Flipping thrift store finds has become a reliable way to earn extra income.
On r/thesidehustle, one seller wrote in February that they make money by picking up low-priced items at local thrift stores—such as vintage clothing, electronics, and books—and reselling them online.
The process takes only a few hours each week. Listings are posted on platforms like eBay Inc. EBAY and Poshmark Inc. POSH, where many items sell quickly for a profit.
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Hunting For Hidden Value In Thrift Stores
The seller explained that they spend about three hours a week browsing racks and shelves for undervalued goods. When something looks promising, they check resale prices, buy it, and post it online.
“I’ve been doing this for about six months now, and it’s been one of the easiest side hustles to keep up with,” the Redditor wrote. Most sales bring in $20–$40 profit per item. “No huge investments, no complicated processes, just finding underpriced items in local thrift stores and flipping them online for a profit.”
Still, not everyone has the same experience. One commenter wrote, “Such BS. ‘Even books if I feel like they’re in demand—wtf. Hey, who wants to give me $3 for Treasure Island? Ooh, do I hear $3.25?'”
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Another wrote, “My kid does this. However, I highly doubt the OP is ‘profiting’ $2,000–$3,000 a month. My kid only sells about one out of five things he buys and lists. Sure, there is the occasional coat he got for $10 that he sells for $100. But then there are another five things that cost $10 each that he donates back. Not to mention gas, seller fees, shipping, and packaging.”
Growing Demand For Secondhand Goods
Meanwhile, the resale market continues to expand. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that sales at used-merchandise stores reached $1.98 billion in June,
While most people are just walking past certain items, I’ve gotten pretty good at spotting the ones that’ll sell for more than what I paid,” the seller wrote in the Reddit post, adding that many valuable finds in thrift stores often go unnoticed.
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Balancing Time And Profit
Unlike other side hustles, the Redditor wrote that thrift flipping fits easily into their schedule. They spend weekends scanning stores and handle listings and shipping during the week. “I don’t spend all day hunting for items, and it doesn’t take a ton of effort,” they wrote.
They estimate about three hours a week is enough to reach $2,000–$3,000 in monthly income. Because items often sell quickly, this model avoids many of the inventory headaches that other small businesses face.
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