Should You Sell (or Buy Golf Clubs) to a Pawn Shop?
Written by Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

Updated on October 14, 2024

Are you one of those golfers with a garage full of used golf equipment?

Same here. I’ve accumulated quite a few clubs throughout the years, and I often hang on to them, thinking I may need them again.

In reality, I rarely need to use these clubs again, and they need to go! One option that many golfers are using is a pawn shop to sell and buy golf clubs.

Most pawn shop owners will take second-hand golf clubs as long as they are in good condition and are a current model available on the market. Many high-end brands made with higher-quality materials will sell quickly.

However, your grandfather’s old golf clubs that are rusted over and have grips falling off will likely not be a match for a pawn shop. Most of the time, inexpensive clubs like this need to be donated.

 

How Much You Might Earn For Your Clubs When Selling to a Pawn Shop

Selling clubs at a pawn shop may be convenient when trying to unload a large amount of equipment, but it is not always one of the best strategies.

The problem with pawn shops is that you will get a lower offer than what the clubs are worth. Sometimes as much as 50% less than the club is worth.

The pawn shop will then take the golf clubs and resell them for the actual amount they are worth and make a profit. If you have an expensive club and need a cash offer quickly, the pawn shop is a good idea.

However, to get the highest profits, you need another strategy.

 

Alternatives Where You Could Earn More for Your Clubs

The good news about pawn shops is that they are an excellent solution for getting money fast. However, there are plenty of other ways to help you earn money for your old golf equipment.

Selling clubs on your own is a great alternative, but it helps to have the proper avenues to get this done.

Trade-In With Online Dealers

If your golf clubs are free of any major chips, dents, or built-up dirt, you may want to trade them in towards new equipment. Online golf stores are making it easier than ever to trade your equipment in and purchase new equipment.

Most of the time, this process involves sending your equipment in, having it evaluated, and then a credit will be issued towards new clubs. You can expect that you will not get full retail value on your clubs, but you also won’t have to deal with the hassle of selling them on your own.

This process is quick and easy, and as long as your clubs are accepted, your shipping costs are even reimbursed.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook marketplace is one of my favorite places to sell golf clubs. Not only can you narrow down the area to ensure you are only selling the club in your local town, but you can also easily list all kinds of details and pictures with your product.

Golfers need to see pictures of the clubs they are purchasing as they will want to check for any issues. This is easily done when working with Facebook Marketplace.

Interested buyers can send you a message about the clubs you are offering for sale. There is even a way to collect payment through Facebook when you are selling on there. The process is fast, and if you know how to use Facebook, you can easily use the marketplace.

eBay

eBay is a great way to get rid of used golf equipment and one of the first places that golfers will look to see what type of equipment is available for sale. eBay has great search functionality, and players can look for custom clubs, specific models, shafts, etc.

To sell on eBay, you won’t have to set up auctions; you can simply list the item with a buy-it-now price. This price is what you are willing to take for the club. Make sure to check into the shipping details when selling on eBay.

The listings that come with free shipping will sell faster, but you may need to be sure you are calculating that and ensuring it doesn’t impact your profit too much.

Local Buy/Sell/Trade Groups For Golfers

Many areas have a local buy/sell/trade group for golfers. These can sometimes be found on Facebook or in a newspaper.

Sometimes these groups will have an event at a certain time throughout the year where you can go and preview equipment and then decide what you may like and if it could be a good match for your golf game.

 

Should You Ever Consider Buying Golf Clubs From a Pawn Shop?

If you are thinking about buying golf clubs from a pawn shop, you can actually find some great deals. However, before you head into the pawn shop and start looking, there are some things that you should know.

Do Your Research

Before heading to the pawn shop to purchase clubs, you must research what the current rates of golf clubs look like. If you go in and find a hybrid for $75 and think it’s a great deal, you may be upset later to find out that this is a very dated model.

Those that follow golf equipment releases and have a good idea as to when golf clubs came to the market will have a much easier time getting a great deal on a pawn shop golf club.

Check The Shaft

The shaft of the golf club should have no imperfections.

One of the benefits of buying in person like this is the ability to check the shaft. It doesn’t concern us as much with a steel shaft, but with a graphite shaft, you must be sure it is in good shape.

Consider Regripping Costs

Most pawn shop golf clubs will require a regrip. The grip is likely worn or is not the right fit for your hands.

For a single golf club, this isn’t a big deal. However, if you are purchasing an entire set, it’s going to have a bit impact on the total price. Keep that in mind as you work out a deal for your new clubs.

Don’t Be Afraid To Negotiate

Remember that when the owner of the pawn shop acquired these golf clubs, they did some negotiating. Now it’s your turn to negotiate and work out a deal that can make you some money.

Don’t be afraid to see if the owner will go any lower on a golf club; chances are they want to move it off the floor, and they may be willing to work with you.

 

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Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1