Where to Find Cheap NFL Merchandise

The 2009 NFL season is weeks away and it's time to make sure you support your favorite team by wearing their caps, jerseys, etc. Paying suggested retail prices can be expensive. Let's take a look at websites and other methods for finding cheap NFL merchandise.

eBay

For those of you not familiar with eBay it is a website that allows you to bid auction-style for goods and services or buy these goods and services outright. It's a great way for sellers to get rid of stuff that has been collecting dust in the attic. When I collected hockey jerseys I would go on eBay frequently and usually got them at a quarter of the price I would have paid in a sporting goods store or from a team website (even though the latter sometimes offer discounts. More on this later.)
You'll need to create a free account first in order to place bids. Most sellers will place their goods on auction for a few days in order to get the maximum price they can. You can set it up so you are notified by email if you are being outbid. eBay also offers a "Buy It Now" option on some goods so you can make a purchase without having to go through the auction process but bear in mind this is typically for new merchandise. You can still pay a lower price in most cases, however.

Craigslist

Craigslist is another website that offers goods and services at discount prices. You can scroll through the list of cities if you wish to make a purchase locally. Think of Craigslist as the website that is most similar to the Classified section of your local newspaper. Like eBay you can call or email the seller if you have any questions about what you're buying. Unlike eBay this website doesn't offer as much NFL merchandise for sale.

Team Websites

In most cases official NFL team websites only offer their team's merchandise at full retail price but if you open a free account they will notify you be email of any specials or sales they have to offer. A good time of year to explore these websites is during the holiday season. Most of them will offer discounts on team jerseys and other popular items.

Garage Sales

Not into the Internet? Then you'll probably not reading this article. Still, most garage sales take place during the summer months before the NFL season starts. It's a great time to take advantage of deep discounts offered by fans who may be disgusted with their team's fortunes. With a bit of work and traveling you can grab jerseys and caps for pennies on the dollar.

Sources

www.ebay.com
www.nfl.com
www.craigslist.com