Did you know that, according to The Insider, selling is one of the primary ways to get rich quicker?
Of course, we’re talking about smart, systemized selling, but there are no restrictions on the legal items you can sell to make money.
If you’re an athlete, you must have at least one piece of sports equipment sitting somewhere in the corner of your house.
Instead of leaving it there, why not sell it to someone and make use of that money?
In this guide, we’ll show you how and where to sell used sports equipment.
- Why You Should Consider Selling Used Sports Equipment
- Problems With Selling Used Sports Equipment
- What You’ll Need to Sell Sports Equipment
- Where to Sell Used Sports Equipment
- How to Sell Used Sports Equipment: Step-By-Step Instructions
- Things to Consider When Selling Sports Equipment
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Similar Tutorials to Check Out
- Wrapping Up
Why You Should Consider Selling Used Sports Equipment
Old fitness equipment is often left somewhere in the attic to collect dust, but that doesn’t have to be the case with you.
Here’s what you gain when you sell sports equipment online:
- Extra Income: Selling your used sports gear may not be a primary source of income, but it can surely help you make some money while saving some valuable space at home. Also, you can make a business out of it if you’re dedicated enough.
- You Can Buy Newer Equipment: The money you make from selling your old sports gear can get you closer to buying the new ones you seek.
- You Help Someone Else: Not everyone is capable of going to a sports equipment store and buying new gear at full price. As such, selling sports equipment, especially in good condition, can make the lives of other athletes easier.
Problems With Selling Used Sports Equipment
Selling stuff is often good for the wallet, but there are a few inconveniences while selling used sports gear.
1. Quality Concerns
Buyers are often wary of used sports gear, as they question why you’re selling them.
That’s especially apparent with high-impact fitness gear, like baseball bats and boxing gloves. Buyers may think that such items are already deteriorated and may not be a good buy.
2. Underwhelming Prices
Since sports gear can deteriorate with usage, second-hand equipment may sell for a much lower price than intended.
Sellers sometimes end up overestimating the value of some gear and wonder why aren’t they landing a sale.
3. Shipping, Selling, and Listing Fees
Fees are highly variable, as they depend on the platform you use and how far your buyer is from you in case you’re the one paying for shipping.
As such, you should factor in all fees while setting the price to avoid losing money.
4. Inconsistent Demand
There are so many choices of sports equipment to sell and not all of them are in demand. Your sale may be delayed because whatever you’re selling isn’t currently sought after.
What You’ll Need to Sell Sports Equipment
Selling used sports equipment isn’t complicated; here’s what you’ll need to start:
- Inventory: Whether it’s gathering any old sports gear at home or buying them for a low price to sell them for a higher one, you’ll need something to sell.
- A Platform to Use: We’ll list four platforms in the next section that you can use to sell your sports equipment. However, those are but a few among many. Make sure to check the listing, shipping, and selling fees to see which platform suits you more.
- A Pricing Strategy: You need to do some research to understand the average price of the equipment you have to sell. To succeed, you should fairly adjust the price while factoring in the condition of your item and its mean price on the market.
Where to Sell Used Sports Equipment
Here are some of the best places to sell used sports equipment online:
1. SidelineSwap
Operating under the motto “where athletes buy and sell their gear,” SidelineSwap is one of the most popular options for selling used sports equipment.
Listing your gear on SidelineSwap is one of the quickest ways to get a sale. That’s because the process is as easy as it gets, plus, SidelineSwap automatically tags your item in its appropriate category.
What’s great about SidelineSwap, besides its popularity, is the shipping fees. As a seller, you won’t have to bother with those at all since the buyer is the one who pays.
- Fees/Commission: 12% seller fee for the first five sales, then a 9% fee for all the following sales using the same account.
- Payment Methods: Debit or credit cards and available account funds.
2. Facebook Marketplace
The Facebook Marketplace is arguably the most popular platform to sell anything, and sports equipment (new or old) is no exception. All you have to do is take a picture, list your items for free, write a description, and wait for a potential buyer.
The best thing about Facebook Marketplace is the exposure; there’s no platform that has so many users every single day. Also, you don’t pay any hidden fees.
- Fees/Commission: You’ll either pay a 5% fee per shipment or a $0.40 flat fee if your shipment costs less than $8.
- Payment Methods: Credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal accounts.
3. Mercari
Mercari often goes under the radar because, despite being popular, it’s not as popular as major marketplaces like Facebook and eBay. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less useful.
Selling on Mercari is convenient even for those who are beginners to the online selling game. Not only is the listing easy and free, but Mercari even gives you the recommended price range for your item, which prevents improper pricing that could delay the sale.
What makes Mercari a great option is its selling fee, which is by far the lowest at only 10% per sale.
- Fees/Commission: 10% per sale + 2.9% payment processing fee.
- Payment Methods: Credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
4. eBay
eBay is where almost anyone can sell almost anything. If you’re looking to sell used sports equipment online, eBay can be a great place to start.
