I still remember the first time I held a physical check from a consignment shop in my hand. It was 2018, and I had just cleared out my hall closet. I wasn't trying to build an empire; I was just trying to pay a surprise vet bill. I had taken a stack of old video games and a few designer jeans to a local buy-sell-trade store. Walking out with $145 cash for items that were collecting dust felt like a glitch in the matrix.
That moment hooked me. It wasn't about the money, though the money was nice. It was the realization that value is subjective. What was "clutter" to me was "inventory" to someone else. Since then, I’ve flipped everything from vintage typewriters to modern sneakers, generating thousands in profit and dealing with more cardboard boxes than I care to admit.
Here's where it gets interesting: the world of resellers is not just about thrift stores anymore. It is a complex ecosystem of data, logistics, and timing. Whether you are looking to flip concert tickets or start a full-blown Amazon FBA business, the principles remain the same.
What Is a Reseller? (Defining the Hustle)
To properly define reseller, we have to look past the "garage sale flipper" stereotype. At its core, a reseller is an arbitrage agent. You are capitalizing on a price discrepancy between two markets.
Maybe you find a mug at a yard sale for $1 (Market A) and sell it on eBay for $20 (Market B). Or perhaps you buy a clearance toaster from Walmart (Market A) and sell it on Amazon (Market B).
When people ask me, "What is a reseller?" I tell them we are logistics providers. We move goods from places where they are unwanted or undervalued to places where they are highly desired. The internet has exploded this concept. An online reseller doesn't even need a physical store. Your warehouse is your spare bedroom, and your storefront is your phone screen.
How to Start Reselling Without Losing Your Shirt
The barrier to entry is low. That is both the blessing and the curse. You don't need a business license to start (though you will need one eventually for tax purposes). You just need stuff.
If you are Googling "how to start reselling," my advice is simple: Start for free.
Do not go out and spend $500 on inventory. Go to your closet. Find a pair of shoes you haven't worn in a year. Look up the brand and style on eBay. Filter by "Sold" listings. This is the golden rule. It doesn't matter what people are asking for an item; it matters what people are paying.
My First Major "Oops"
I have to share an honest failure here. About six months into my journey, I got arrogant. I found a wholesale site selling "returned electronics" pallets. I spent $450 on a pallet of what I thought were high-end humidifiers. I envisioned doubling my money. When the pallet arrived, 80% of the units were shattered. I spent weeks testing broken machines, sourcing parts, and dealing with returns. I ended up losing about $200 and 40 hours of my life.So, when you are learning how to resell, start with what you can inspect with your own eyes.
The Hunt for Inventory: Reselling Suppliers and Vendors
Once you exhaust your own closet, you need a supply chain. This is where the term "reselling suppliers" comes into play.
There are three main tiers of sourcing:
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Thrift/Estate: High margins, low volume. You pay $5, you sell for $50. But you have to hunt.
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Retail Arbitrage: Medium margins, medium volume. You buy clearance items at Target or Ross.
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Wholesale/Liquidation: Low margins, high volume. You buy from resell vendors by the pallet.
Finding reliable reselling vendors is the hardest part of the business. Most "wholesalers" you find on the first page of Google are middlemen who have already skimmed the profit. The real connections happen at trade shows or through direct relationships with manufacturers.
However, for most of us, the best "supplier" is the local thrift store or the Goodwill Outlet (the "Bins"). This is where you pay by the pound. I once pulled a vintage 1990s wrestling t-shirt out of a bin of wet clothes. It cost me roughly $0.45. It sold for $120.
The Gold in the Garbage: My Best Finds
Every reseller has a "white whale" story. You will often see clickbait titles like "reseller finds gold bracelet thrift store" on YouTube. While those massive scores happen, they are rare.
But they do happen.
My version of the reseller finds gold bracelet thrift store moment happened in 2021. I was at a small church rummage sale. I saw a dusty, unassuming box of silverware marked "$10." I almost walked past it, but the weight felt off. It was too heavy to be stainless steel. I bought it, took it to my car, and looked for the hallmarks. "Sterling." It was a complete set of sterling silver flatware. The scrap value alone was over $800. I sold the set to a collector for $1,200.
These moments fuel you through the dry spells. As a reseller of clothes, you are usually grinding out $15 and $20 profits.But the potential for that one massive score keeps you digging through the racks.
How to Resell Tickets on Ticketmaster and StubHub
Moving away from physical goods, let's talk about tickets. This is a controversial space, but it is a massive part of the reselling economy.
If you want to know how to resell tickets on Ticketmaster, the process is surprisingly integrated. Ticketmaster wants you to resell on their platform because they collect fees twice—once on the initial sale and once on the resale.
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Go to your "My Events" page.
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Select the tickets you want to sell.
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Click "Sell."
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Set your price (Ticketmaster will often set a floor or ceiling).
How to resell tickets on StubHub is similar but often allows for more freedom in pricing. StubHub is a secondary marketplace, meaning they don't own the initial ticket inventory.
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The Risk: Events get cancelled. Artists change dates.
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The Reward: If you buy presale tickets for a high-demand show (think Taylor Swift or a major sporting event), the ROI can be 500%+.
However, I generally stay away from this now. The volatility is too high for my blood pressure. I prefer physical goods where, worst case scenario, I still own the item.
