By Brittney Matejka

One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure and a $28.5 billion industry in Canada.

Feb 26, 2018 | 4:47 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – Shopping for a used television or table and chairs is big business in Canada.

Kijiji released a report stating the second hand market in Canada is a $28.5 billion industry, with 91% of Albertans participating last year.

Nicole Wilson, the creator of the Bidding Battles Medicine Hat Facebook group said they are up to 28,000 members and climbing.

“We have everything from clothing to appliances, electronics, tools, and collectibles,” she said. “You name it, it gets posted here.”

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Wilson said she created the group base on a need she saw in the community.

“I had saw the need for both buying and selling year round,” she said. “Why not make a group a little bit more fun and interactive for members, make it a bidding group.”

The group has nine volunteer administrative members who monitor the auctions on a daily basis. Wilson said she sees a hundred items posted to the online group everyday.

“A lot of people are just needing extra money right now, so they post and sell,” she said.

Kijiji reported the average Canadian earns $1,185 per year through the selling of previously loved items.

The Post Thrift Store, benefits the Canadian Mental Health Association and executive director Cori Fischer said the second hand shop is one of the largest in Medicine Hat. 

“We sell a little bit of everything,” she said. “Our biggest seller is our clothing and books, we also have house hold items.”

Fischer said over the store’s 37 years in operation they have seen a change in profits from second hand items.

“It varies from year to year,” she said. “We are competing a lot with Kijiji and Bidding Battles on Facebook, and Garage Sale Medicine Hat, so we are seeing the profits come down a little bit.”

Sgt. Mike Fischer with the Medicine Hat Police Service does caution buyers to be careful when purchasing goods from an unknown buyer. He said there could be a chance it’s stolen property.

“It happens periodically, whether it happens on Kijiji or just transactions person to person,” he said.

Fischer suggests buyers and sellers use a safe location to transfer money for second hand goods.

“A great option is to do the exchange in front of the police service,” he said. “We’ve got a site that is designated, we don’t live monitor it but if there is ever any issues we can certainly take a look at it.”

Fischer said the site was installed six months ago to increase safety for exchanges.