Second-Hand Digital Deals

Second-hand stuff, there’s a lot of it out there to be had at a good price. Second-hand dealing goes way back but when I think of second-hand stuff I think of the used car market and how when you consider the “drive off the lot” value depreciation of a new car, coupled with getting an almost as good as a new car warranty with the “certified” used car, I think buying second-hand often makes good cents sense. Then there are bunches of booming resale retail ventures that come to mind like Plato’s Closet that resells high end, gently used brand name clothing originally from places (in the mall) like Abercrombie & Fitch, or similarly, baby and maternity resale like Stellie Bellies in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor, Florida. Consignment has come a long way. There are also several resale groups in my area, and I suspect many other areas, connected to Face Book. I am included in a bunch of these groups and the rules are pretty simple. You take photos to post your items and potential shoppers peruse them that way. And don’t let me forget old school garage and yard sales and the old adage that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure or according to Macklemore of Thrift Shop fame, another man’s come-up.

But finally to the topic at hand, digital resale, it’s already popular in Europe. Amazon is considering getting into it. Since 2011 a company in Boston, ReDigi, has been offering second-hand digital songs for as little as 49 cents vs. the 99 cents you would pay for new to ITunes. ReDigi’s second-hand market place has even grown into a social network as some customers like seeing who has previously listened to the songs they buy. With the popularity of social media and Amazon behind it I think the market for second-hand digital stuff is poised for even greater success. Some others in the industry must think so too because some, like Microsoft’s newest Xbox, are expected not to work with second-hand games.