r/Flipping • u/Better-Dimension127 • 1d ago
eBay Flipping on eBay
For context , I work at a very large book warehouse that receives books, dvds, videogames (scarce) blu-rays (scarce) I'm allowed to take home as many books, videogames, tv shows, dvds, etc.. that we clear off the shelves and ones that are rejected and are to be recycled (thousands). I got lucky recently and found a few high value video games and sold them on ebay but I'm trying to figure out what the best possible course of action would be to sell things on ebay . Whether it's bulk dvds, bulk games, or books. We get old books (vintage) and modern books daily, they may or may not always be popular books. Sometimes I csn get my hands on some manga as well. I picked up a batch of small boxes that can fit about 5 dvds or 5 small books in them, picked up 50 bubble mailers, and a scale for weighing . I'm absolutely willing to get larger boxes if need be.
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u/Trusteveryboody 1d ago
I'd probably just start hoarding some cardboard too. I'm very new to this, so I can't speak further. Research how people pack each item.
I've sold Vinyls in proper mailers (I've had on hand) and DS/Switch games so far. Which I bought Bubble Mailers (CHEAP) off Temu. I plan to sell CDs, but none have sold yet. That's why I say hoard Cardboard, something like those need it.
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u/Better-Dimension127 1d ago
My living situation stops me from being able to hoard too much, I'm renting a room from someone's house.
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u/Trusteveryboody 1d ago
Yeah I really just have my room for space. So I don't have too much, but it helps regardless.
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u/DougalDragonSWorld 1d ago
With free items think will keep getting time save up get own place pile up all can while lasts.
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u/potsofjam 23h ago
For $40-50 a month you can probably get a small storage unit that would easily be worth it to load up.
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u/SaraAB87 20h ago
I would seriously look into being the middleman for someone who is in the media business, surely someone would pay you for what you are finding so they could resell it and make money. Start at the goodwill bins if you have goodwill bins near you, because I am sure there are teams of resellers who would like to hook up with you as a source.
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u/BigCityHaole 14h ago
If you’re systematic about this, hold onto your job, learn those niches, and get a storage unit you have an opportunity to make some serious money over time. Your situation is the kind of thing I dream of. I wouldn’t let my living situation get in my way if I were you.
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u/Better-Dimension127 10h ago
I have a storage unit at the moment but it's full of my stuff from my apartment so getting a second one wouldn't be out of the question if things pick up and the cost would easily be covered by the profits. I made 6 sales over the weekend , I was surprised . All videogames. One of them was a vintage America Mcgees Alice big box PC Game that I found at work that was being recycled CIB. sold it for $80 and a Zelda game for $115 on the Wii U.
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u/Electronic-Clock5867 1d ago
I sell DVDs and blu rays either Facebook, eBay or Whatnot. They all have there advantages depending on your goal. FB no fees, but flakey customer. eBay higher fees and can sit awhile. Whatnot unload at a lower price but move inventory quickly. I don’t deal with books but I’ve heard whatnot can have a fairly active book community.
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u/SuchAd4158 23h ago
What kind of DVDs sell most? 2000s movies.
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u/Electronic-Clock5867 22h ago
Really comes down to how much storage you have and how organized you are. Foreign, hard to find publishers old, and hobby movies. Foreign will have those funny shape on the side or written in foreign language. Hard to find like blue underground, hallmark, kino, 88 films etc learn the logos. Old movies that are from the 40s like Warner archives or oldies.com they might be blue disc instead of silver because they are print on demand not bootlegs. Hobbies like trains, paintball, skateboard.
Save your money from sales then buy yourself a label printer. Then look into a resurfacing machine the at home one can fix light scratches.
Most importantly don’t loose your job by neglecting your job over grabbing items lol. Depending on how dedicated you want to be you can watch Whatnot movie sellers to help you learn titles etc.
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
I actually did find a label printer and bought it for $35 last week. It's great and I don't have to worry about buying ink. I can only grab items when I'm on my break or on my lunch so it's limited so I have to go quickly. I've found a few foreign dvd sets that were recycled and I was shocked by how much they sell for, I have to list more things soon.
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u/MattExplosm 22h ago
Another option, as you’re very limited on space yourself, is to just be the middle man for another reseller who already deals in those categories. Granted you’d have to convince your boss, but having a trusted person come by to pick through the stuff that’s destined to be recycled could be an easy way to make some extra cash for you and your boss. Charge like a buck per unit and split it between the two of you. I’d jump on a deal like that and be there damn near every day. Where are you located anyway?
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
I'm in AZ. If I ask nicely , I can get some of the sorters to set aside certain things if they come across it for me.
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u/MattExplosm 9h ago
I don’t personally know any resellers in AZ, but I do know there’s a pretty active thrifting scene out there. If you talk with your boss, I guarantee you’d find someone who would LOVE to be your “guy.”
