Going thrifting is fun.
It's like a treasure hunt — you never know exactly what you're going to find.
Thrift shops — “charity shops” if you're in the UK — aren't just a great place to find unique clothing items and accessories that might be vintage or retro.
A lot of common thrift store finds are actually worth quite a bit of money.
A lot more than what the thrift store is charging you for them.
It's been around since the late '90s, but flipping stuff on Ebay is still a solid way to make some extra cash, even in 2018.
If you know what to look for, you can pick up the ability to spot those lucrative diamonds in the rough.
From designer bags and shoes being offered for a pittance, to cool vintage collector's items and interesting antiques, you'd be surprised what you can find in your neighborhood thrift store.
In a recent blog post, MoneyCrashers talks about some of the most profitable kinds of items you can find and flip.
1. Books and Textbooks
Generally, individual books aren’t a huge moneymaker, but book lots traditionally sell very well at online auction sites.
Take for example a set of “Harry Potter” books: Used box sets in good condition (both paperback and hardcover) sell for around $30 to $50 on eBay, and you can find them considerably cheaper if you happen to snag a set in the thrift store.
Other popular box sets include “Anne of Green Gables,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
Even if you find just one or two books from these box sets, they can bring in more than a typical paperback, since collectors could be looking to add to their current library.
Keep an eye out for college textbooks as well, since students might donate them without checking their resale value.
Not all are worth a gold mine though, so make sure you check going rates on auction sites before investing your money in what might be an outdated reference.
2. Video Games
Video games can be nostalgic for gamers, and some popular titles and genres are in high demand.
Generally, the oldest and the newest games sell best, so avoid titles from outdated systems that haven’t yet gained iconic status, such as PlayStation 2 or Wii.
Games for the Atari 2600 and the Nintendo Entertainment System, on the other hand, can be in high demand.
For newer games, you might be able to make money on anything for a current system such as Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or Wii U.
3. Sporting Equipment
Brand-new sporting goods are expensive, so as long as they’re in good shape and without wear, rips, tears, or deterioration, people are often eager to snag items secondhand at a thrift store to save money.
These are also great items to sell as lots, since a mom with a hockey-playing kid might be looking for all of the gear at once.
A word to the wise, though – look for signs of sweat or unpleasant smells before you buy, since sporting goods might not be the easiest to clean.
4. Records and Record Players
Many thrift shops have an area for old records and record players, and both are highly collectible.
It’s not unusual to find a record player for less than $10, and many sell for $20 to $50 on eBay.
Vinyl albums are very collectible as well – just use your online sleuthing skills and look up albums before you purchase them expressly for resale.
You might be surprised at how much money diehard fans are willing to pay for records.
You can find more info about how to start flipping thrift store finds in the full article from MoneyCrashers.
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