Buying back White Elephants to boost economy

A few of leading Japanese retailers started offering "Trade-In" guarantees to encourage new consumption. These are relatively high end consumer goods, such as household appliances, digital cameras, dresses.

By guaranteeing the trade-in, even for broken used goods, the merchants hope to give consumers confidence to purchase new high-end goods.

One study says these trade-ins created an additional two trillion yen consumer market.

For example, a home electronics retailer Big Camera guarantees to buy back 20 items even if they no longer work.

http://www.biccamera.co.jp/shopguide/campaign/teigakushitadori/index.html

Odakyu Dept Store gives a 1000 yen ticket for worn out shoes purchased from the retailer, which then can be applied toward a purchase of a new pair of shoes priced over 5,000 yen.

For more information (in Japanese), see below:
http://www.j-cast.com/2009/04/09039201.html