Thrift store flipping is an extremely lucrative business model of selling online, whereby you can easily find items at various thrift stores to flip for profit.
Wondering where to sell those items? eBay is a popular place for selling used and second-hand items. And some sellers use eBay as the primary platform to flip their thrift store finds.
Thrift store flipping is not as complicated as you might think. All you need to do is buy items from thrift shops and resell them at a higher price.
It can be very lucrative, especially if you’re good at finding high-value items at bargain prices. A lot of sellers use local thrift store flipping to supplement their main income.
In this article, we will talk about how you can make money with thrift store flipping on eBay.
But first, let’s have a brief overview of thrift stores, including what they are and the purpose they serve.
Key Takeaways
- ✔ Thrift store flipping on eBay can be profitable, focusing on popular items like cell phone accessories and smartwatches.
- ✔ Quality and research are crucial for successful flipping.
Before You Get Started
- ✔ Understand thrift store dynamics and the types of items typically available.
- ✔ Familiarize yourself with eBay’s selling platform and processes.
What are Thrift Stores?
Thrift stores are retail establishments that sell used items, usually to raise money for charity. These items vary from store to store but may include furniture, clothes, bags, toys, children’s wear, shoes, and even music albums.
The first thrift store (or charity shop, as they are called in the UK) was opened in 1899 in Wolverhampton, UK. It was the Wolverhampton Society for the Blind (now known as the Beacon Centre for the Blind) and its main purpose was to raise money for the society by selling items made by the members.
Over the years, several charity shops were opened up by different institutions. During World War II, the Red Cross opened about 350 charity shops in different locations.
In the early 2010s, buying items at thrift shops became so popular that ‘thrifting’ became a common word.
Most thrift stores are commonly run by charitable, not-for-profit associations, but some are owned by private, for-profit companies. Thrift shops are popular in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Tips for Thrift Store Flipping on eBay
Here are some thrift store flipping tips to help you level up your flipping game on eBay.
- Keep an eye for quality: You should always go on thrift store runs to find high-quality items. It might take you a while to learn to recognize quality products, but it can help you boost the reputation of your store. Also, high-quality items always sell for more. So, finding and stocking them amounts to more profit.
- Do your research: Research is vital at every stage of thrift store flipping. If you’re unfamiliar with a brand but you’re interested in selling their products in your online store, you could do a quick web search to find out if people are interested in their products. Market research will also help you find out how much that same product is selling for in other stores and give you a standard rate to work with when pricing your stock.
- Follow Local Thrift Stores on Social Media: Find out if the local thrift stores in your area have Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest accounts, and follow them if they do. This will help you get regular updates on any new stock they acquire. It will also allow you to review their selection and take advantage of discount offers.
- Make Sure the Item is Clean and Saleable before listing it: Take your time to clean the item up before listing it on eBay. Usually, if the item requires other restorative work than cleaning, it’s probably not worth buying in the first instance. Glass and ceramic items will require a bit of polishing to be saleable, in some cases.
- Take High-quality Product Pictures: Your product pictures sell your items for you. You either need to learn how to take high-quality product pictures in good lighting or hire someone to do it for you.
- Consider Shipping and Packaging Costs: These expenses can cut into your profit margin. You should carefully consider how you can keep these expenses to a minimum. For example, you could add the cost of shipping to the product price and make sure to use packages that fit the item’s size.
Ten Best Items to Flip for Profit on eBay
The following are the best items to resell for profit on eBay, based on trends and market research.
ZIK Analytics is a game-changer when it comes to product and market research on eBay. ZIK Analytics’ Product Analyzer provides you with insights into a particular product niche, such as the overall sale earnings, the number of successful listings, average product price, and the trends in daily sales over the last month.
It also shows the best-selling items in that niche.
Cell Phone Accessories
Cell phone accessories are high in demand on eBay. This is a category that is always high in demand year after year because new products are being released almost every day.
The demand for cell phone accessories is also influenced by the demand for smartphones and mobile tablets.
Popular items in this category include cell phone cases, wireless earbuds, chargers, and Bluetooth speakers. To be specific, iPhone and Samsung accessories are quite popular on eBay.
This category has 59,811,630 active listings selling at an average price of $8.64 and the number of successful listings is at a staggering 100%.
Health and Beauty – Skin Care Products
The average product price in this category is $13.02. This category has over 120,000 overall sold items, with a sell-through rate of about 7% and 100% successful listings.
There are an average of 20,000 people watching products in this category.
This niche is not much dependent on the economy as skincare is a pertinent issue for a lot of people. Products in this niche are moving fast and are in constant, heavy demand.
Popular products in this category to consider for your store include dermal rollers, natural oils, and products containing Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid.
Smart Watches
A smartwatch is a digital wristwatch that measures time using atomic clock accuracy. It can be linked to mobile phones and usually provides a touchscreen interface.
They can notify users of incoming calls and text messages. They are very popular among fitness enthusiasts because they can be outfitted with health-monitoring features and fitness trackers.
There are over 75,000 items sold in this category with an average product price of $17.04. Google trends for this category are fairly stable since it is in demand year to year.
Popular items include famous brands and non-brand-specific products. Be sure to list smartwatches with different designs, colors, price offers, and for different target demographics.
Smartphones
According to Market Data Forecast, the global smartphone market is expected to reach a valuation of about 493.11 billion dollars in 2026. This category has over 1.5 million listings, of which 100% are successful.
The average product price is $221.12. Google Trends for this category shows that this item is popular in demand. Popular items in this category include generic, branded products, unlocked, and carrier options.
You might need to carry out more research to find out the popular products to sell in this product niche. Recent developments in the smartphone industry such as 5G phones and enhanced resolutions are likely to attract attention from buyers. So, be sure to include them in your eBay store.
