In what sounds like a clever way for an electronics retailer to battle the recession, Radioshack has started taking trade-ins for in-store credit.

Before, the retailer accepted mailed-in used gadgets through their web trade-in program. Now all 4400 Radioshacks will take these items at the store itself (iPods, consoles, laptops, monitors...the list goes on, assuming it mirrors what Radioshack will take through the web).

Since it's common for mail-in electronics buyers to downgrade the status of your item upon receipt (thereby paying you less money than you anticipated), Radioshack's new plan seems like a safer way to trade in older stuff you haven't been using. [AP via Kotaku]

Send an email to Mark Wilson, the author of this post, at mark@gizmodo.com.