Perfect for Thrift Store Flipping
You may know someone who does this – thrift store flipping. Essentially it’s about buying things at a discounted price and reselling them online or at a yard or garage sale of your own. I know of more than one person who has done this. In fact, I know one woman who waits until just after a big holiday and she will buy up a lot of the decorations that are left over in the stores that have been drastically reduced.
She will store those items until just before that season rolls around and sell them at local craft fairs for the original prices pocketing a rather tidy little profit, often as much as 300%. It is not hard to do but you do need to have an idea of what sorts of items are worth buying at a thrift store and flipping for a profit.
There are five main items that are quick flippers. You can find them at yard sales, thrift stores and any other new and used outlet. Each of them can be flipped online at your local Facebook Buy & Sell Page, eBay or Amazon. They include:
Champion Brand Team Logo Football & Basketball Jerseys
Believe it or not, these collectable team jerseys are a hot seller for sports fans. You can find these in thrift stores at prices under $5 and you can resell them at prices ranging from $20 to $200 each. If the jersey is from a particularly popular team or one that has just won a major championship, it will be valuable. Plus, if you happen to be lucky enough to find sports jerseys from teams that have relocated, changed their logo or gone defunct, you will have what would be considered a very special collectable which could bring in even more money.
Vintage Levis Jeans and Jackets
There is something to be said about the comfort of an old pair of jeans. They also carry a good, solid value if they happen to be vintage and in reasonably good condition. Collectors are scouring online listings for these brand name jeans and jackets. If you happen upon any in your thrift store and yard sale excursions, pick them up as you could resell them for $500 or more.
Vintage Cowboy Boots
Provided these are American made, there is a demand for both men’s and women’s styles. Condition is a factor but that will only affect the resell price and depending on the age, it may not be much of a factor to the right collector. These boots tend to be used as décor items in homes and businesses and if you can buy them cheaply you should be able to flip them for anywhere between $100 and $1,000 a pair.
Quality XXL Sized Men’s Jackets
These are a fairly hot item and can pull in even more cash if the jacket has a motorcycle logo on it. Should it have a Harley Davidson logo on it, this will be your top seller. If you can find these at prices under $20 each you will be able to collect between $200 and $600 per jacket.
First Edition Books In Good Condition
There are usually many hidden treasures in book sales. This can be in a yard sale, thrift store or in a library that is selling off extra inventory. I know someone who frequents an annual book sale and picks up books for a little as 25 cents for a bag of a dozen. The important thing to note about book sales is that in order to make a good return with your flip the books have to be in good condition. The amount you can earn will vary but you will make far more than you spent.
The key to success with thrift store flipping is to buy low and sell high. If you choose to go the online route for selling, be sure to publish good quality photos of the items and to be truthful in the description. Nothing will damage your online reselling reputation more than deceiving information. If there is a small tear in something, say so and include a photo. The more accurate information you provide, the better luck you will have in reselling.
Here are five more items worth watching for when you are out and about looking through yard sales and second hand stores:
Vintage Ray Ban Sunglasses
These are extremely popular! You can earn between $150 and $300 per pair.
Vintage Radios
Collectors are always on the lookout for some of these and the older the radio, the better the resell value. The art décor styles from the 1930s to 1950s are big earners. The ones also drawing the most attention in online bidding sites are transistor radios made with unusual color combinations, have advertising or promotional tie-ins, have an extra such as a leather case or happen to be manufactured by a certain company. Prices will vary, but these items will sell.
1960s and Older Vehicle License Plates
License plate collectors span the globe and there is always a demand for these items. The older the plate, provided it is in good condition, the better the return. They are always available for sale in yard and garage sales. Avoid spending too much on an individual plate or set of plates unless they are particularly unusual.
Vintage Cowboy Items
In addition to boots, anything related to the Western cowboy lifestyle is a hot item for resale. This includes chaps, holsters, lighters, spurs and leather goods. You will have to be able to determine whether or not the ones you are considering buying are authentic or reproductions. The authentic pieces you will want to purchase and if you don’t spend too much on them, you will be able to flip them.
Vintage Belt Buckles
Belt buckles have always been a good seller and the best ones to look for are those that are stamped ‘sterling’ somewhere. These will command top dollar and that can be several hundreds of dollars. You will have to be cautious as to which ones you pick up to resell. Any with logos on them from vehicles, trucks, products and the like will have a better chance at flipping.
There are actually many more items that can be bought at a bargain price and sold for a small profit found in yard sales and second hand stores. You just need to be tuned into trends. One item a friend of mine is having success with is buying and flipping cast iron kitchen utensils, but there are only a handful of brands that are sought after by collectors.
Regardless of what you find and flip, you will discover the entire process fun and exciting as well as a source of income. To find out more about the best sellers in thrift store flipping visit www.thriftshoplife.com and www.flippingincome.com.