Sporting Goods – Hunting
Hunting gear is used in hunting wild animals. Popular items in this category are hunting gloves, hunting rifles, hunting glasses, rifle scopes, and trail cameras.
This category has over two million listings selling at an average price of $39.82. This listing has a 1% sell-through rate with about 25000 sold items.
The Google Trends graph shows an upward movement which means this is a popular category.
You need to take extra care when selling any hunting items as you can get banned, depending on the nature of the product. You may consider focusing on hunting accessories instead of hunting weapons.
Sewing
Coming up at number six on this list, we have sewing equipment. Sewing tools and equipment, such as textiles, fabrics, and shearing tools are in high demand on eBay
This category has a 100% sell-through rate with an average selling price of $13.There are a huge number of listings, above two million. The Trends graph shows an upwards movement in interest over time.
If you’re planning to sell items in this category, you should include a wide variety of products differentiated by style, price, and purpose.
Camera Drones
Drones are used in surveillance and product delivery. In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for drone cameras capable of taking high-resolution images.
This product has a sell-through rate of 138% which is quite high. It also has 94% successful listings at an average product price of $199.61. The number of sold items in this category is about 20,000 in total.
The product has a volatile trends graph, i.e, there is fluctuation in the demand.
The lineup in this category is quite varied. To compete in this niche, the best option is to find an item cheaper than the best selling option and slightly compete on price.
Furniture
At number eight on the list of top items to resell on eBay, we have furniture. Furniture is another item category that is always in high demand. Gaming chairs and workstations are popular on eBay.
This category has over one million listings on eBay, and these products have been sold about 14000 times in a product. The average product price is $202 and the percentage of successful listings is 86%. Keep in mind that high ticket items always leave more room for profit.
Google Trends results for this search term show that this is a stable category for which there is consistent, yearly demand.
You could list different types of office and luxury chairs, sofas, tables, stools, shelves, etc in your eBay store.
Books
Books are still a major niche for e-commerce. Popular book niches are self-improvement, cookbooks, health, fitness, nutrition, and adult fiction.
Google Trends results for this search term show that “Books” is a stable niche and demand doesn’t fluctuate over time.
The average price of items in this category is $13.78. Selling works of popular authors can attract buyers and net you some fair profit.
You can find popular book sets for cheap prices at thrift stores and resell them at a fair markup on eBay. Donated college textbooks might also have good resale value on eBay.
Be sure to note any item specifics when listing books on eBay such as the book edition, and condition. Always do your research to find out the most profitable price to sell a book for.
Guitars
Guitars are in heavy demand on eBay. This includes electric, acoustic, and semi-acoustic guitars.
Successful listings in this category are at 88% with an average selling price of $148.64. The total number of listings is about 600,000.
From the Product Analytics, it is clear to see that electric guitars are the most commonly sold type on eBay. Selling guitars on eBay can be a bit tricky, so it may be worth taking the time to learn more about the process.
What to Avoid Doing
- ✘ Avoid investing in items without researching their demand and value on eBay.
- ✘ Don’t overlook the importance of presentation, such as high-quality product photos.
How to Prevent Issues
- ✔ Use tools like ZIK Analytics to validate the potential profitability of items.
- ✔ Ensure items are clean and in good condition before listing them.
Conclusion
You are not going to find retail gold at every local store run but as you gain more experience in thrifting and flipping, you get better at identifying high-quality items. Be sure to keep your expectations in check though.
High-quality can be a relative term, especially when it comes to thrift store flipping.
Thrift store flipping can be a nifty way to make extra cash and if you’re willing to put in the work and you’re making enough profit, it can even become a full-time venture.
Create Click-Worthy eBay Titles for Your Flipped Finds
Flipping thrift store items is one thing—getting them noticed on eBay is another. Use ZIK Analytics’ Free Title Builder to craft titles that grab attention and drive sales. It pulls data from real eBay listings so you can create high-ranking, keyword-rich titles in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thrift Store Flipping
Here are some frequently asked questions about flipping in thrift stores:
Is thrift store flipping profitable?
Yes. Many eBay sellers make good money flipping thrift store items, with some earning close to $100k a year. Profitability depends on buying low, selling high, keeping shipping costs down, and focusing on popular items. Research and quality control are key to making consistent profits in thrift store flipping.
How can I tell if flipping an item will be profitable?
You can check profitability by researching demand and pricing. Use tools like ZIK Analytics to see sales data, competition, and average selling prices. You can also search the item on eBay, filter by “Sold Items,” and compare recent sale prices. This helps you decide if the profit margin is worth the investment.
Where should I sell my thrift store finds?
You can sell thrift store finds on platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Etsy, depending on the product type. eBay is great for a wide range of used items, Amazon works well for books and electronics, and Etsy suits vintage or handmade goods. You can also use your own online store or local garage sales.
What types of items sell best from thrift store flipping?
High-demand thrift store flipping items include cell phone accessories, smartwatches, books, furniture, guitars, camera drones, and quality clothing. Popular picks also include skincare products, sporting goods accessories, and sewing supplies. Items with strong resale value are usually branded, in good condition, and appeal to a large audience year-round.
How can I keep shipping costs low when flipping items?
You can keep shipping costs low by using lightweight packaging, reusing boxes, and choosing the smallest package size that fits your item. Compare carrier rates before shipping, and consider offering local pickup to avoid postage entirely. Adding shipping costs into your product price can also help maintain profit margins.
What mistakes should I avoid when thrift store flipping?
Avoid buying items without researching demand or resale value, as this can lead to unsold stock. Don’t neglect cleaning or repairing items before listing, since poor presentation can hurt sales. Skipping high-quality photos and clear descriptions is another mistake that reduces buyer interest. Finally, avoid overpaying—always aim for a strong profit margin.