Key Takeaways
- DICK’S Sporting Goods launches a bat trade-in program across 850+ stores, powered by SidelineSwap’s resale technology
- Athletes receive an average payout of $70 in store credit, with top models exceeding $200
- The program accepts used baseball and softball bats and pays out via DICK’S gift cards instantly at in-store drop-off
- SidelineSwap has already facilitated millions in payouts through previous trade-in partnerships with DICK’S
- Expansion to additional equipment categories is planned for future phases
- Check it out here
How the Program Works
DICK’S Sporting Goods is rolling out a new trade-in program for baseball and softball bats, available at all 850+ locations nationwide and online at trade.dickssportinggoods.com. The program, built on SidelineSwap’s resale platform, lets customers trade used bats for DICK’S gift cards.
The process runs in three steps: get an instant quote online or in-store, drop off the bat at any DICK’S location or ship it with a prepaid label, and receive a gift card. In-store drop-offs are paid out instantly. Trade-in values are based on current sales data from SidelineSwap’s marketplace.
“Every season, families upgrade equipment and aren’t sure what to do with last year’s bat,” said James Populo, DMM, Sports at DICK’S. “This partnership with SidelineSwap solves that.”
Timing and Market Context
The launch is timed to the start of spring baseball season, when equipment purchases spike across youth and amateur levels. With youth baseball and softball participation continuing to rise, families face recurring costs each season as kids outgrow gear. The program offers a direct path to offset those costs through store credit.
SidelineSwap, founded in 2015, operates the largest online marketplace for used sports equipment and has facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions. The company has run similar trade-in programs with DICK’S previously, paying out millions to athletes.
“Trade-in is becoming table stakes in sports retail,” said Brendan Candon, co-founder and CEO at SidelineSwap. “We’ve processed millions in payouts and proven the model works.”
What This Means for Youth Sports Families
The program currently focuses on baseball and softball bats from major manufacturers in good condition, with plans to expand into additional equipment categories. For families cycling through bats every season or two, a $70 average return on a used bat creates a meaningful dent in the cost of replacement gear.
It also keeps quality equipment circulating rather than collecting dust. As resale and circular economy models gain traction in retail broadly, this positions DICK’S and SidelineSwap at the intersection of affordability and sustainability in youth sports equipment.
Source: Send2Press, March 3, 2026
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