I’ve talked before about earning side money by reselling used children’s items. After visiting a local thrift store, I thought it would be fun to give a better example of how much money can be made doing this. (Not to spoil the mystery — but I didn’t make a lot.)
First off, shopping at thrift stores is unpredictable. This past trip, I found a Juicy Couture baby dress right next to a faded and stained baby shirt from Walmart; both were the same price. Sometimes you find gold, and sometimes you don’t find anything.
During this shopping trip, I looked through the racks for about 30 minutes and spent $12 on the items listed below. (Goodwill stores in California seem to be priced much higher than in other areas.) When I got home, it took another 20-30 minutes to list all of the items on Ebay using the Ebay app. The total time invested in my side project was less than an hour.
Below is a list of my profits. This doesn’t list what I sold the item for — but how much I made after subtracting the cost of the item, as well as the Ebay, Paypal, and shipping fees. For example, I received $16.99 for the Janie and Jack airplane sweater, and after subtracting all of the costs, my profit was $7.67.
My Profits
Janie and Jack airplane sweater: $7.67
Janie and Jack overalls: $1.14
Janie and Jack tank top: $0.79
Baby Gap dragon sweater: $5.56
Juicy Couture baby dress: $5.09
Kitestrings baby sweater: $1.51
Total profit: $21.76
As you can see, some of the items were not very profitable. Basically, I took my $12 of finds and turned them into $58.98 in sales. Unfortunately, the shipping and fees ate a good part of that (about $25.22 in all). My total profit was $21.76 for six items. For me, that’s decent money for less than an hour of work, and for something I enjoy doing. Obviously, I didn’t calculate all the factors — such as the fuel used to drive to the thrift store or the time it took to get the packages ready to ship.
So am I going to keep flipping baby clothes? Yes, but not with the goal of making a lot of money. Since I’m a mom, I already shop for used baby and kid clothes — so I might as well look for profitable items while I’m at it. Like I said earlier, I enjoy doing this as a hobby.
Should You Resell Items for a Profit?
If you think searching for used gems is enjoyable, then this might be a good side job for you. Look for items you’re knowledgable and passionate about. I know several people who make a nice profit from reselling basketball jerseys or electronics. I could never be profitable in those areas, because they’re not something I’m familiar with. Find your niche and stick with it, and know that some weeks are going to be good and others are going to stink.
All in all, I had a blast digging through my local thrift store and listing the items on Ebay. I wanted to share with you my finds and profits (even the small and embarrassing ones) to give you a better picture of what it is really like to resell used items. I wish all weeks were like the one time I found a Burberry baby outfit for $1.99 and then resold it for $75, but those moments are rare.
Do you like to resell items on Ebay? If so, what do you like to sell?
{ read the comments below or add one }
I thought that eBay charged the buyer for shipping. Can you explain what you mean by shipping costs? Thanks!
My daughter has triplets. When they were toddlers, she sold baby gown, blankets, booties, everything on Ebay. They were having a new house built and she made enough money to buy a new fridge, washer, and dryer! It was amazing!!
Good for her! Extra income can really help with finances so give it a try if you are able to swing the time.
I don’t like to worry about the shipping and other fees associated with Ebay, so I’ll resell larger ticket items on Craigslist, and clothing and toys at consignment sales and stores.
I’ve never really made too much money reselling stuff. But I have had success trading my baby clothes for others. Add in generous grandparents and we only need to buy a few pairs of shoes here and there for the Little Miss.