All the talk about waste management got me thinking about recycling in Japan. And where else can you find 2nd hand goods with such good quality but Japan. In Malaysia, about the only recycled stuff worth buying is probably a motor vehicle. But even then you'll have to be careful with kereta potong (literally, cut-up cars).
The proliferation of recycled shops in Japan, I believe, all started with the annual winter/spring flea-markets. Then someone must have thought of the cool idea of making it a permanent event, in the like of shops. Now recycled shops are the next big hit after the 100yen Daiso. Just google 中古 or 創庫 with your local area name and you'll bound to come up with in inexhaustible list of links. Some of my favorite ones are See You, Book Off, and the local favorite on route 163. When I first arrived here in Japan, and couldn't afford the outlandish prices for brand new electrical appliances, these are some of the places that I looked at. If you can find the things that you want, and don't mind that it's not new, you will surely get a bargain at these shops. I once sold a baby stoller (ベビーカー) for a handsome profit there. Of course, these shops do keep their standards. The other day, after spring cleaning, we wanted to get rid of an old computer but the shop refused since it has no resale value. It was understandable.
So if you are in Japan, do consider these recycled goods shops. You never know what you may find.
The proliferation of recycled shops in Japan, I believe, all started with the annual winter/spring flea-markets. Then someone must have thought of the cool idea of making it a permanent event, in the like of shops. Now recycled shops are the next big hit after the 100yen Daiso. Just google 中古 or 創庫 with your local area name and you'll bound to come up with in inexhaustible list of links. Some of my favorite ones are See You, Book Off, and the local favorite on route 163. When I first arrived here in Japan, and couldn't afford the outlandish prices for brand new electrical appliances, these are some of the places that I looked at. If you can find the things that you want, and don't mind that it's not new, you will surely get a bargain at these shops. I once sold a baby stoller (ベビーカー) for a handsome profit there. Of course, these shops do keep their standards. The other day, after spring cleaning, we wanted to get rid of an old computer but the shop refused since it has no resale value. It was understandable.
So if you are in Japan, do consider these recycled goods shops. You never know what you may find.
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