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Business At Resale Store 'Play It Again Sports' Booms In Current Economy

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — In today's economy, resale stores are becoming more popular.

Angelica Hernandez went to Play It Again Sports in Pasadena looking for a new pair of cleats for her son, Ruben.

But the pair she bought was lightly used, which saved her a lot of money.

"I saved about 70 percent off new cleats, which he's only going to use for a short period of time and then he's not going to use them anymore, so it's good!" Hernandez said.

Play It Again Sports will be opening at least five more independently owned and operated stores under different names in the San Gabriel Valley.

The stores sell everything from women's to children's clothing and accessories to musical instruments and sports gear.

"We take most things that people bring in. It's not going to be everything. Anything we think we can sell, we'll pay for it," owner and operator of the Pasadena store on Colorado Blvd. Dan Buxton said.

Customers can also trade in used items for new ones.

"We tend to price our used equipment, if it's in good condition, about half of what a similar item would be new," Buxton said.

Regular customer Antonio Zate traded in two used baseball bats for a new one for his 13-year-old son.

"Being able to trade it in and going to a place you know is going to give you a fair value right away and also have newer items that you're going to be looking for with the trade-in is really convenient," Zate said.

In the United States alone, resale items can bring in up to $13 billion a year, according to industry insiders.

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