13 businesses in and around Kitchener–Waterloo that buy used goods from the
public, or sell them on your behalf. For each one: what they buy, what they refuse, and
exactly how the transaction works — because a pawn loan, a consignment split and an outright
sale are three different things.
Verified 2026-09-24 from each business's own website. Prices, terms and what
they take change without notice. We are not affiliated with any business listed here, none of
them pay to be included, and we receive nothing if you sell to them.
What will they actually pay?
We do not publish an average payout, because nobody publishes one. Any site quoting
you "typically 60% of retail" invented it. Across 189 businesses in fourteen cities, a
handful publish a consignment split, one publishes a per-gram gold table, and not one pawn
shop, scrap yard or electronics buyer publishes what it pays relative to resale value.
What we can tell you is the shape of it. Consignment pays the most and pays last, often on a
declining scale as the item sits. An outright sale pays least and pays today. Metals and gold
are weight times purity minus a spread nobody states, so the only real number is the one at
the scale. And for a great deal of what comes out of a cleared house — flat-pack furniture,
book-club paperbacks, old encyclopedias, out-of-season sports gear, adult clothing more than
a few years old — the honest answer is that nobody in these fourteen cities will pay anything
for it at all. The refusal lists below are the evidence.
Electronics buy-back in Kitchener–Waterloo
They pay cash or credit for working electronics, phones and games.
The dealOutright purchase, not consignment — their site states you are paid cash on the spot for gently used children's items. Their site asks that items be "freshly laundered, and brought in a container such as a bag, bin, box, or tote", and that you "call our store 30 minutes before you head into our store" to check what they currently need and what container limits apply.
WhereTheir brand site publishes a Kitchener, Ontario location page, but the street address, phone number and opening hours are not rendered on it. Confirm the address through the brand's store locator before travelling.
No public premises listed. We could not find a street address or phone on their site — contact them through it before making any plans.
Their site is explicit that you must bring government-issued photo identification: "bring a government issued photo ID (drivers license)" and "You will not be able to sell to us without your ID." The address, phone number and hours are not shown on their own location page, which also makes the 30-minute courtesy call they ask for difficult to place — get the number from the brand's store locator first. No payout percentage is published.
BuysiPhones and smartphones, MacBooks and laptops, Tablets, Cameras, Gaming consoles, Video games, Other consumer electronics
The dealOutright purchase. Their site states you get paid cash on the spot with no appointment needed, and that devices are evaluated in store. Store credit is offered as an alternative to cash, and their site says trade credit never expires.
Where945 Victoria Street North, #1, Kitchener, ON N2B 3C6
No payout percentage is published, so the offer is whatever they quote on the day. Their site offers a choice of cash or store credit but does not state the value of either, so ask for both figures before deciding. Back up and sign out of your own accounts before handing a device over — removing an activation lock afterwards is difficult.
The dealConsignment. Their site states they have over 4,000 consignors and take in 500-1,000 new pieces of clothing every week, and offers free consultations, but publishes no split, no consignment period and no acceptance criteria — every term has to be established directly with them before you go.
Where72 St. Leger St, Kitchener, ON
No consignment terms of any kind are published — not the percentage, not how long items stay, not what happens to unsold stock, not what they will and will not take. Ask for all of those before handing anything over.
BuysWomen's in-season clothing, sizes XS-XL (0-18), in excellent condition, Shoes with heels up to 1.5 inches
Won't takeLuxury houses such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, Unlaundered items or items with pet hair, Damaged goods, Lingerie, Swimwear, Uniforms, Men's, children's and maternity wear, Footwear with heels over 1.5 inches
The dealConsignment, and their site states the split plainly: the consignor receives 40% of the selling price. Items are shown 45 days at full price, then reduced by 25% for a further 15 days — 60 days in total. Their site says you may retrieve items before the 45-day mark if you do not want them marked down. You are not paid unless and until the item sells.
Where728 Belmont Avenue West, Kitchener, ON N2M 1P2
Their site states: "Items that do not sell within 60 days must be picked up. Any items not picked up become property of Hello Again for disposal." Diarise the date. Consignment is by appointment only, a maximum of 15 items per appointment, and their site says booking opens by phone on the last Tuesday of the month and closes once full — so this needs planning well ahead of a house clearance. Turning up unannounced with bags will be a wasted trip.
BuysDesigner and luxury clothing, Accessories, Jewellery, Furniture and home decor, Collectibles, Unique finds, Electronics, Media
Won't takeLingerie and underwear, Maternity wear, Children's wear, Fast fashion and most mall brands, Unlaundered, wrinkled or damaged clothing
The dealConsignment. Their site says only that "This ensures you get the majority of the proceeds while we take a commission" — the actual percentages appear in an image and are not stated in text anywhere on the site, so ask for the number in writing before you hand anything over. Payment is by e-transfer once you request it, processed within 1-3 business days. They also run online auctions through HiBid and advertise estate sale services.