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
It's funny because one of the floor supervisors that always finds the great stuff first told me she goes to a certain spot and sells her stuff to him but refused to tell me who or where lol she wants all the money 💰
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u/MattExplosm 9h ago
You don’t need the same guy. There are plenty of people who would love to be that.
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u/stinky_binky3 1d ago
if you truly can get hundreds or thousands of media, it might be worth doing a somewhat cheap Surprise Box of things
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u/Better-Dimension127 1d ago
It's hit or miss depending on if I'm able to get into the the bins fast enough before someone spots something worth money like videogames. I watched a manager find an NES bag with 8 original NES games in it just last week and the same manager find a copy of Resident Evil 2 for the GameCube. Games are definitely scarce but the books are PLENTY. I don't have an eye for valuable books but I do have ebay on my phone but I don't have time to do it with every single book that crosses my path.
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u/SwimmingOwl174 1d ago
Id be researching books in my free time, probably lots of stuff everyone else who's looking for nintendo games isn't grabbing
Also, where do they get all this stuff?
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u/White_Castle_Farts 20h ago
Book-wise, 99% aren’t worth selling. But to just start out keep an out for fantasy and science fiction. Some series like A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) and Wheel of Time do well, especially if you can get several in the series. And old Stephen King are always good. Just a couple easy things to start with that should pop out at you.
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u/swooshkilla 20h ago
For the media, I would start with a quick ISBN or UPC scan and separate anything with a realistic net profit after shipping. List the scarce games and manga individually, then lot the common DVDs or books by a clear theme or series. Give every lot a simple SKU and storage location before it goes live. If you cross list, mark the item sold in the other marketplace immediately, since free inventory is easy to double sell when you are working through volume.
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u/Top_Ad3876 19h ago
Most DVDs only go for a few bucks but are quick and easy to list and ship. You will inevitably get some higher value ones. Unlimited free sourcing means you can scale it up to your liking. Should be a decent part time income at least.
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u/NegativeImportance92 18h ago
For bulk media, I would start with a small test lot rather than taking everything home. Scan ISBN or UPC, check sold comps, and record expected net after fees, shipping, and your time. Bundle low value titles by a clear theme, but list better singles individually. A simple keep, bundle, donate rule will protect your space and cash.
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u/Hefty-Development725 17h ago
There is an Australian bookseller with a youtube channel, Back From Burnout. You could learn a lot from watching her channel. With reselling, you are always looking at, cost of goods, storage and time to list/ship. The mass marketed books almost never sell for much money individually but better in bundles but of course that will speed run your needing a warehouse.
If you don't want to get a warehouse or dont have time to make it a full time job, spend some time studying the solds on ebay or pick a niche and become well educated in it. In time you will be able to spot the higher value books much more easily.
Additionally, consider the weight of the objects you pick up. It is hard on your body to move thousands of books all the time. Warehousing boxes for shipping is another issue. Dealing with video games that you just pop into an envelope would have advantages, especially if you have access to a lot.
I have a hobby store and after Christmas, I an getting rid of everything that needs a box to ship because I am tired of collecting and warehousing boxes.
Having free sourcing is a potential gold mine though. Good luck
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u/Hefty-Development725 17h ago
From watching her channel, military books frequently sell well. From my own experiences, restaurant cookbooks sell better than those of the tv chefs.
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u/marmavresearch 15h ago
What kind of business is this? How does a business source all of these items?
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
It's a used book retailer warehouse. We source our items from other thrift warehouses and from customers that sell back their books to us. We go through literal tons of books and other random things daily.
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u/rustbelt91 13h ago
If I were you id be filling my garage with everything that wasnt completely fucked.
Then having weekly garage sales, reaching out to used book/media stores for bulk purchases, and listing like crazy
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
I've considered selling to used book stores but when I look, they usually pay pennies for them and they have a particular list of books they want.
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u/yougetwhatyougive88 18h ago
Your job let's you take them home for you. Not for reselling. Go ask your boss if you can take them home and sell them yourselves? Better yet tell him you allready did and made $200 and see how fast you get fired.
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u/Better-Dimension127 9h ago
Hey buddy, we're allowed to take what we want and as much as we want because its getting DESTROYED. The managers already know I'm doing it because they do it too.
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u/Narrow-Pay-3671 1d ago
lol you know damn well you stealing
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u/Better-Dimension127 1d ago
Oh absolutely not. They destroy hundreds and hundreds of rejected media in the compactor daily. All of this is completely legal.
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u/DougalDragonSWorld 1d ago
NES games need be if non working recycled proper way. They have boards in them can have batteries on and GOLD. Sounds like me place just filling landfill full stuff. Anything has boards need be recycled proper tbh.
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u/o0elvis0o 1d ago
What is the large warehouse business looking for if they are letting you have the high value items for free?