Much like Facebook Marketplace, all you need to do is to list your product. Listing is free for up to 150 products per month. If you exceed that number, you’ll have to pay a fee per listed product.
eBay’s greatness as a platform comes from its popularity. It rivals Facebook’s marketplace regarding exposure, and if your prices are fair, you’re guaranteed to sell.
- Fees/Commission: According to the official page, eBay charges a 13.5% fee from the final sale plus a fixed rate of $0.30 per order.
- Payment Methods: Credit and debit cards, Google and Apple Pay, and payment upon pickup.
How to Sell Used Sports Equipment: Step-By-Step Instructions
While selling sports gear can be done in a variety of ways, there are basic fundamentals for the process. Keep in mind that the following steps are for selling online only, as local meet-and-sell processes are straightforward.
Step One: Write Down Your Goal
Are you just selling your old sports equipment, or are you trying to make a business out of it? If you just have a few items you want to get rid of, then you may skip the research part (step 3) and go for any marketplace.
However, if you want to make some decent income there, you’ll need to find a way to get the used items for the lowest possible price and then sell them for a higher one.
Step Two: Fetch What You’ll Sell
If you already have the sports equipment, then you’re good to go. If you’re intending to buy and sell, then you’ll have to seek items to fill up your inventory.
Look around for unwanted sporting goods in local pawn shops. These pawn shops often sell gear for a decently low price.
Step Three: Do Some Research and Find a Suitable Platform
Now that you have your items to sell, you should find a platform that maximizes your earnings. There are various hidden fees on selling platforms, like processing, listing, shipping, and transaction fees.
As such, make sure to check the terms and conditions of each platform accordingly. Also, you may have to compensate. For example, you may go for SidelineSwap over Mercari, despite the higher fee, just because it’s solely dedicated to sports equipment.
Think of it like this: Are you more likely to visit Walmart’s small section of diving gear than a store dedicated to diving gear?
The same concept applies here. If you advertise sports equipment on a website made for that specific type of equipment, you’re a lot more likely to sell.
Step Four: List Your Used Sports Equipment
Once you decide on a platform, it’s time to understand how that platform works. There are some slight variations, but the concept is the same.
Take a picture, write a detailed description, include hashtags if applicable, set a price, and then wait for potential buyers.
Step Five: Adapt Your Price According to the Waiting Time
You may skip this step if you know what you’re doing, but most new buyers tend to lack the “sense” of proper pricing. You may mistakenly price your item too high for it to sell or too low for you to profit.
You must study the market of whatever you’re selling to adjust accordingly. Further, you should know the mean price of the item you’re selling on that specific platform and adjust the price as needed.
Some platforms, like Mercari, have a smart pricing system that allows you to automatically reduce the price up to a certain limit. This eases the process of manually having to adjust the price.
Things to Consider When Selling Sports Equipment
Here are a few things to keep in mind while selling:
- Equipment Maintenance: Even used sports gear need to look at their best when you sell them. Make a habit of cleaning and mending any issues with your equipment before selling, as this will increase your chances of getting a potential buyer.
- Honesty: It’s not uncommon for sports equipment to have some wear and tear. Don’t try to hide these while taking pictures. A customer who gets surprised with a defect can give a bad review or ask for a refund (depending on the platform policy.) In contrast, honesty about defects will give you a lot of credibility.
- Ride the Tide: To maximize your gains, you have to notice how some items sell more than others, especially during various times of the year. Keep an eye out for the “seasons” of different categories, and stock your inventory with the popular item when its season comes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Profitable to Sell Used Sports Equipment Online?
This largely depends on the type of equipment you’re selling and the dedication you put into the matter.
For example, if you settle for selling minor gear like baseball bats and gloves, you won’t be making much.
In contrast, selling treadmills, bikes, and racing helmets should yield a considerably larger income.
What Are the Most Profitable Sports Gear to Sell?
While anything can sell, racing bikes, rowing machines, and treadmills have the highest resale values. Racing suits, golf clubs, and American football helmets follow up.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
If you’re into selling stuff but not willing to play the sports gear game, here are some other suggestions for you to try:
- Sell Laptops: If you have an eye for identifying high-spec laptops for low prices, why not make some decent income out of them? Electronics, if handled correctly, can yield a lot of profit.
- Sell Short Stories for Money: Do you have a creative mind and an engaging way of delivering your ideas? Selling short stories could do wonders for you.
- Sell Disney VHS tapes: If you have piles of old VHS tapes at home, you’d be glad to know that selling them can make some good money. VHS tapes are becoming a “classic” in the movie industry, and what better ones to sell than those Disney tapes we all had?
Wrapping Up
If you like to sell online, your used sports gear could bring in a decent sum of money. Whether you’re just making some extra funds or starting a business about it, it’s hard to go wrong while selling unwanted gear.
Take your time in finding a platform that works for you, understand all the fees and hidden payments, fetch items to sell, list them, and start making some money.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to share this article with someone who might benefit from it.
