If you’re storing retired oldies but goodies, or looking to change your furniture, wardrobe or appliances, there’s a local market for just about all of your used, quality stuff.

Sure, you can sell it online or using the newspaper classified ads (which often have special rates for low-price items), but sometimes you want your money right now, or your items don’t lend themselves to that kind of sale.

Brick and mortar resale businesses can help. They thrive on hawking used items and will give you money for that old refrigerator or your snow boots.

And there are consignment shops for your clothing and accessories.

“We take everything—jackets, dresses, shoes, purses, minks,” said Lisa Setlik, manager of The Peddlers Consignment Shoppe on Main Street in Williamsville. “We have a lot of shoppers, a lot of people come in here, and we are very busy.”

Some used-goods stores will pay you for your old appliances, furniture and many other items.

“I do buy bedroom sets, sofas, washer and dryers, but I am selective,” said Max Sloan, owner of Sloan’s Antiques and Modern Furniture on William Street in Buffalo.

Pawn shops are also an option when looking to sell your old items. Known primarily for giving out loans, pawn shops also buy items to sell. And they accept a wide array of merchandise—from video game systems to jewelry to musical instruments.

“We are willing to take a look at what you are trying to sell,“ said Rick Thurnherr, owner of Cash and Go Pawn Shop on Transit Road in Depew. “So don’t be afraid to come in; everyday people are having a tough time. If you are looking to get rid of your stuff, we are here to help you out.”

With most consignment shops, you receive a payment when your item is sold, usually half of the selling price. Pawn shops, on the other hand, will pay upfront — from 25 cents to 75 cents on the dollar, depending on the item.

But some people view pawn shops as unsavory establishments where looted wares are freely accepted and sold.

“I don’t know where all those negative stories come from,” said Dave Crume, president of the National Pawnbrokers Association. “All pawn shops are heavily regulated by state law and enforcement. You can’t just come in off the street and say give me $20 for this without identification. There are some pawn shops that don’t run the cleanest business. But a pawn business is no different from other businesses.”

Thurnherr said the stigma associated with the pawn industry is largely baseless and that perception often changes when customers walk into his store. “People tell me that they expect to see a really ugly, scruffy guy behind the counter who is going to rip them off,” he said. “But they are surprised to see a clean store and atmosphere where we try to put out the best product and treat people fairly, which is the biggest thing for us.”

With the down economy, Thurnherr said lending has increased, so he’s buying less. “I’m doing a lot of loaning; it has doubled in the last two years,” he said. But there are popular items that he’s purchasing, especially gold, which has surged to record prices, and popular electronics, such as flat-screen TVs and video game systems.

Thurnherr said he’ll pay a seller between 20 percent and 60 percent of the used value of an item, based on demand and condition. “We pay a little more if we think the item is going to sell fast,” he added.

In a much different market, consignment shops also gauge the demand. Setlik accepts an array of wardrobe pieces, but they must be high quality. Her shop is higher end, and prides itself on “labels, not clothes from Target,” she said. She’ll take brands, ranging from The Gap and Talbots to Gucci and Dolce&Gabanna.

“For us, it’s all about labels; we sell quality,” she said. “We always accept items from new people to sell, but it has to be higher end.”

The shop sets the prices, and items sell within 30 to 60 days. The original owner receives 50 percent of the selling price, Setlik said. If an item isn’t bought within the required time frame, the owner can take it back or it will be donated to a charity. She added that items must have been bought new within the past two years for her to accept them. “We want recent styles; fashion changes so quickly,” she said.

Sloan’s antique business isn’t consignment. He’ll pay you on the spot for an item he is interested in. Sales have stalled on some of the merchandise in his store, however. For example, dining room sets are not selling. But bedroom sets, refrigerators and other appliances are in high demand.

“I have to be more selective now, but we are still buying quality items,” he said.