I was paying full price for my kid's soccer gear for years without checking one spot

My son needed new cleats last month, and I almost bought a $90 pair at the mall. Then I saw a teammate's parent had the exact same ones. I asked where she got them, and she said 'the local team's end-of-season yard sale.' I went and found last year's model, brand new in the box, for $25. I had no idea teams did that. Has anyone else scored big at a team or league sale like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

verawhite1mo ago

Ngl, it's not just gear. Our league does a big equipment swap every spring. People bring outgrown jerseys, shin guards, even those expensive goalie gloves. Last year I got a barely used team bag for my daughter that would have been sixty bucks new. You have to get there early, but it's worth it.

williams.jenny1mo ago

That "get there early" part is so true! My friend's son needed new hockey skates last winter and their swap had a crazy line before it even opened. She said people were practically jogging to the tables when the doors unlocked. He ended up with these perfect skates that had maybe one season on them, saving them a ton. Those swaps get really competitive for the good stuff.

verawhite1mo ago

Honestly, I avoid those sales now. The last one I went to was picked over and the only cleats left were the wrong size or totally worn out. Felt like a waste of a Saturday morning.