Casual reacquisition | A cheaper alternative

14. Findings
Casual reacquisition | A cheaper alternative
Kristy, 20-something, dog walker
“Sometimes I don’t have a lot of patience
for [shopping at thrift stores]. ... If you
don’t have a lot of free time or if you’re
not feeling patient that day, [thrift stores
are] not the best.”

15. Necessary Reacquisition

16. Findings
Necessary reacquisition | A financial necessity
Joan, 30-something, unemployed

17. “I really don’t go out to go shopping unless I
really need it, and I don’t. ... It’s just not as
good. ... It’s a stressful, terrible thing. Then it
was, you know, it was really cool...”

18. {invested reacquirers: part I}
Critical Reacquisition

19. Findings
Critical reacquisition | Reacquisition as a reflective and political practice
John, 30-something, self-employed sound engineer

20. Findings
Critical reacquisition | Reacquisition as a reflective and political practice
John, 30-something, self-employed sound engineer
[resisting “retail therapy”]

21. [“making things”]

22. [“give-away piles”]

23. {invested reacquirers: part II}
Experiential Reacquisition

24. Findings
Experiential reacquisition | Skill, satisfaction & discovery

25. Findings
Experiential reacquisition | Skill, satisfaction & discovery
Tanya, 30-something, skilled amateur interior designer and remodeler

26. “eBay is... it’s too much work almost.
... The experience of looking through
page after page after page, It’s not as
satisfying as going to the flea market
and handling them.”

27. “I mean, where’s the satisfaction in
typing in, ‘I want a blue—I want a
turquoise blue vintage ashtray with
a dolphin’, and three of them pop up.
Is there any satisfaction in that?”

28. “[At flea markets] You might have to
go for two years and finally, when you
find that blue vintage ash tray with
dolphins... when you find it you feel
like, ‘I got it.’ ”

29. “work is underrated ”