By Cathy Spaulding
Those who sell pre-owned vehicles, gently used clothing and used tires say they are reaping the benefits as cost-conscious customers rethink their spending habits.
You won’t hear them lamenting their second-hand woes.
“This Christmas, we sold a lot more clothing than before,” said Tammy Blaylock, owner of the Nothing To Wear resale clothing shop in Wagoner. “Financially, they’re getting more for their money. Instead of $60 for name brand jeans, they’re spending $10. Besides, once clothes are washed, who could tell if they’re new or used.”
Blaylock isn’t alone in reporting better sales.
Alan Reece, general manager of America’s Car Mart, 1145 N. Main St., said he’s seeing more customers looking at his used cars, which range from 2001 to 2008 models.
“We’re just seeing people who can’t get financed traditionally,” he said. “And one of the things people like about us is that we don’t have five to six years financing contracts. They pay for one to two years, then they’re done. A lot of people have stopped buying cars that are $20,000 or $30,000.
The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops said three fourths of resale shops reported higher sales in September and October than in the same period last year, according to a Dec. 9 story in USA today. The newspaper reported the average sales increase was about 35 percent.
Blaylock said she’s had the best Christmas in the three years her store has been open. Whether that trend will continue into the new year is hard for her to say.
“It’s slow every January,” she said.
Bill Montague, manager of York Street Tires, 2001 N. York St., reported high sales of used tires in the middle of 2008, but attributed most of that increase to gas prices that rose to more than $3.75 a gallon.
“I sell an average of 10 to 15 used tires a day now,” he said. During the higher gas prices, “sales were double, maybe triple that.”
Still, he said he realizes that tough economic times could send people looking for used tires. He said he has sold used tires one at a time as well as sets of four tires.
“It really depends on what people need and what a person wants,” Montague said. “I don’t look down on people who buy used tires.”
Montague, Blaylock and Reece advise shoppers to be careful in what they buy.
Montague sums up his philosophy as, “If you wouldn’t put it on your own personal car, don’t put it on someone else’s.”
He said people should not buy tires that are more than 4 years old. He said an there is an indicator on the side that shows the week and year a tire was made.
“We’ll inspect them to make sure there are no holes, no punctures, no breaks,” Montague said.
He said the tread should be 4/32, or one eighth, of an inch. Tire dealers measure by thirty-seconds of an inch.
Montague said all the used tires he has come from customers.
Blaylock said she sells all sorts of clothes and boots for men, women, children, expectant mothers and newborns.
“Jeans are always hot items, boots and clothes, name brands. I couldn’t keep name brands in stock,” she said. We don’t take clothes that have not been in style for the last one to three years. And they can’t have any holes, stains, missing buttons or broken zippers. If we see a stain, we mark it (the item) down. If we see a hole, we say ‘We’re going to throw this away unless you want it.’”
Reece said he encourages customers to check their cars thoroughly before they buy.
He said he has no problem with customers taking potential purchases to a mechanic for an inspection.
“We would love everyone to do that,” he said.
Reece acknowledged that interest rates for used cars are higher than for new cars. However, people with poor credit ratings are likely to be charged high interest rates whatever they buy.
“We’re not going to get people with 800 credit scores, even in this economy,” he said.
Car Mart also offers two different payment protection plans, as well as a warranty for five months and 5,500 miles for the motor, transmission and major mechanical work, he said.
“I would just say that what people should look for is a car that’s mechanically sound that’s affordable for them,” he said.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email
