Sideline Side Hustle: How To Cash in Reselling Your Used Hockey Goalie Gear.
We all know that hockey is one of the most expensive sports (just the pads, glove and blocker can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500!). Reselling used gear has become just as important as buying new gear. It doesn’t matter if you’re the parent of a growing hockey player, an ex-professional athlete, or just a casual men’s league player; selling your used gear on SidelineSwap can help you recoup some of the money you need to keep playing the game.
I'll take you step by step of how to resell your used hockey gear. Let’s get started.
Take inventory of your old equipment
Have you ever heard the old saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” I firmly believe that most hockey equipment holds its value very well and that SidelineSwap can help you find that perfect buyer. It may be a pair of Bauer Skates you used for half a year, or an older pair of Hockey Socks that aren’t in production anymore, there’s always something for someone. At the end of a season, I always check my hockey bag and see what can be sold. This can range from sticks, chest protectors, a full set of goalie gear, or even team issues laundry bags.
Sold by @chrisxdudo on SidelineSwap
Check for wear and tear.
When it comes time to value used gear, I always recommend looking at every piece of gear to check for rips, tears, puck marks, and even smell. For example; if you’re listing goalie skates, make sure you check the tag to ensure you’re listing the correct skate size (not just shoe size), see if the steel has any rust or blown edges, and of course check the toe cap to see if it has any wear.
- HELMET: Check certification stickers, and look for paint chips or cracks along the chin.
- NECK GUARD: Ensure the velcro and straps all work.
- CHEST PROTECTOR: Make sure the plastic buckles aren’t broken, all straps work and there are no rips in the material.
- GOALIE PANTS: Check the inside of the legs for any frayed material and the suspender rivets for any rusting.
- STICK: Untape the stick and look for cracks along the heel of the blade.
- KNEE PADS: Ensure the velcro and straps all work.
- PADS: Look for wear on the top and bottom bindings and sliding surfaces. Check all straps to make sure they work.
- GLOVE: Check for wear on the edges of the cuff and heel of the glove. Also ensure none of the laces are ripped or broken.
- BLOCKER: Look for wear on the edges of the blocker board and for holes in the palm.
- JOCK OR JILL: Ensure the velcro and straps all work.
Snap photos of your gear & set your price.
Once you have visually inspected every piece of gear you have for sale, it’s now time to take photos. SidelineSwap allows 12 photos per listing and I recommend uploading as many as you can. This way, the potential seller can visualize and learn about the gear you have for sale. For example:
Pads:
- Front of pads (set)
- Back leg channel of pads
- Inside sliding edge of both pads
- Outer gusset of both pads
Blocker:
- Face/Sidewall of Blocker at 30 degree angle
- Back of blocker including the palm
- Any wear on the blocker palm itself
- Wrist opening on the blocker
Glove:
- Front of glove
- Back of Glove including wrist opening
- Any wear on the heel of the glove from stickhandling
- The glove closure.
Create the Listing
As you are creating a listing on SidelineSwap, pay special attention to the correct category and required fields. Make sure you’re familiar with the model, size, color, and brand. Yes, you have to fill out these items in the drop down boxes, but make sure you type it out in the description below as well It never hurts to include more information about the item you’re selling. Ask yourself, if you’re shopping for a used item, what questions would you like answered? Example: How long was it used, what are the exact colors, how did they fit, did you like them? Typing all of this out in the description field will create trust and transparency with the potential buyer.
SidelineSwap has a builtin value guide that helps you come up with a price for your gear. Remember, this data can be used as a guideline if you did not do the research beforehand.
Communicate with potential buyers
Once your listing is up and people can view your gear for sale, it’s now time to ensure that you are communicating with potential buyers. Once your gear receives a “Favorite” from a potential buyer it will show in your inbox under the “Send Private Offers” section. You can view who “Favorited” your gear and even send them an offer to help incentivize the buyer to purchase your item. I like to utilize this feature. Feel free to send an offer for $20 less to see if they will buy it right away.
You’ve sold your item, now what?
Congratulations on your item selling! There are a few more steps to get the money back in your pocket. First, let’s make sure you get the receipt printed and your item properly packaged. While hockey gear can be put into a box, it’s important to ensure the box is large enough to accommodate the gear so it’s not jammed into the box.
If you do not have a box lying around and need to purchase one locally, don’t worry because the packing slip will show recommended dimensional weights and expected weights of the box. Make sure to look at the top of your packing slip to verify. Finally, drop the box off at the postal or respecting shipping service and let the buyer know their item is being dropped off. It’s important to communicate with the buyer throughout the process.
After 72 hours of delivery, the funds will automatically be released to you. I recommend communicating with the buyer and letting them know their purchase has arrived. I find a simple message asking the buyer what they think of the item will help get the sale completed.
Shop for something else?!
My favorite part about selling on SidelineSwap is the ability to keep the money in my “account” in case I see a new item that I’d like to purchase right away… I nicknamed this the “Gear Bank Account”. Of course, if you would like to get the money from the sale right back into your pocket, SidelineSwap has many ways to get the money into your own bank account (or even Venmo) as fast as possible.
Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.No matter the condition of your old item, there may be someone out there who could make good use of it. Take the time to open your bag this off-season and sell some used gear. It could end up in the bag of someone else who can enjoy the gear as much as you did!
