As someone who loves scouring thrift stores and flea markets, I’ve often wondered how to make money flipping items for a profit.
Buying stuff at low prices and then selling them for more money is one of the most common business models out there.
You probably know companies that buy at wholesale prices and then sell them to retail customers at a markup.
Flea market flipping is another version of this business model where you buy cheap items and then “flip” them on for a profit.
You might be surprised to learn that there are people making a full-time me flipping items for money.
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How To Make Money Flipping Items
You can make money flipping for a profit pretty easily if you know what to look for. In fact, if you are looking for quick flips for money, it can be hard to choose what to buy and sell.
Picking the right things to flip is half the battle.
There is no point spending hours sourcing something to flip that no one wants.
There is most certainly an art to flea market flipping and it is worth spending some time learning the ins and outs of making a profitable business.
Make Money Flipping – Free Training
I recently took a free online training on how to make money flipping furniture and other items. It was a game changer and an amazing insight into the World of flea market flipping.
The training was put on by Rob and Melissa, who are a husband and wife team that consistently earn thousands of dollars a month by flipping items.
In the completely free webinar training, they will teach you how to get started with flipping for a profit and how to make your first sale in just weeks.
In the training, you learn:
- How to know if flipping/reselling items is for you
- How flipping can be your ticket to lifestyle freedom and financial security.
- Insider secrets that will help you grow your flipping profits.
How To Make Money Flipping Furniture & Other Stuff
Remember the basics of flipping for a profit – buy low, sell high. And it doesn’t get lower than free.
The easiest way to start flipping items for money is to sell your unwanted junk for cash.
Everyone has stuff in the basement or garage that they no longer want and that could be making you money.
Old furniture, tools and DVDs can be sold for a pretty penny if you price it right.
Flipping your own stuff for a profit is a great way to get your feet wet in the flea market flipping world without any money down.
Your next step can be picking up free items to sell on Facebook, Craigslist or even the curb on garbage day. I’ve picked up so many things in perfect condition on my neighbourhood junk day.
If you know someone who is moving as them if they have anything they want to get rid of. Most people clear out a ton of junk before they move so it’s the perfect opportunity for a flipper to swoop in and “help get rid of stuff”.
7 Places To Find Items To Flip For A Profit
The next stage of your business is buying items to flip for a low price and selling high.
If you are serious about making money flipping for a living, you will eventually exhaust the free items available and need to start buying stuff then flipping it for more cash.
Here are some places to look for items to flip:
- Flea Markets
- Thrift Stores
- Facebook Marketplace
- Online Moving Sale Auctions
- Estate Sales
- Yard Sales
- Treasure Hunt Style Warehouse Stores
And here is a list of what to look for in thrift stores to make money.
And what about selling your items?
Once you have found some awesome bargains or free things that you can sell on, you need to consider where to sell them!
Where To Flip Items For A Profit
I huge part of learning how to make money flipping items is knowing where to sell the items you want to flip.
The bottom line: Where you sell your flips is really dependant on what you are selling.
Furniture might work best on Facebook Marketplace because of the logistics of shipping while smaller items do well on eBay and online auctions.
Here are the best places to sell your flips for a profit:
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook is the most popular place for buying and selling items locally. You can do contactless selling by offering porch pick up and electronic money transfer. Bear in mind that scammers abound on Facebook so do not hand over any items without receiving payment.
eBay
eBay has been around for years and is more popular in some countries like the UK than others. You can buy and sell safely using PayPal but there are fees involved for processing and listing an item.
Bear in mind that you will need to deal with shipping and handling with eBay.
READ MORE: How To Make Money On eBay
Etsy
You probably haven’t thought about Etsy as a place to sell but it is brilliant for one of a kind vintage furniture and jewelry. There are whole Etsy stores that only focus on reselling used items.
People love memorabilia and you can build a great Etsy business selling these items.
You can start your own Etsy store in minutes and if you use this link, you will get 40 free listings to start you off (it is normally 20 cents a listing).
READ MORE: How To Start An Etsy Store Successfully
Amazon Resellers
Most people think of Amazon as a place to buy stuff but it can be a really good place to sell your used books, electronics and other gear too.
It’s also fantastic for selling items that you find on clearance in bulk.
The only catch with selling stuff online via Amazon is that some categories need approval from Amazon and the fees can get hefty. It’s worth upgrading to the professional plan if you have a lot to sell.
This free ebook on Amazon FBA is a great guide to becoming an Amazon reseller.
Listia
Listia is an online auction site similar to eBay.
This site is good if you also have things to buy as they pay you in “ink” that you can then spend on the site.
This is not the best option if you want cash fast.
eBid
eBid is a Google Shopping Marketplace Partner and is another great option if you have niche items that need a wider audience than the Facebook groups. The fees are slightly lower than eBay.
NextDoor
Neighbourhood NextDoor sites are great for higher end furniture and household items.
The one negative of using these kinds of marketplaces to sell your stuff online that you need to exchange contact information with the buyer.
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your address with a stranger, you can either meet the buyer in person at a public location.
Craigslist
Craigslist and the Canadian equivalent, Kijiji, are great for large furniture items. I normally try selling my items on Facebook first but if they don’t sell, I put them up on Kijiji and often have luck.
OfferUp
Offerup is one of the most popular marketplace apps that allows you to sell your stuff online to trusted buyers.
