Five appliances covered TV, 400 yuan maximum discount Refrigerator, 300 yuan Washing machine, 250 yuan Air-conditioner, 350 yuan Computer, 400 yuan

The designated new electric appliance markets and recycling companies, however, enjoy a much better business than the second-hand market.

Suning brand launched the "old-for-new" program on August 29. Its 10 shops in Hangzhou made almost 1,000 sales on the first weekend. Weekend sales represent about one-fifth of the total volume.

New TV sets are Suning's top seller in the turn-in program. TVs represent more than 72 percent of the sales, refrigerators 14 percent, washing machines almost 9 percent, ACs around 4 percent and computers just 1 percent.

The designated recycling companies are doing well. On August 31 alone, the eight employees of the Hangzhou Lulian Recycling Resources Co collected more than 200 old electrical appliances, about 80 percent were TVs.

Some big electric appliance retailers like Suning and Gome provide "buy the new and sell the old" practice. Customers can purchase a new appliance first at the market, and the delivery man will collect the old one.

Recycling companies also get a transport subsidy under the program; it ranges from 20-50 yuan, depending on time and distance.