WhereUnit 4, 86 Rankin St., Waterloo, ON
The commission split is not stated in text anywhere on their site — get the percentage, the consignment period and what happens to unsold goods in writing before leaving items. Their site states: "Items are subject to be sold via auction as per the contract, if the items have not sold online through our website after a period of time. You will be contacted if this occurs." Establish what that period is and whether you can decline the move to auction, since an auction result can differ substantially from the shop price.
BuysUsed and vintage guitars, Drums, Keyboards, Amplifiers, Other used musical instruments
The dealThey offer BOTH outright purchase and consignment — their site states "We're always interested in picking-up interesting used and vintage musical instruments. We'll buy but we'll also do consignment." These are different deals: a purchase pays you now, consignment pays you only if and when the instrument sells. Their site invites you to drop by the store with your gear to talk options, so walk-ins appear to be accepted. Guelph's hometown music store since 1985.
Where20 Carden Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3A2
No purchase price, trade allowance or consignment percentage is published, and their page does not say whether a purchase pays cash or store credit. Because they offer both buying and consignment, establish which one you are being offered and on what terms before leaving an instrument — under consignment you are not paid until it sells, and the shop holds the instrument in the meantime.
They sell it for you to whoever bids. It can beat every other route here, and it can also fetch almost nothing — the price is decided in the room, not by them, and you find out weeks later.
BuysEstate contents, Household goods from downsizing, Collections, Industrial surplus
The dealAn auction house rather than a shop. Their site invites you to "Sell one item or the whole collection here" and lists services for estates, downsizing and industrial surplus across Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. Goods are consigned and sold at auction, so you are paid after the sale and only if the lot sells — this is not money on the day.
WhereServes the tri-city area of Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. No street address is published on their site.
No commission rate, seller fee or settlement timeline of any kind is published on their site, and no street address is given. Ask for the complete fee schedule in writing — including anything charged for collection, photography, lotting or unsold lots — and for when you are paid after a sale, before committing a houseful of goods. Auction results are not guaranteed and a lot can sell for far less than retail, so also ask whether reserves are permitted.
The dealOutright purchase for cash. Their site describes buying precious metals and converting them to cash, and makes no mention of pawn loans — this is a sale, and the item does not come back. They describe themselves as a licensed gold dealer buying since 2009. No current payout rate is published (see caution).
Where78 King St W., Kitchener, ON N2G 1A6
Their site does NOT state a current payout rate. It says "Our company started by paying 78% of the current day's spot price" — a statement about how the business began in 2009, not a rate offered today. Any figure quoted to you today is whatever they offer on the day, so get it in writing. Their site also claims "We will beat our competitor's offers by 5%" — a marketing claim, not an audited or regulated commitment. The same page claims Spot price moves daily. Payment for scrap precious metal is based on weight and purity, so an antique or signed designer piece may be worth more sold as jewellery than melted.
BuysSteel and iron, Copper and brass, Aluminium, Wire, Household metals, Batteries, Computer and electronic waste, Other metals
The dealA scrap yard that buys from the public — their page carries a "Sell to us" section and lists the grades above as accepted. No prices, payment method or payment terms are published on their Kitchener page.
Where34 Lancaster St W, Kitchener, ON N2H 5H8
Their Kitchener page has "conditionally accepted" and "not accepted" categories but does not spell out what is in them, so ring before loading the car — this matters most for fridges, freezers and air conditioners, which contain refrigerant and are handled differently from ordinary scrap. The page does not state prices, how payment is calculated, how you are paid, or whether identification is needed. Scrap prices move with the commodity market, so ask for the day's rate. Third-party sites quoting a per-pound copper or aluminium price for Kitchener are not this yard's prices.
BuysScrap and junk cars, Non-running vehicles, Post-accident and write-off vehicles
The dealOutright purchase of the vehicle. Their site explains the quote is calculated by multiplying the vehicle's weight from the book by the current price of scrap metal. On payment their site says: if you drop the vehicle off, "you will get paid when it arrives"; if they collect it, "our driver will bring payment along with the bill of sale." Payment on drop-off is by cheque. They have a full-time tow truck driver on staff year-round.
Where116 Bridge St East, Kitchener, ON N2K 1J6
Pickup is not free: their site says "We can also come and pick up your car if it's not safe to drive, for an additional charge." The charge amount is not published, so confirm it before booking, as it comes out of what you receive. Payment on drop-off is by cheque rather than cash. Because the quote is vehicle weight times scrap price, a car with value in its parts or as a runner may be worth more sold another way. Their site does not address number plates, permit cancellation or insurance — ask them what they handle and what is left to you.
