The secondary luxury market is a recent phenomenon attributed to changing consumer beliefs that influence their consumption process. The purpose of this study was to explain consumption behaviors of secondary luxury consumers by investigating secondary consumer beliefs and purchase intention, specifically in the context of online shopping. An online survey was created in Qualtrics to collect data. After a preliminary analysis, structural equation modeling was used to conduct a confirmatory factory analysis and to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings revealed that all consumer beliefs, including environmental, frugality, online retailing, and fashion consciousness, positively influenced consumers’ attitudes and subsequent purchase intention for second-hand luxury items from online secondary luxury retailers. This study added to the literature by utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior framework and incorporating the secondary luxury consumer beliefs. Ultimately, the researchers were able to better understand this online secondary luxury consumer and what influences the consumer to purchase secondary luxury goods from online retailers such as The RealReal.

The rapid rise of fashion resale platforms has created new pathways for sustainable consumption, yet little research has compared how different governance models, company-controlled versus seller-controlled, shape consumer trust and purchasing behavior. This study addresses that gap by applying the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to examine how information precision, authenticity, and risk aversion influence consumer trust and purchase intention within circular fashion markets. Drawing on an experimental design with 524 U.S. consumers randomly assigned to each platform type, multi-group structural equation modeling reveals that the three stimuli significantly enhance trust, which in turn drives purchase intention. Risk aversion exerted stronger effects in company-controlled contexts, whereas trust translated more directly into purchase intention on seller-controlled platforms. Theoretically, the research extends SOR applications to sustainability by identifying trust as the psychological bridge linking platform design to circular consumption. Practically, it offers actionable guidance for brands and peer-to-peer platforms on authentication, information transparency, and risk-reduction strategies that strengthen consumer confidence and promote environmentally responsible resale participation. The findings advance understanding of how governance structures can accelerate sustainable fashion retailing and contribute to the circular economy.