Anyone with kids who play sports knows that sports equipment doesn't come cheap. It also doesn't tend to last very long. Sometimes you're lucky to get a whole season out of something before you need the next size up. Often you replace something only to later find out that the neighbor down the street had what you needed and would have been more than happy to share. Don't let this happen to you. Be a good sport and create a neighborhood exchange for used sports equipment.
Most neighborhoods have a Facebook page or other online forum for sharing news but it can often be difficult to sift through all the news to find what you're looking for. Why not create a Stockpile account and allow friends and neighbors to add items they'd be willing to share? Stockpile fast free online inventory system is a great way to track items across multiple locations. Plus, it's fully customizable so you can add the fields that make the most sense to you. You can have as many locations as you'd like, so there's no need to limit how many people can join your exchange. You can have everyone e-mail the details regarding their items, or you can allow each participant to enter their own items. There is no limit to how many users you can have in Stockpile. The main thing to remember is to encourage everyone to be specific when they enter item information. Include things such as size, condition, color, and any other details that think would be important to someone searching for equipment. You can even include a photo in the item record.
Once items are entered people can start exchanging goods. It's easy to search in Stockpile and find what you're looking for. You'll instantly know whether you can get a great deal on a used bat or ball or if you need to hit up the local sporting goods store. Plus, you'll feel better knowing where the used items came from. Often people avoid secondhand sports exchanges because they have no idea who used the items previously and worry about exposing their kids to germs. Since you'll be getting items from people you know that concern should be minimized.
On the other side, it can also feel a lot better to share items with people you know as opposed to just donating them to strangers. Kids tend to like to hold on to their outgrown possessions. It can be hard for them to let go, even when they can no longer use the item. Passing it down to a younger friend can make the transition easier. It can be cool to know that the little boy down the street is now using your rollerblades and learning to skate the same way you did. Instead of kids feeling bad that they outgrew something and had to give it up they get a feeling of importance because they were able to share with someone younger. With any item that we are getting rid of we often bemoan the cost and question whether we really got enough value out of the purchase. That negativity can be lessened by sharing with people you know as well. It doesn't seem like such a waste when you know that you saved a friend some money by sharing your outgrown items with them.
Be an MVP | Set Up a Neighborhood Sporting Goods Exchange with Stockpile Fast Free Online Inventory System
Let's recap. Using Stockpile to share your sports equipment saves you time, money and makes you and your kids feel better about getting rid of stuff. Sounds like a win-win to us! Did you catch the fact that Stockpile fast free online inventory system is available for free? So, really what have you got to lose? Try Stockpile today! Already using Stockpile for a neighborhood exchange? Let us know in the comments below.