I really like Offerup because they prioritize safety and trust through profiles and, unlike Facebook, they have a customer care team to help with issues.
Mercari
It is free to list your items for sale on Mercari – fees are 10% of the sell price.
This is a good option for selling smaller items online as everything is shipped to the buyer. Once you have sold your item, you will receive a printable shipping label via email.
Decluttr
Decluttr is a free app for selling your unwanted tech items such as cellphones, DVDs and computers.
The app will provide you with a valuation of your items and if approved, a shipping label. Once the item is received, you will get paid – it’s that simple!
Poshmark
Poshmark is the number one site for selling clothes and shoes online. It’s great for brand name or trendy items for women, men or kids.
You can make a ton of money flipping shoes online, if you want to learn more, you can check out this completely free workshop on flipping shoes for a profit.
Good photos are a must!
Consignment Stores
Mom and pop consignment sales as well as large chains such as Once Upon A Child (kid’s clothing), are awesome for selling a lot of clothes quickly.
The only issue is that these stores take a large percentage of the profits and aren’t the best place for making money flipping.
Varagesale
You can use Varagesale online or as an app. It works very similarly to Facebook marketplace and Craigslist but is not as popular.
8 Best Items To Resell For Profit
So the big question is, what are the best things to flip for a profit? You might actually be surprised at what sells at flea markets and online auctions.
It really is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and even your old junk may make you some nice cash.
Here are the best items to look for when you are at yard sales and thrift stores:
1.Furniture
The best furniture to flip for a profit are quality pieces made of solid wood. Vintage desks, chairs and tables are fantastic finds that you can quickly flip for a profit.
We all know that “they don’t make them like they used to” and wood furniture is one of those things where it pays to buy older vintage styles.
Flipping furniture income can be really good because solids pieces are always in demand.
You can also resell refinished furniture pieces in chalk paint or a fresh coat of stain. Refurbishing chairs and tables is a great way to make money flipping items.
RELATED POSTS: Wood Crafts That Sell At Flea Markets
2. Books
Books, especially up-to-date text books, are one of the best items to resell for a profit.
Learning how to sell books for cash is a great to boost your income quickly.
Text books cost a bomb and everyone is looking for second-hand options.
Consider selling them to university stores for the best chance of making money.
Rare editions and books that are out of print are another hot seller on the resell market.
3. Video Games & DVDS
Video games cost a bunch so buying them second-hand is a popular choice.
You can make a lot of money reselling old video games if you can get your hands on popular ones and classic games from back in the day.
If you find a vintage game console, grab it while you can. They are really popular and can make you a lot of money on eBay.
4. Vintage Clothing and Limited Edition Sneakers
Name brand and vintage clothing is one of the best items to flip for a profit.
You can usually sell popular brands for a nice profit, especially if they are in new or nearly-new condition.
Look for high-end brands and luxury brands like Coach, Nike, Abercrombie and Fitch and Ugg.
Limited edition sneakers are something that you can resell by buying them for retail then cashing on the scarcity of the item. Obviously this requires more of an upfront investment but it can be a highly lucrative flip.
Leather jackets and purses are also an easy sell. I also like flipping clothes from brands like Michael Kors or Kate Spade whenever I see them.
These are items that can you easily find in thrift stores in tony neighbourhoods near you. I used to live in a fancy area of Los Angeles and my local Goodwill was full of New With Tag brand name finds.
5. Name-Brand Shoes
Following on from clothing, shoes are a whole other flipping item of their own. You can make a living reselling designer shoes for a profit.
When I lived in Los Angeles as I mentioned above, I discovered that most of the country just doesn’t have access to the kinds of brands that I had in Los Angeles.
I would regularly pick up a pair of Michael Kors shoes at Goodwill for $5 then turn around and sell them for $20 on eBay.
True designer shoes will get you even more money – Beau Hunter is a shoe flipper extraordinaire who makes massive profits flipping shoes for money.
Here is one of his best ever flips – he bought the shoes below for $2 and look what they sold for!
6. Power Tools
Who doesn’t have a bunch of old power tools in their garage or workshop? Power tools are expensive to buy new so they are an attractive second-hand buy.
Look for name brand power tools at yard sales and sell them on Facebook for a profit. Drills, saws, sanders and all kinds of materials are all good items to flip.
7. Vintage Jewelry
The best place to find vintage jewelry to resell for a profit is at estate sales. You might also get lucky at thrift stores but most of the jewelry there is just costume trinkets that is not worth much.
You can sell vintage jewelry in an Etsy Store and reach a Worldwide audience. As jewelry is normally small and light, you don’t have to worry so much about high shipping costs.
8. Baby Clothes And Gear
As most parents know, babies grow fast and most baby clothing and gear is hardly used. You can snap up some great baby gear bargains and flip them for a profit.
Look for:
- Clothing
- Baby Swings
- Bassinets
- Strollers
- Rockers
- Nursing Gear
- Toys
Here are the best places To Sell Used Baby Clothes For Cash
Final Thoughts On How To Make Money Flipping Items
There are lots of ways to make money flea market flipping. You can focus just on furniture or start an Etsy store selling vintage finds such as jewelry or sports memorabilia.
Consider what kind of profit you want to make and price your items accordingly, whilst remembering to account for shipping and transaction fees.
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