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I've taken my share of hard knocks over the years about my enthusiasm for resale. Even when times are tough and people are looking for ways to save money, many of them still have a hard time considering resale opportunities. They just can't get past the fact that an item may have been used by someone else. What they may fail to realize though, is that many such items can provide significant savings that could allow them to avoid having to cut costs in other areas.
Not Turning My Nose Up
Many people don't realize the savings that buying resale provide either because they don't want people to know or suspect that they might be in a less than stellar financial situation or they have certain preconceived notions about what buying resale entails.
They're "grossed out" by the thought of someone else having used a product previously, they think resale shops are "dirty and bug ridden," that buying resale "just isn't worth it," or they have some other notion that turns them off. And I'll be the first to admit that in certain situations, they're right. That's why I'm willing to at least explore and find the right resale environments before turning my nose up at them in order to find the best opportunities. Not all resale sites were created equal, and it can take some time to sort out the good from the bad.
I've found that using options like resale or consignment shops in upscale neighborhoods, or that at least get a share of the items from such neighborhoods (since certain chain resale stores tend to split up the loot from larger cities) can offer up some great buys for very reasonable prices. Just the other day in fact, I found two pairs of name brand jeans in great condition for just $6 a pair, which in a retail setting would likely have cost me around $50 each.
Keep Options Open
There seems to be a growing number of resale options available these days. From garage sales, resale shops, and pawn shops, to all sorts of online purchase opportunities, resale options are varied and numerous.
Whether it's a brick-and-mortar shop or an online option, keeping an open mind and open eye when it comes to the ever-changing ways I can take advantage of resale opportunities can help me find the best deals out there. Just a decade ago, I wouldn't consider shopping in resale settings, now I have a variety of such options at my disposal and saving me money regularly.
Know Where to Find What
I typically wouldn't go to a pawn shop to look for resale clothing, but I normally wouldn't go to a charitable donation organization looking for luxury jewelry items either. Knowing where to go to find what you need can make the most of your resale buying.
Some resale shops specialize in certain things like clothing, books, music, antiques, collectibles, vintage items, and similar niche areas. Some online options, garage sales, auctions, pawn shops, and flea markets could be the wild-cards, providing an array of options when it comes to what's being sold and for how much.
Having a Plan for What I'm Buying
Just heading into a resale environment without some sort of a plan though could end up getting me into trouble. Sometimes I find that it's easy to get caught up in "great deals" that I really don't need, spending money that I really don't have to. This can negate the whole purpose of shopping resale in the first place.
Having an idea of what I need, what I'm looking for, and what I plan to do with it once I've found it can keep my resale shopping on track. Whether it's looking for gifts, a particular personal need, or for items that I might be able to resell at a profit in another setting, I've found that when I have a plan, my resale buying goes much smoother and that I waste less money on impulse buys.
Continue the Cycle
I like to continue the resale cycle. If something I've bought in a resale setting has come to the end of it's useful life for me, or if I'm moving, I tend to sell or donate such items (as long as they're still in useable condition) in order to continue the resale cycle. Not only does this provide the chance for someone else the opportunity to make use of and get a deal on the item, but it can provide me a secondary benefit through making money off of the item or being able to write off the donation on my annual income taxes.
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