Burn Calories, Cut Cost With Used Equipment
So, along with the rest of us, you ingested too many calories over the holidays and now you’re thinking about exercising. What’s an easier--and cheaper--way than doing it at home?
I checked at one of the locations of Play It Again Sports for new or used exercise equipment and found some excellent deals. The Ab Exerciser that sells on TV for $49.99 plus shipping and handling is on special for $37.50. My favorite--the Aerobic Rider--is a bit pricey at most stores, costing $299.99. But a new one at Play It Again Sports is $100 cheaper.
There are 30 franchised locations of Play It Again Sports in the Los Angeles area. Parent company Growbiz buys new merchandise in volume, thus offering their franchisees excellent prices.
Each store handles its own used equipment, either on a consignment basis or cash purchase. The deals on the new merchandise are generally the same in each store, but the used equipment differ at each location.
Bill Thorne, owner of the Studio City location, coaches boys’ roller hockey during his spare time so knows his in-line skates. He has new microblades for kids at $69.99--$20 lower than retail--and macroblades for adults for $149.99 instead of $189.99. Used skates--of which there is a large selection--are available at about half the cost of new ones.
If you received new exercise equipment for Christmas and want to get rid of the old, Play It Again Sports will either buy it outright or take it on consignment. For instant cash, figure realizing 30% of the resale price; consignments are usually a 50-50 split, more on high-end equipment.
A Nordic Track Pro, for instance, that sells new for $600, is $375 on consignment and will bring the consignor about $200.
Buying used equipment makes sense if you’re taking up a new sport. If it turns out you don’t enjoy it, the expenditure was minimal.
* Play It Again Sports, 12030 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 752-9123. Other locations: Agoura Hills, Glendale, Northridge, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and Ventura.
Weekend Super Sale
In the Oct. 24 column, I wrote of a good deal for ladies apparel at Fawnn’s Wearhouse. Well, Fawnn has decided to liquidate everything in the place, including the furniture. So for drastically cut prices on sharp women’s apparel and some interesting furnishings, head to Fawnn’s before the end of the month when she plans to close.
* Fawnn’s Wearhouse, 7116 DeCelis Place, Van Nuys. Open Tuesday-Friday, noon-4 p.m., or by appointment. Special sale hours noon-4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday only. Call (818) 781-7253.
CORRECTION: The phone number given for the Agoura Hills location of Horowitz & Brookes Restoration in this column last week was incorrect. The correct phone number is (818) 889-5232.
