From Thrift to Profit: 5 Real Resellers Who Made It Big on eBay

Thrift stores are treasure troves for the sharp-eyed reseller. What others see as clutter, resellers see as opportunity. With platforms like eBay offering a global marketplace, flipping thrift store finds into real profits has become a legitimate and lucrative side hustle—or even a full-time career.

While many dabble in reselling, few take it seriously enough to turn their flips into a five-figure (or more) business. In this article, we’re shining the spotlight on five real-life resellers who made it big on eBay—starting with just thrift store finds, limited budgets, and a sharp eye for value.

Whether you’re new to the game or looking to scale your reselling hustle, these stories offer both inspiration and actionable tips to guide your path.

🛍️ Want to stay on top of hot flips, restocks, and insider reseller news? Bookmark Resell Calendar – The #1 news source for resellers to gain a competitive edge.

Why Thrift Store Flipping Works

Before we dive into the stories, here’s why thrift reselling remains one of the most accessible business models for side hustlers:

• Low cost of entry: Many items cost just $1–$10 and can flip for 5–10x their price.
  
• Low risk: Minimal inventory investment and manageable returns.
  
• Wide selection: From vintage clothing to electronics, books, toys, and collectibles.
  
• Sustainability: It promotes circular economy practices and reduces waste.
  

Success depends not on how much money you start with—but how well you spot demand, trends, and hidden value.

Reseller #1: Suzie the Vintage Clothing Queen

Started with: $100 and a love for 90s fashion
Main niche: Vintage women’s clothing
eBay handle: RetroThreadsbySuzie

Suzie's Story:

Suzie, a former graphic designer laid off during the pandemic, stumbled into reselling when she found a Tommy Hilfiger windbreaker from 1995 at a Salvation Army store for $7. She listed it on eBay and sold it within two days for $89.

Encouraged, she started scouring thrift stores for denim jackets, branded sweatshirts, and Y2K-era crop tops. She developed an instinct for what was trending based on TikTok fashion influencers.

Strategies That Worked:

• Flat lay photography on a neutral rug
  
• Keywords like Y2K, grunge, 90s aesthetic
  
• Offering free returns, which boosted buyer confidence
  

Her Numbers:

• 12 months in, Suzie now averages $3,000/month in eBay sales.
  
• Over 1,000 positive reviews.
  
• Expanding into Depop and Instagram drops.
  

Reseller #2: David the Book Scout

Started with: An iPhone, BookScouter app, and a $50 budget
Main niche: Textbooks and niche non-fiction books
eBay handle: SmartShelfSales

David's Story:

While browsing a Goodwill, David picked up a book titled “Advanced Clinical Pharmacology” for $3. Using the BookScouter app, he found it was selling for $78 on eBay. That book sold within a week.

He began visiting multiple thrift stores weekly, scanning book barcodes and filtering out low-profit titles. Textbooks, programming guides, and niche self-help books became his bread and butter.

Strategies That Worked:

• Barcode scanning apps to verify value on the spot
  
• Shipping via media mail to save costs
  
• Creating listings with ISBNs and condition notes to reduce return risks
  

His Numbers:

• 6 months in, David cleared over $9,000 in revenue
  
• Reinvests profits into sourcing higher-value books from library sales and estate auctions
  

Reseller #3: Cassie the Collector

Started with: $20 and a Pokémon plush toy
Main niche: Toys and collectibles (Funko Pops, action figures, plush)
eBay handle: ToyBoxFlips

Cassie’s Story:

Cassie stumbled into reselling when she found a 1999 Togepi Pokémon plush at a church thrift store for $2. It sold on eBay for $130.

Her niche? Toys people are nostalgic about. She scouts for vintage plush, out-of-box Funko Pops, and unopened action figures. She even builds bundles to boost average order value.

Strategies That Worked:

• Keyword optimization: “RARE,” “retired,” “OG,” “collector's edition”
  
• Checking sold listings to estimate pricing
  
• Leveraging seasonality (Q4 spikes)
  

Her Numbers:

• Sells 3–5 items per day
  
• Consistent $4,000+/month side income
  
• Recently launched a Shopify site to expand beyond eBay
  

Reseller #4: Jerome the Electronics Expert

Started with: $200 and a background in IT
Main niche: Used electronics and audio gear
eBay handle: CircuitResellerHQ

Jerome’s Story:

As a tech enthusiast, Jerome focused on vintage audio receivers, calculators, and handheld gaming consoles. He picked up a Sony Discman for $4 that sold for $79. Then an old graphing calculator for $12 that went for $140.

He now visits thrift stores and pawn shops, testing and refurbishing items before listing.

Strategies That Worked:

• Investing in tools to test/refurbish items
  
• Creating video demonstrations uploaded to unlisted YouTube links in listings
  
• Using eBay’s “Parts/Not Working” option for non-functional items with value
  

His Numbers:

• Hits $5,000–$7,000/month consistently
  
• Some flips go for 10x the buy cost
  
• Now sells on eBay and Facebook Marketplace
  

Reseller #5: Lisa the Niche Nailer

Started with: $150 and a love for old media
Main niche: VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, and obsolete media formats
eBay handle: RewindProfit

Lisa’s Story:

Everyone else walked past the VHS shelves—Lisa ran to them. She began sourcing sealed VHS tapes, horror DVDs, and vintage PC games.

Her biggest win? A sealed copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) for $3, which sold for $246 to a collector.

Strategies That Worked:

• Specializing in a niche no one else wanted
  
• Targeting collectors, not casual buyers
  
• Carefully verifying condition (sealed, original case, inserts)
  

Her Numbers:

• Earns $2,500–$3,500/month, mostly passive
  
• Recently added cassette tapes and floppy disk software to inventory
  
• Builds curated bundles to increase order size

Key Takeaways from These eBay Reselling Success Stories

These five resellers didn’t strike gold overnight—they combined patience, pattern recognition, and a commitment to learning. Here’s what they have in common:

Strategy

Why It Works

Niche focus

Becoming an expert in one category boosts accuracy and profits

Data-driven sourcing

Apps, sold listings, and keywords reduce guesswork

Great listings

High-quality photos and smart titles increase visibility

Customer service

Free returns, fast shipping, and clear communication boost reviews

Reinvestment

Profits go back into sourcing more valuable inventory