WHAT IS FLIPPING?
Flipping as a term comes from investment – and was initially related to the buying of property to sell on within a short time frame to make a huge profit. There are other major forms of flipping, including vehicles and even cryptocurrencies, but these involve huge amounts of money and high risk.
Popularised by entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, eBay flipping has grown exponentially over the past few years and while it poses a much smaller financial risk, the profits are still there to be made – and could even act as a small business. It’s reselling items for a profit!
HOW TO FLIP ON EBAY
An eBay flip is relatively simple – all it requires is a keen eye, a small amount of money, an eBay account, and an internet connection.
To flip on eBay, frequenting second-hand shops and car boot sales where people are interested in selling their items as quickly as possible is key. Finding items that you could flip shouldn’t be too hard, and once you’ve purchased them from their former owner, it’s as simple as listing items online for a profit.
Initially, you might need to check how much items are selling for on the marketplace, but once you get the hang of things you’ll be able to know what will be selling for more than a few pounds online.
The idea is that the seller is so keen to get rid of the items that they’re happy to lose out on a potentially bigger profit, or that they’re unaware of the actual value of the product they’re selling.
THE BEST THINGS TO FLIP ON EBAY
There’s plenty of segments of eBay flipping. From furniture to pop culture, making a profit from people selling items low can be easy when you know what to look for. An eBay flip can be worth way more than you initially thought if there’s a set too!
We’ve prepared a list of categories to look out for when you’re trying to flip on eBay. The best things to flip on eBay include:
Sporting Memorabilia
Sport memorabilia can end up fetching a pretty penny if you’ve picked up the right thing. A lot of the profit in eBay flipping sporting memorabilia comes with authentication that the item is real, or the condition that the item is in. Items that could be flipped include:
- Trading cards
- Vintage hats, scarves, and accessories
- Shirts/jerseys
- Programmes and rare ticket stubs
- Autographed items
Pop Culture Items
This could be a wide range of items, from toys to plushies or even collectibles – and trading cards can fall in this area too. Some Pokémon cards have sold for hundreds of thousands in the past – so while you might not find a first-edition Charizard when you’re searching, it’s good to keep your eyes out. Some popular brands/items you should look for are:
- Pokémon
- Disney (including Star Wars and Marvel)
- Transformers
- Funko POP! Toys
- Early 2000s Toys (Thomas the Tank, TeleTubbies)
- Hot Wheels
- Barbie
Collections
Sometimes a seller just wants things gone, and will sell things by the box to ensure their stock is depleted, especially at a car boot sale. Keep an eye out for things that could be worth way more sold as a single item than you’ve just paid for the whole set. This could be:
- Video games
- Vinyl records, CDs, Cassettes
- Artwork
- Stamps
- Patches or embroidery
- Books
Clothes and shoes
These items might require a bit more money spent but could provide a much bigger profit margin. At boot sales especially, sellers often pile swathes of trainers, shoes and clothes and leave onlookers to rummage – there may be a designer brand hiding in there. Look out for:
- Designer clothes
- Vintage brands
- Modern best-sellers like Nike
Parts
This one is a bit harder as you should know what it is you’re buying before you do. Avoid broken items, but if there’s a spare part like a remote control – it could make you a great profit for minimal effort. Keep an eye out for:
- Remotes
- Power Leads
- Cables like HDMI or USB-C
THINGS TO AVOID FOR EBAY FLIPPING
There are some things that may be better avoided due to issues with posting, morals, and other things.
For example, we would recommend any baby clothing, toys or learning materials should be left for new mothers who may not be able to afford these items brand-new. The same goes for any clothing like wedding or prom dresses, which should be left for people who may need these items but could be struggling to pay for them.
A dubious choice is furniture. It can be posted within our network but should be properly protected. Once again, this could be left for those who may need it – but if you’re creative enough, you could upcycle furniture with issues and sell it on for a profit.
CHOOSE DHL eCommerce UK AS YOUR EBAY FLIPPING PARTNER
If you’re looking to start flipping on eBay, then linking your eBay account with DHL eCommerce UK can make shipping your items a breeze. By linking, you can import items from your eBay account into our system and book parcels with ease.
Having a fast and reliable courier alongside your eBay flips can keep those profits coming in, and especially so with affordable next day delivery. Get a quote for domestic and international shipping today.