The Digital Frontier: Roblox and Virtual Items
This is a question I get from younger people constantly: "How to resell items on Roblox?"
It sounds fake to anyone over 30, but the economy of digital goods is real. Roblox has "Limited" items. These are virtual hats, swords, or faces that are sold in limited quantities. To resell them, you need a Roblox Premium membership.
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You buy a Limited item.
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You hold it as the supply dries up and demand increases.
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You sell it for more Robux (the in-game currency).
While you can't directly cash out Robux for USD easily without being a developer, there are black markets (which I avoid) and legit ways to trade up. It introduces the concept of supply and demand to kids. It is essentially the same mechanic as the stock market.
Brick and Mortar vs. Online: Finding Sneaker Stores
If you are into sneakers, the game is physical. You are likely searching for "sneaker resell stores near me."
These stores (like Flight Club, or local boutiques) operate on a buy-sell-trade model.
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Selling to them: Expect to get 40-50% of the market value. They have overhead.
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Consignment: You might get 80%, but you have to wait for the item to sell.
I have a friend who runs a sneaker store. He tells me the biggest mistake people make is bringing in worn shoes and expecting "StockX prices." StockX is for deadstock (unworn) shoes. If you wore them to the grocery store once, they are used.
If you are looking for general resell stores near me, look for chains like Plato's Closet or Buffalo Exchange. They are great for quick cash, but terrible for maximizing profit. I only sell to them if I have "death pile" items that I just want gone.
Reselling Products: The Logistics of Shipping and Storage
Now the tricky part... where do you put all this stuff?
When you start reselling products, your dining room table disappears. Then your garage. Storage is the silent killer of profit. If you are paying $100 a month for a storage unit, you need to sell an extra $300 worth of goods just to break even on that cost.
And shipping? It is an art form. I use a thermal printer (Rollo or Dymo). It changed my life. No more taping paper labels.Also, get a scale. A good shipping scale costs $20 on Amazon. Guessing the weight is a guaranteed way to lose money or get your package returned.
(Parenthetical aside: I once guessed the weight on a heavy wool coat. I was off by 6 ounces. The buyer was charged postage due upon delivery. They left me a scathing negative review. Never guess.)
Amazon: The Big Leagues
Resell on Amazon is the goal for many. It is scalable. With Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), you send your items to their warehouse. They handle the shipping and customer service.
But Amazon is strict.
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Gating: You cannot just sell Nike or Lego. You are "gated" (restricted). You have to provide invoices from legitimate distributors to get unlocked.
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IP Complaints: If a brand catches you selling their stuff as "New" without permission, they can flag you. One too many flags and your account is banned.
I use Closo to help manage my cross-listing inventory, but for Amazon specifically, I use tools like Keepa. Keepa shows you the sales history of an item. Never buy an item for Amazon without looking at the Keepa chart. It tells you if that rank is real or a fluke.
Strategies to Scale (Or How to Not Burn Out)
The burnout rate for resellers is high. You are the buyer, the photographer, the lister, the packer, and the customer service rep.
To survive, you need systems.
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Sourcing Routine: I go to the thrift store on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No exceptions.
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Listing Goals: I list 5 items a day. Consistency beats intensity.
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Automation: This is crucial.
I use Closo to automate the tedious parts of the job. For example, Closo can help cross-list items from Poshmark to eBay.This puts my items in front of double the buyers without double the work. It saves me about 3 hours weekly, which I can spend sourcing more inventory or actually sleeping.
Comparison: The Big Three Platforms
Here is a breakdown of where to sell your goods.
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Is reselling actually legal?
Yes, absolutely. It is protected under the "First Sale Doctrine." Once you legally buy an item, you have the right to sell it,display it, or destroy it. Brands try to scare you, but generally, you are in the clear as long as you aren't selling counterfeits. Counterfeits are illegal. Period.
Common question I see... How much money do I need to start?
Zero dollars. Seriously. Sell things around your house. If you want to buy inventory, $50 is plenty for a thrift store run. Do not buy a $500 course on "how to dropship." Use that money for inventory.
People always ask me... What about taxes?
Since 2022, the IRS has tightened the rules. Platforms will send you a 1099-K form if you sell over a certain threshold (it keeps changing, but assume $600 to be safe). You have to report this income. Keep your receipts. Your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is deductible.
Conclusion
Being a reseller is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is a grind. It is dirty hands from digging through bins, it is the frustration of a return case, and it is the anxiety of a slow month.
But it is also freedom. I have paid for vacations, car repairs, and eventually a significant portion of my mortgage by selling things that others threw away. The market is huge. Whether you are looking to resell on Amazon or just flip a few jackets on Poshmark, the opportunity is there.
My recommendation? Go to a thrift store this weekend. Look for something high quality—maybe a brand you recognize or a material like silk or wool. Buy it for $5. Try to sell it for $25. If you can do that once, you can do it a thousand times.
If you are ready to take it seriously, you need to understand the tools of the trade. Check out the Closo Seller Hub for deep dives into automation and platform strategies.
For a specific look at the best software to manage your growing empire, read this comparison of the Best Cross Listing Software 2025.
And if you are stuck on pricing (which is where most new resellers fail), this guide on Poshmark Fees 2025
