How to Sell Your Used Wingfoiling, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, and Parawinging Gear: Consignment Tips for Maximum Value

Selling Your Used Wind Sports Gear on Consignment: How It Works & Why It Might Be Right for You

If you’ve ever sold an old kite, sail, foil, or board, chances are you did it the “direct” way - listing it on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or maybe passing it along to a friend. That can work, but there’s another option that’s often easier, safer, and more rewarding: consignment through a trusted wind sports shop.

What Does “Consignment” Mean?

Consignment is when you bring your used gear to a shop, and the shop sells it for you. You still own the gear until it sells, but the shop handles all the work - marketing it, answering questions, handling buyers, managing issues, processing payments, and ensuring a smooth transaction. When it sells, you get paid, minus a consignment fee for the service.

Why Choose Consignment?

• Convenience: No endless back-and-forth messages, no meetups with strangers, no haggling in a parking lot. The shop does the legwork.
• Trust & Safety: Buyers trust gear that’s been checked over by a reputable shop. That usually translates into a faster sale at a fair price.
• Financial Win: Consignment often nets you more than a trade-in because you’re still setting the resale price, not selling wholesale.
• Environmental Win: Every piece of gear resold is one less product manufactured. Keeping gear in circulation reduces waste and helps the sport stay sustainable.

How It Compares to Other Selling Methods

• Selling Direct to a Friend: Simple and quick, but often for less money and limited to your personal network.
• Peer-to-Peer Sites (Facebook, Craigslist, etc.): Wide reach and no fees, but time-consuming, risky, and sometimes frustrating when buyers flake or lowball.
• Trade-Ins: The fastest way to get new gear, but almost always the lowest payout because you’re selling to the shop at wholesale value.
• Consignment: A balance of convenience, safety, and fair market value. Perfect if you want the most money without the hassle of selling direct.

Who It’s Best Suited For

• Riders upgrading their quiver who want to fund their new gear without a lot of hassle.
• People with high-quality gear that still has good market value.
• Anyone who prefers the convenience of “drop it off and forget it” while still earning fair cash back.

Who It’s Not Ideal For

• Gear that’s too old, heavily used, or unsafe - shops typically won’t accept items that no longer meet standards.
• Very low-priced gear - often it’s easier to donate it, sell it directly at a swap meet, or pass it along to a beginner. Shops have overhead costs and logistics for managing and displaying gear, which makes inexpensive items impractical for consignment.
• People who want instant cash today (a trade-in might be better in that case).

Bottom line: Consignment lets you turn your old gear into cash, extend its life, and help another rider get on the water, all without the stress of selling it yourself. For many riders, it’s the best balance of financial return, environmental responsibility, and peace of mind.

A reputable shop helps your gear get seen by the right buyers, not lost in the clutter of Facebook or Craigslist. You sell faster, more easily, and often for a fairer price because the shop handles the work and connects your gear with people who are actively looking for it. And with top shops, your gear even benefits from a professional sales team making sure it finds a good new home.

For more information about selling your used wind sports gear through Windance, check out our Consignment page.