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Decathlon is trialling a second-hand platform in Belgium, including pick-up of heavy items at the buyer. Those looking to give their sports equipment or sportswear a second life can now sell it online via the sports retailer’s website.
Including delivery
Decathlon is opening up its own website for second-hand sales, competing with popular second-hand platforms such as Vinted. The seller can still set the price, but Decathlon takes care of safe payment, dispute resolution and transport. The second-hand sports equipment does not have to be bought from the retailer either, Chief Digital Officer Nicolas Deltenre stresses.
The chain will collect heavy and large sports equipment directly from the seller: there is no need to take a table tennis table or treadmill to the post office yourself, the French chain says. This is rather unique in online second-hand sales, according to Deltenre: “A big barrier for people in second-hand sales is the hassle involved in getting their product to the buyer. That is why we insist on transporting these types of products ourselves, through our transport partners.”
Bright future
Belgium is the first country where Decathlon is testing the concept. If it proves successful, Decathlon wants to expand the concept further across Europe. In that case, it should also become possible to buy and sell second-hand sports gear across borders. Decathlon has been strongly committed to second-hand trade for several years now: previously, it was already possible to sell sports gear back to the shop, but now it goes one step further with this direct sales among private individuals.
“Decathlon Belgium has always pioneered a lot of innovative concepts that we are launching with Decathlon. We are proud of that”, Deltenre says, adding that the French chain had its eye on the success of websites like Vinted for some time. “That is why we thought about how we too can meet the second-hand needs of our own customers. The focus remains clear: exclusively sports equipment, but with the Decathlon quality guarantee. Of course, with this concept we also hope to open up our borders.”
