Question 1

Can I order items online?

Accepted Answer

McKAY's does not offer online sales, with the exception of gift cards. Swing by one of our brick & mortar locations to get a feel for what you're after!

Question 2

Where does all this stuff come from?

Accepted Answer

It comes from people like you! Hundreds of people bring items to sell or trade every day that we are open.

Question 3

Do I need an appointment to bring in my items?

Accepted Answer

No, we don’t make appointments or take reservations. Items are processed as they come into the store. We stop accepting incoming items 30 minutes before closing.

Question 4

Will you give me cash or store credit for my items?

Accepted Answer

When you come to pick up payment for your order, you will be offered a cash and/or a store credit option. The amounts are based off of what we will sell your items for. You can choose to receive a percentage of our price in cash, or a higher percentage in store credit. There are some items that we only offer a store credit option for, so even if you request cash, there's a chance you'll still receive a little bit of store credit (also called trade or trade credit).

Question 5

How long will it take for you to evaluate my items?

Accepted Answer

That depends on how busy we are and how many items you brought in. Our highly-trained buyers work hard to evaluate your items as quickly and accurately as possible. We try to process incoming orders in fewer than 45 minutes, but during busy times (like weekends or holidays) it may take longer.

Question 6

Is there a limit on the amount I can bring in?

Accepted Answer

Yes…and no! We want to process everyone’s order in a timely fashion, so the number of items we can process on a given day from any one customer is limited. You are welcome to bring in a Large Order, but you will need to sign a Large Order Release Form and leave those items with us. Look at our tote limits for more information about the types of orders we offer.

Question 7

What is a Large Order?

Accepted Answer

A Large Order is an incoming order that is too big to be processed while you wait. The Greeter will evaluate the size of your order and the current wait time for processing, and they will decide whether we can process your incoming order right now.
 
We have laundry carts to accommodate Large Orders. Before you leave your Large Order with us, you will need to sign a Large Order Release Form. Your signature on this form lets us know that you agree to accept our evaluation of your items' cash and/or trade value. Rejected items from your Large Order will be put in the free bin or recycled; they cannot be returned to you.
 
You'll also need to leave an address and phone number so we can contact you when your order has been completed. You can also choose to receive your payment by mail.

Question 8

Are there items you won't take?

Accepted Answer

We only accept items we feel reasonably sure we’ll be able to sell, so we evaluate every item individually based on its age, condition, and the supply and demand in our store. You can see a list of commonly rejected items here.

Question 9

What happens to the items you reject from my order?

Accepted Answer

Unless you submitted a Large Order or a Drop Off Order, you can ask for them back when you pick up payment, as long as it's within an hour of your order being completed. If you don’t want your rejected items, we will put them in the free bin in front of the store. Rejected items from Large Orders and Drop Off Orders  are recycled as we process the order.

Question 10

Why don't you answer the phone?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question can be broken down into two parts.
 
PART 1: WHY THE PHONE CALL WASN'T RETURNED
We understand that it can be frustrating to not have a phone call returned, especially if you only have a quick question. We have tried to avoid this frustration by having our answering message and website address frequently asked questions. We allow those devices to pinch hit  for us so that we can focus our attention on the needs of the store and the customers that are currently shopping in it. If the answer to your question is given by the message, then your call might not be returned because we assume you have already received your answer. To tell you the answer again would be moot, and we do not want to insult your intelligence. If your question is not answered by either of those devices, then we welcome you to leave a message letting us know what you need. (See Part 2 for why there may be a delay in returning your call).
 
Another reason some calls aren't returned is because the individual has forgotten to leave us contact information. Our phone system is not like a cell phone that lets us know who made the call. Without a name and number, we have no way of getting back to you.
 
PART 2: WHY THE PHONE CALL WASN'T RETURNED IMMEDIATELY
We make every attempt to return phone calls within 3 days of receiving a message. This delay is because many questions require a little bit of research, and we want to make sure that the most qualified person for addressing your specific issue is the one who is returning the phone  call.

Question 11

What is the free bin?

Accepted Answer

Outside of each McKAY's location you’ll see a bin of free items. These are items that we rejected from customer orders due to condition or age. Just because we don’t think we can sell them, however, doesn’t mean you don’t want them. Take a minute to dig through them: you just might find a buried treasure!

Question 12

What is Trade / store credit?

Accepted Answer

McKAY's issues Trade (store credit) for items brought in by customers. Here are the basics:> Trade may be used to purchase any store merchandise except gift cards.> Once you’ve accepted Trade for your items, that Trade cannot be converted into cash.> We are unable to replace lost or stolen Trade slips.

Question 13

Can I use a picture of my Trade to redeem it?

Accepted Answer

No. The physical Trade slip is required for redemption.

Question 14

What is McKAY's Teacher Trade Program, and how can I get involved?

Accepted Answer

***Please note that this process has changed from previous years***

Every fall, McKAY's offers free Trade (store credit) to public school teachers in our immediate region. This credit is intended to help teachers meet the literary and informational needs of their students.

To take advantage of this offer, please read the conditions outlined below and respond before September 15:
Trade credits must be picked up in person between October 15 and January 1 by an authorized individual. Why this change?  Due to an increased administrative burden and mail not being as  reliable, we’re now requiring credits to be picked up. We believe this  will help us keep this a smooth and successful program.
We are limiting this program to surrounding public schools only.
Trade credit must be used by the teachers (no faculty/admin family members) to benefit the students.

To apply, please submit on school letterhead:
A list of teachers and the subjects or grades that they teach.
The  names of 1-3 individuals authorized to pick up your school’s credits and  return them to the school. The authorized person(s) agrees to show  their ID and sign for the trade slips.
You may drop the list off in person at your local store or mail it (ATTN: Teacher Trade Program).

Trade  credit will be issued for each eligible teacher on the school’s list and  will be ready for pick-up by an authorized individual at the Greeter  desk from October 15 - January 1.

Question 15

How can I pay for my purchase?

Accepted Answer

You can pay for your items with Trade, cash, credit card, or checks under $50.00, provided you show us a valid ID. We cannot accept purchase orders at this time, but we are able to save orders for institutions for one week, and provide those institutions with an itemized receipt. That way you can receive payment, and bring it back to us when you return to pick up your items.

Question 16

What's your return policy?

Accepted Answer

Customers may return up to 15 items for refund in a calendar year. You'll need to bring those items back to the Cashier (not the Greeter) within 30 days of purchase, with the McKAY's barcode or receipt. We'll need to see your valid driver's license in order to process the return.
 
*Please note that you will be reimbursed in the manner in which you paid. If you paid in Trade, we can only refund Trade. 
 
**We are happy to accept returns for items bought at a different McKAY's. However, the refund will be given in Trade only.

Question 17

Are you hiring?

Accepted Answer

Although our turnover is pretty low, we are always accepting applications. What can we say? McKAY's is a great place to work!

Question 18

Do I have to be in the store in order to make my purchase?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Due to incredibly high volume, we are unable to sell items over the internet or to ship items to our customers.

Question 19

What about waiting lists, searches, and price quotes?

Accepted Answer

We are unable to tell you if we have a certain item in stock, keep waiting lists, or give price quotes over the internet or phone. Since we are a used store where all of our inventory is brought in by customers like you (and we bring in around 10,000 items a day) our main goal is to process the items and get them on the shelves as quickly as possible. 
 
While we understand that it can be frustrating not having an answer, try to look at it as a treasure hunt and explore the variety of items we do have.

FAQ