An Airbus A340-500 Prestige had been listed for sale on Dubizzle earlier this month. Silvia Razgova / The National
An Airbus A340-500 Prestige had been listed for sale on Dubizzle earlier this month. Silvia Razgova / The National

We are what we buy



Dubizzle's list of the most searched-for items this year provides a snapshot of the population of this country. As The National reported yesterday, the classifieds website says that the most popular second-hand items were Rolex watches, furniture and relatively expensive tech brands.

The fact that Rolex watches were the most popular and that brands like Apple, Bose, Samsung, Canon and Nikon came high on the list indicates that we’re a brand-sensitive society. People like to use quality and prestigious products. If we can’t afford high-end luxury accessories, we look for the same items at discounted prices online.

We are also a highly transient society – a large percentage of the population looks for second-hand furniture probably because they know that they will be moving again in the near future. Such simple data reveals a lot about us.

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.