There are a lot of stores out there where you can buy new hockey equipment. But, selling it can be slightly more complicated. And, it might be that time when you want that new stick, or there’s a sale on new skates, and you need to get rid of your old blades.
There are plenty of options for selling our hockey gear. You can sell use your local hockey shop if they work with used equipment. But, if this is not an option, you can take it to the internet. Facebook groups are a popular, easy choice since there are plenty of users on them. Then, there are large online marketplaces like Sideline Swap, Play it Again Sports, and eBay.
- Your local hockey shop
- Play It Again Sports
- Sideline Swap
- eBay
- Facebook/Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
Each of these has its pros and cons, and not all might be available where you live. This article provides all the tips you need to sell your hockey equipment safely and efficiently.
You can sell your gear at local hockey shops.
The first option you might want to consider is your local hockey shop. Some of them buy used equipment at a discount rate then sell it for a profit. One of the main benefits of using your local store is that you can leave your gear there instead of having it take up space at home.
On the other hand, there might not be local stores near you that buy used hockey gear. If this is the case, then there are other options, such as major chains and online stores. First, let’s talk about Play It Again Sports.
Play It Again Sports
Play It Again operates stores all over the US and Canada, so chances are there might be one where you live or nearby. They buy equipment in three steps.
First, you have to take the equipment to the store. There’s no need to make an appointment. Once there, staff will inspect your equipment and make you an offer depending on its condition.
One of the advantages of Play It Again Sports is that they will pay you immediately if they take your gear. A disadvantage is that if they choose not to buy it, you’ll have to drive back home with all of it in the back of your car. Plus, there are no defined guidelines as to how much they will offer you.
Because Play It Again Sports has locations all over the US, it also tends to markets where hockey isn’t popular. If you live in these areas, you might have a hard time selling your gear.
Sideline Swap
Sideline Swap is one of the most popular sites for selling used hockey gear. The benefit of this website is that you don’t need to visit a store. You simply upload the information on the store’s app and wait for a buyer.
To be able to sell, you must upload equipment information, pictures and be a member. There’s no charge for memberships.
Other advantages include free shipping for the seller, plus possible assistance with flawed transactions. Buyers also must pay for the orders upfront, then the money goes to your Sideline Swap membership.
The disadvantage is that Sideline Swap takes away a percentage as commission and processing fee, which can be up to 15%.
eBay
One of the most famous online markets is eBay, where you can buy and sell pretty much everything. All you need to do is set up an account, upload pictures, set a price, and wait for possible buyers.
Given its size, the chances of finding a buyer are relatively high. But, there is also a lot of sellers, so it’s a competitive place.
eBay also works with auctions. If you believe that your gear will fetch a high price, you can pin buyers against each other to increase the final selling price. But, this doesn’t happen all the time.
Perhaps, eBay’s main disadvantage is that you have to coordinate the product delivery through the US Postal Service or the local postal authority, which might seem like a hassle. Plus, you have to pay 10% of the final transaction value.
As a seller, you have two choices when it comes to shipping. You can charge the item you’re selling plus shipping or offer free shipping and roll that cost into the price.
Facebook/Facebook Marketplace
Facebook is an excellent alternative for selling your hockey gear. You can either join hockey groups and promote your products there or be a part of Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace has many advantages. First, it’s effortless. All you need to do is enter the marketplace icon, tap the “sell” button, enter the description, price and images, then confirm your location. That’s it! And it’s completely free.
If you’re a merchant on Facebook Marketplace, you must pay a 5% fee on all transactions, with a minimum charge of $0.40.
While not only intended for selling, Facebook groups are also great to promote your gear. First of all, these groups have a particular interest, in this case, hockey. So, not only you have more chances of selling your stuff, you can create a community for future transactions.
But, also, these groups help with word of mouth. The members might not need the product, but an acquaintance might.
The main disadvantage is that you have to create an individual listing for each item you’re selling.
So, if you have 10 pairs of gloves to sell, you must create ten listings. Also, you must deliver the items within 10 days of the sale.
There are no rules about negotiating. So, if you’re good at it, go ahead. But Facebook will not help you once you agree on a price.
Amazon
Even though it’s the most significant online marketplace, we’ve placed Amazon near the bottom of this list. For an individual seller, it might be difficult to start selling.
There are a lot of conditions that apply to individual sellers. These include the quality of what you’re selling and the price. Also, the fees and commissions are high. The minimum selling fee is USD 0.99 per unit sold, with additional charges.
If you add this to the fact that there is a lot of new hockey gear on Amazon, and discounts are frequent, selling your stuff on this platform might be too complicated for the small perceived profit.
One of the most vital advantages is that Amazon has many established procedures to guarantee the safest selling process.
Craigslist
Craigslist is probably the least recommended. There’s very little control as to who is the seller and the buyer, so you’re basically left to your own devices.
An advantage to the platform is that it’s free. Since it works as an endless bulletin board with millions of classified ads, there’s no commission.
One of Craigslist’s biggest drawbacks is that the website doesn’t offer any kind of warranty. You must meet negotiate with the possible buyer, then meet them and collect the agreed amount. If the sale doesn’t come to fruition, the website will not help you.
These are some of the main options for selling your hockey gear online. Countries like Canada have local versions of digital marketplaces, like Kijiji, with their specific selling conditions. Be sure to inspect all the terms before you commit to making an online sale.
Another source of information on where to sell your hockey equipment is going on forums. Places like Reddit have large hockey communities with people from all over the world. Don’t be afraid to ask around if you feel you’re a bit lost with making your first online sale.
As you can see, there are many options out there if you want to start selling your gear. These options are great for those with kids, as they outgrow their equipment quickly.
With this article, we sought to help you find the best place for you to sell your hockey equipment. Making that first sale can be overwhelming, but you’ll see that it’s easier once you get the hang of it.