Athletes Gear Up Online (NAPSA)—For dedicated athletes and sports enthusiasts who are interested in saving money, the Internet has become the new playing field. Many of them now turn to the Web to buy new gear and recycle current gear—especially in sports such as cycling, fishing and golf, where upgrading is often linked to improved performance. Selling pre-owned equipment online, for example, can help sports lovers make the most out of their gear long after they’ve maximized its use on the field. The dollars they squeeze out of selling their golf clubs, fishing rods and bikes can go toward upgrading their sports equipment, which can help them reach their personal bests. Athletes can find a wide range of top nameproducts at competitive prices on a numberof sites. eBay Sports (www.ebaysports.com), for example, is the leading sports commerce site and offers more than 200,000 new and used sporting goods items—relating to more than 45 different sports. Online shopping experts from eBay offer the following tips to help athletes win at gearing up online and buying safely and successfully. Sometimes you know exactly what you’re looking for, other times you just want to browse. The browse and search feature Cashing in on pre-owned gear and upgrading to newer gear, helps athletes win at their game. makes it easy to do both. Read descriptions and examine pictures carefully. Buy from sellers with positive feedback ratings. * Understand the termsof the sale and return policies. E-mail the seller with any questions prior to buying or bidding. Place your bid, or buy items at a fixed price instantly. For those who want to try a new sport (golf, for example), buying pre-owned equipment online can be a low-cost, low-risk way to get started. Whether athletes are trading up, buying neworselling old equipment, the Web may help them save money—and for many sports enthusiasts, that’s the nameof the game.