BuysVehicles of any type in any condition, Damaged and non-running cars, Sedans, SUVs, trucks and vans, Hybrid and electric vehicles, Classic and imported vehicles
The dealOutright purchase. Their site advertises towing as "100% Free", payment by cash or e-transfer on the spot before the vehicle is loaded, and a process that typically runs 2-24 hours from first call to payment. They advertise assistance with paperwork.
Where956 Guelph St, Kitchener, ON N2H 5Z6
Their site advertises "Get Paid Anywhere from $200 to $20,000." That is an advertised range spanning everything from a scrap shell to a late-model vehicle, not an indication of what an ordinary old car will fetch — treat only the specific written quote as meaningful. Their site states you must prove ownership: a title, or an alternative such as a bill of sale or old insurance document, and it points to ServiceOntario for replacements. Find that paperwork before booking. Their site advertises free towing; get that confirmed in writing when you book.
BuysUsed vinyl LPs, Used compact discs, Large collections and estate purchases
The dealTheir site states "We buy used compact discs and vinyl records", that they are particularly interested in rock, jazz, blues, soul and heavy metal in excellent condition, and that they often buy large collections and estate purchases — which makes them a useful contact when clearing a house. Trading in Kitchener since 1981.
Where206-301 King Street East, Kitchener, ON N2G 2L2
Their site does not state whether they pay cash or store credit, what they pay, whether a large collection needs an appointment, or whether they will view a collection at your home. It is a second-floor unit. Phone first before moving heavy boxes of records across town.
BuysClassics and recent paperback fiction, Bestsellers, Philosophy, Indigenous, ecology and poetry titles, High-quality art and design books, Unusual and uncommon titles
Won't takeMagazines, Hardcover thrillers, Books with stains, tears or smells, Titles they are already overstocked on
The dealOutright purchase of second-hand books in good condition. Their site states: "We buy for cash or offer 50% more in store credit." Collections of 25 books or fewer can be brought in during opening hours without an appointment; their site asks you to email selling@janusbooks.ca if you have more than 25 books. They have traded in downtown Guelph since 2012.
Where10 Paisley Street, Guelph, ON
Two timing rules on their site will cost you a trip if missed: they do not buy books on Tuesdays, and they do not take purchases in the final 30 minutes of the business day. No phone number appears on their site — contact is by email. Their site does not mention house calls for large libraries, so arrange anything big by email first. The 50% uplift for store credit is only worth having if you buy books there.
Take government photo ID. Several of these businesses say plainly
that they cannot buy from you without it, and that a health card will not do.
Phone ahead with the specifics. Make, model, age, condition. Most
refusals happen at the counter over something that could have been settled in a
two-minute call.
Get more than one number if the item is worth more than a hundred
dollars or so. Offers on the same item vary widely.
Ask which transaction you are being offered — a purchase, a
consignment or a loan — and get it in writing.
We could not verify this city’s municipal rules for second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers from an official source, so we state none. Check with the City or the province before relying on anything you read about them elsewhere.
Worth nothing? That is a real answer too.
Most of what comes out of a cleared house will not sell at any price, and the businesses above
will tell you so at the counter. Photograph it first and we will tell you before you drive
anywhere — and if the answer is that it is worth nothing, we will point you at
the Kitchener–Waterloo charities that will still take it.
Will a pawn shop in Kitchener–Waterloo give me a loan or buy it outright?
Many do both, and they are entirely different transactions. A loan means you get the item back only if you repay the money plus interest and fees by the date on the ticket; miss it and the shop keeps and sells your item. An outright sale is final. Ask for both numbers separately and compare them.
How much will I actually get?
Less than you think, and nobody publishes a reliable average — we checked 189 businesses across fourteen cities. Consignment pays most and pays last. An outright sale pays least and pays today. Scrap and gold are weight and purity against the day’s market, minus a margin almost nobody states.
Will any of them collect from my house in Kitchener–Waterloo?
Auto salvage almost always tows a non-running car free. Some furniture dealers and consignment shops will collect, usually for a fee or above a minimum value. Scrap yards that advertise collection generally mean a commercial roll-off bin, not a van for a box of copper. Every listing here says what we could confirm and nothing more.
Do I need identification?
Almost certainly, and it is the most common cause of a wasted trip. Several businesses state plainly that government-issued photo ID is required and that a health card will not be accepted. Take a driving licence or passport.
What is genuinely worth nothing?
Flat-pack furniture, most paperbacks, encyclopedias, classical and easy-listening records, out-of-season sports equipment and adult clothing more than a few years old. The refusal lists on this page are the evidence. Those things can still be donated, and often should be.