Desperate Retailers Offer to Buy Used Goods in Cash for Clunkers Spin

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

MARK GLOVER
McClatchy News
It sounds surreal, but it's true: Private industry is rushing to adopt the marketing strategy of the federal government.

Companies of all stripes are now putting their own spin on the government's ``cash for clunkers'' program, offering trade-in deals on furniture, computers, appliances, hearing aids and just about every other item that can be sold.

Their motivation is simple -- the possibility of big sales in short order. ``Cash for clunkers'' generated about 700,000 new car sales during its run from July 27 to Aug. 24 and had thousands across the nation ready to exchange their old clunker for a shiny new car and a less overwhelming debt.

Page through any newspaper or surf the Web. It's hard to miss the replicated theme in ad after ad. It is all over the media. A simple Google search of ``cash for'' possibilities turned up scores of clunker promotions being offered by businesses from coast to coast.

The clunker mimics included: ``cash for laptops, cash for cells, cash for couches'' and even ``cash for appliances.''

Hollywood Eyes recently held a ``cash for clunker eyeglasses'' trade-in. People were able to get $25 off a new pair of glasses if they donated their old ones. The store is giving their specs to a local Lions Club, which refurbishes and distributes them to needy Central Americans.

``Even if people don't come in the store, they look at our clunker sign in the window and laugh,'' said manager Daniella Bonilla. ``People are happy to get any kind of discounts these days.''

The national Sephora beauty store chain also had a two-week ``cash for beauty clunkers'' event, giving customers $10 off a purchase of $50 or more if they brought in five old items.

"A lot of people took advantage of it,'' said Krystal Killion, one of the managers at Sephora in Fort Lauderdale's Galleria Mall. The clunker cosmetics ``went to the junkyard,'' she said, ``just like the clunker cars did.''

HANDBAG TRADE-IN

Dillard's also recently held a Handbag and Watch Trade-In Event. Through Nov. 1, lightly used, clean handbags, wallets and watches were being exchanged for store discounts, which ranged from $15 to $50 depending on the value of the donated item. The collected items were donated to local charities.

Babies R Us and Men's Wearhouse also recently offered similar promotions.

Jumping on the ``cash for clunkers'' bandwagon is a smart move, according to some analysts.

"It's a cool new marketing strategy, and ``cash for clunkers'' worked. This is a great strategy for getting people's attention,'' said Mike Gatti, executive director of the Washington-based Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a division of the National Retail Federation.

Gatti said the enormous publicity generated by ``cash for clunkers'' works to the advantage of companies offering clunker-like programs.

CASH FOR GOLD

But in truth, there are already South Florida businesses willing to buy or even consign used items for store credit or cash on the spot.

Across from the Dillard's store at the Miami International Mall, signs at CR Jewelers announces it's willing to ``buy your gold and diamonds.'' The price offered depends on the purity of the gold or diamonds.

``If gold is broken, dirty or in poor condition, it does not matter because the jewelry will be melted,'' said Donald Weinburg, an employee. ``Broken jewelry is just as good as new.''

CR Jewelers uses its ``cash for gold'' program to draw in new shoppers and build relationships with customers, according to Weinburg.

``With the economic situation as it is, people find themselves short on money for necessities like rent and utility bills,'' Weinburg said, ``so trading outdated or unwanted jewelry for cash helps lessen the severity of the recession.''

Plato's Closet, in Pembroke Pines, offers ``cash for clothes'' every day. Representatives at Plato's Closet buy lightly used clothes, shoes, purses, belts, hats, jewelry and movies that appeal mostly to younger shoppers.

The computerized prices offered are based on style, condition and brand. All the merchandise in stock comes from items people have brought into the store.

Steven Munzer, the franchise owner, guarantees customers will find themselves ``spending a fraction of what they would spend in the mall' for used items that are clean, in good condition and are top-name brands.

CASH FOR MUSIC

In Miami Beach, Uncle Sam's Music buys used CD's, records and music supplies in their original cases or sleeves.

Lisa Teger-zhen, who is in charge of the buying operation, recommends calling beforehand because the store can only buy a specific number of items per day.

But during the tough economy, Teger-zhen said Uncle Sam's offers an inexpensive alternative for music fanatics. ``There are tons and tons of people who are broke right now and need to get in the right position,'' she said.

CASH FOR BOOKS

Is your house crowded with books you no longer read -- or collectibles and antiques? Julius Ser, who opened Fifteenth Street Books in Coral Gables in 2001, may have a solution.

The shop, which specializes in used books and rare collectibles, may be interested in your excess.

``Whatever we feel we like, we buy,'' said Ser. The shop's main interests, however, are books dealing with art, Latin America, first editions or fiction -- and antiques.

Prices are set depending on rarity of the book, genre and condition. You can also pick up extra reading material at Fifteenth Street Books for as low as $1 per book.

So look around your home. Clean out all the overflowing drawers and bookshelves and make cash on the spot. Or better yet, remember the adage: out with the old and in with the new or semi-new.