Lots of folks are turned off by the materialism that can creep into the holidays. We’re talking about more than money. The issue is excess.
Play It Again Sports, a new store just north of Glenbrook Square on Coldwater Road, helps people tackle their piles of stuff while putting a few extra dollars in their pockets.
The franchise is one of 400 stores that buy customers’ used sporting and fitness equipment. Parents can trade in outgrown ice skates, soccer cleats and bicycles for the right size to fit their growing athletes.
The store pays cash for items valued at less than $20 and writes a check for higher-value items. Anyone who chooses store credit instead gets a 10 percent bonus, making a $50 credit worth $55 toward merchandise.
Buying used lets parents wait to see if a child really enjoys a sport before investing in expensive new equipment.
Speaking of new, franchisee Ashok Dyal Chand said about 60 percent of his inventory is new. That’s a change from the Play It Again Sports store that closed locally a few years ago, he said. But it’s the used items that help him constantly update the inventory.
“That’s what keeps the store looking fresh,” he said. “Everybody sells new. Nobody else sells used.”
This seems like an interesting option for folks looking to save some money … and for those looking to save the Earth from more clutter.
