In the old days, when an item is damaged, you would take it to a repair shop to get fixed. But today, in an era of 1-click ® buy, many people have never been to a repair or tailor shop and toss their possession at the smallest damage. However, the narrative is changing with a growing niche of eco-conscious consumers who are looking to make better purchasing decisions. For instance, “recommerce” (short for reverse commerce) defined as “the selling of previously owned, new or used products” is growing in popularity. Here are the few ways to contribute to the recommerce economy while in college.
Get clothing from thrift stores: Thrifting is a trendy pastime among the younger generation. This is great considering this practice is diverting a lot of waste from landfills and reducing our environmental impact. As you are updating your wardrobe for the fall and winter, visit your local thrift store and you might find a new favorite pair of pants or boots! Online thrifting store are also affluent with services like thredUP. These are great option if there are no thrift stores in your area.
Purchase used textbooks: Textbook prices can get a bit hefty in college. Instead of purchasing them brand-new, you can easily save tens or even hundreds of dollars by getting used textbooks. So, get in touch with some upperclassmen for you next required textbook! Also, previous editions are almost identical in terms of content with the newer versions. So, link up with upperclassmen
Trade your old electronics: Ready to buy a new smartphone? Rather than losing it to your drawer’s dust, you can trade it in through your manufacturer’s program and receive credit towards your next purchase. Depending on the device’s condition, you can get as much as 700 dollars in credits! If the device is totally unusable, you can safely recycle it through an electronic recycling program such as E-Cycle Day.
Written by Kelly Jean, Class of 2022
Photo by chrissie kremer on Unsplash