How I made $3,000 selling my used hockey gear + insider tips
Yep, that’s right! After listing 24 hockey-related items for sale, I sold 17 of them and made just under $3,000 in a single month. Truth be told, some of it was goalie equipment, as I play goalie full time, but I do skate out as well. This month I sold more player gear than goalie gear and it was a record month of sales for me on SidelineSwap.
One reason why this happened is because I followed the “give some to get some” rule. I offered shipping discounts, bundled pricing, and provided a few $15-off offers to help make sure the sale closed. Sometimes it’s okay to offer a discount to help get the item out of your garage and in the hands of the new buyer.
My most successful month of selling on SidelineSwap can be broken down to three important parts:
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List items out in bulk
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Be extremely descriptive
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Don’t be afraid to communicate
My gear and why I sold
I’m going on my third year of summer practices with the Dallas Stars. I skate an hour a day (4-5 days a week) at this level and I’m heavily experimenting with a lot of Pro Stock Equipment to find the right gear for fit and performance. Here's me at the Edmonton Oilers Alumni V the Dallas Stars Alumni game.
After accumulating multiple padded shirts/goalie pants to test protection and different break angles on goalie gloves, I decided it was time to clear out my bags and get the gear out of my garage. Not only was I doing this with my goalie gear but my player gear as well. At the end of the hockey season, here is what I decided to sell:
- For my goalie gear: My lighty-used True Catalyst PX3 Scott Wedgewood Pro Return Set, my own custom True one Piece skates, a 2018 CCM NHL Spec Chest Protector, and a refurbished Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic Glove.
- For my player gear: Some new Verbero padded shirts, a CCM Tacks Girdle, other models of slightly used CCM player pants, Warrior 14” Gloves and a unique pair of 14” HSC Gloves.
At the end of the month, all this came out to total sales of $2,992.82!
The Money-Making Process
Preparation is key
I looked over every piece of gear. With each item I chose to sell, I made sure everything was functional, had no visible cracks/rips and took extra effort to “air things out” to help reduce any leftover smell. Here's an article on how to check for wear and tear.
Pricing for profit
I began my research using SidelineSwap’s pricing guide on the listing page (you can play around with this feature here). I also took some time to search for similar items to see what other user’s have them listed at.
For example, I had sold a custom modified 2018 CCM NHL Spec Chest Protector that was not available at retail, but I knew it was very sought after. Brand new chest protectors usually retail between $600-700. Traditionally, used chest protectors sell between $200-300 depending on condition. With the modifications and rarity of my listing, creating a higher sense of value due to a unique item was the correct choice. I decided to list it above market value.
I’ve spent 12+ years in the hockey retail world and have gained some knowledge of the prices of used gear. However, you don’t need this knowledge to be successful. Just make sure your items are fairly and competitively priced. Feel free to check out my Instagram or YouTube channel to see just how much gear I’ve used, reviewed, designed, and collected.
After I priced my items, I made sure all of the listings were created and my Sideline locker was looking full. Then I used my own Instagram/Facebook stories to link my locker out to people who follow me.
Insider tips for selling your used hockey gear
Master the art of the sale
- Photos: SidelineSwap has an awesome feature where you can upload 12 photos for every listing and this has greatly helped with my success. I make sure that all of my listings have plenty of photos to show as many views as possible so the buyer knows exactly what the item looks like.
- Description: I take advantage of the description section inside the listings where I share my thoughts on the product for sale. I mention; did it fit me? How long did I wear it? Am I the original owner? Providing detailed photos and an accurate description of the item helps the buyer feel comfortable making a purchase.
- Converse: One of my favorite features on SidelineSwap is being able to directly message prospective buyers once they “favorite” one of my items. I always offer to answer any potential questions, share experiences, and will sometimes even offer a slightly lower price.
Keep communication lines open
- With the ‘make offer’ feature on SidelineSwap being so helpful, sometimes you do get potential buyers who will try to cut the price in half. They are really hoping for a deal. While it can be frustrating, I recommend keeping the communication lines open and letting them know about the condition of your item, why it’s priced as such, and give them other incentives such as dropping the item off the same day, a discount on shipping, or even negotiating a middle ground price.
Extra cash boosters
- Listing multiple items: One of my biggest secrets to success is listing multiple items in succession. This helps bring more attention to my locker. Often I have people favorite multiple items. If this is the case, you should ALWAYS offer to package items together to help save on shipping, tax, and even offer a bulk discount.
- Shipping discount: I offer a shipping discount when creating my listing. To me, it’s worth it to “discount” the shipping cost to help keep the cost down for the buyer. EX: If a pair of hockey gloves costs $12.99 to ship in the US, I will offer a $3 discount so the buyer pays $9.99. Everyone hates to pay for shipping, so the lower you can get that specific price, the higher chance buyers will act.
Let's get selling
For me, the entire process of cleaning out old gear is cathartic and super rewarding. Don’t worry if your gear might be too old or “not worth it”. There are thousands of players out there who are just starting out, buying for their kids, or on a budget. They are searching for the exact item you’re selling!
For those who are reading at home and have a bag of gear sitting out in their garage… I urge you to open it up, check the condition, and starting making some $$$ on SidelineSwap.