I still remember the adrenaline spike I felt in a dusty Goodwill in 2018. I was digging through a bin of tangled cables and broken alarm clocks when I spotted it: a Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus calculator. It was priced at $3.99. I knew from my high school days that these things were practically indestructible and oddly expensive. I bought it, took it home, cleaned the battery acid off the terminals, and listed it online.
It sold for $85 within four hours.
That $81 profit margin was my "red pill" moment. It fundamentally changed how I looked at objects. I realized that value isn't inherent; it’s about location. A calculator in a thrift store bin is junk; a calculator on a student’s desk the week before finals is essential infrastructure.
If you are reading this, you are probably tired of trading your time for money and want to start trading value for money. But the landscape has shifted. What worked in 2018 doesn't always work now. Finding the best items to resell requires a mix of historical knowledge, trend watching, and a willingness to touch dusty things.
The Evergreen Kings: Electronics and Cameras
When people ask me for good items to resell, I always point them toward the electronics section first. It is the most consistent category for one simple reason: they don't make them like they used to.
Why it works: Modern electronics are often subscription-based or unrepairable. People want the old stuff that just works.
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VCRs: Yes, really. People have mountains of VHS tapes and no way to play them. A working Sony or Panasonic VCR can easily fetch $50-$100.
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Digital Cameras: The Gen Z trend of "low quality" photos has made 2000s-era point-and-shoot cameras (Canon PowerShot, Nikon Coolpix) skyrocket in value.
My Personal Anecdote: In 2023, I found a Sony Handycam camcorder in a "junk bag" at a thrift store for $5. I bought a $10 charger on Amazon to test it. It worked perfectly. I sold it to a skateboarder who wanted that "retro 90s look" for $175. That’s the power of nostalgia tech.
Here's where it gets interesting... Don't ignore the remotes. I often find baskets full of loose remote controls. If you find an original remote for a high-end receiver (Denon, Yamaha, Bose), that plastic brick alone can be worth $30-$50. People lose them, and universal remotes are annoying.
(Parenthetical aside: I once bought a bag of 20 remotes for $5. 18 of them were trash. 2 of them were for obscure Bose systems and paid for my gas for the entire month. It’s a numbers game.)
Nostalgia Sells: The Best Things to Resell in 2025
If you want to find the best items to resell in 2025, look at what 30-year-olds are nostalgic for. Right now, that means the late 90s and early 2000s.
What to look for:
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Toys: Polly Pockets (the vintage small ones, not the new big ones), original Furbeys, and anything Pokémon.
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Media: Blank cassette tapes. Believe it or not, sealed blank tapes (especially high-grade metal ones) are highly sought after by audiophiles.
My Honest Failure: I thought Beanie Babies were coming back. I bought a bulk lot of 50 "rare" bears for $100. I still have 48 of them in my garage.
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Lesson: Manufactured scarcity isn't real scarcity. Just because the tag says "rare" doesn't mean anyone wants it. Focus on items that have utility or deep cultural relevance, not just "collectible" branding.
The "Ugly" Profit: Boring Items to Buy and Resell for Profit
This is my favorite category because the competition is low. Everyone runs to the sneaker rack or the video game case. Nobody looks at the office supplies.
The Boring Goldmine:
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Ink and Toner: Sealed, unexpired ink cartridges (HP, Epson, Brother) are items to buy and resell for profit all day long. Businesses liquidate these when they change printers.
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Replacement Parts: Vacuum cleaner attachments, blender lids, microwave plates. If a microwave dies, the glass plate inside is still worth $25 to someone who broke theirs.
The Strategy: I use Google Lens on my phone religiously in this section. I see a weird plastic part? I scan it. Once, I scanned a weird-looking water filter. It turned out to be a discontinued filter for a specific luxury refrigerator. I paid $2 and sold it for $60.
Now the tricky part... expiration dates. If you sell expired ink or beauty products on platforms like Amazon, you will get banned. On eBay, you can sometimes sell expired ink if you clearly state it in the title and description, but it’s risky. Always check the dates.
Flipping Locally: Best Items to Flip on Facebook Marketplace
Shipping heavy items is a nightmare. That’s where local sales shine. When I look for best things to flip, I specifically look for heavy, bulky items that scare away the eBay sellers.
The Heavy Hitters:
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Furniture: Mid-century modern dressers and solid wood tables.
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Tools: Brand name power tools (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita). Even broken ones sell for parts.
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Gym Equipment: Dumbbells and weight plates are consistently expensive to ship, so local demand is always high.
My Personal Anecdote: I found a solid oak dresser on the curb on trash day. It had some water rings and a missing knob. I spent $20 on stain and new knobs, and about two hours sanding it. I listed it on Facebook Marketplace. It sold for $250 the next day. The buyer didn't care about the brand; they cared that it was real wood and fit in their Honda CR-V.
What are the best items to flip on Facebook marketplace if you aren't handy? Appliances. If you see a working washer/dryer set for free or cheap because someone is moving, grab it (if you have a truck). You can clean it up and sell the set for $300-$500 easily. Speed is the currency here.
(Parenthetical aside: I learned the hard way that moving sleeper sofas is physically impossible for one person. I once bought one to flip and ended up having to pay a guy on TaskRabbit to help me get it out of my house because I physically couldn't move it. I broke even. Never again.)
Sneakers and Streetwear: High Risk, High Reward
If you are wondering about the best place to sell jordans, you are entering a different world. This isn't thrift store flipping; this is commodity trading.
The Game:
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Platforms: StockX, GOAT, and eBay Authenticity Guarantee.
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The Sourcing: You aren't finding Jordan 1s at Goodwill often. This game is about hitting retail drops (SNKRS app) or finding underpriced used pairs at outlets (Ross, Marshall’s, Nike Outlets).
My Honest Failure: I bought a pair of "Yeezys" at a flea market for $50. They looked real to me. I sent them to StockX. They failed authentication immediately. I was charged a penalty fee, and I got the fake shoes back.
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Lesson: Counterfeits are getting terrifyingly good. Unless you are an expert, stick to sourcing from authorized retailers or platforms that authenticate for you before you sell.
Opinion Statement: I think the sneaker resale market is oversaturated for beginners in 2025. Margins are thin. Unless you have a "bot" to buy retail drops or a connection at a store, it’s a grind. I prefer vintage clothing where the margins are purely based on my eye for style, not my internet speed.
Scaling Up: Managing the Chaos with the Best Multi Channel Selling Platform
Here’s the reality of finding resell items: finding them is only half the battle. You have to list them. And if you want to make real money, you can't just list on one site.
The Multi-Channel Strategy: If I find a vintage Carhartt jacket, I don't just put it on eBay.
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eBay: For the global audience.
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Depop: For the Gen Z streetwear kids (who will pay more).
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Poshmark: For the fashion crowd.
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Mercari: For the quick sale.
Managing the Madness: Listing the same jacket four times is a waste of life. You need the best e-commerce platform for multi-channel selling to handle this. I use Closo Crosslister to automate importing my listings from eBay to Poshmark and Depop – saves me about 3 hours weekly – and more importantly, it prevents me from selling the same item twice.
(Parenthetical aside: Double-selling is the worst feeling. I once sold the same camera on eBay and Mercari within 10 minutes of each other. I had to cancel the Mercari order, take the hit to my rating, and apologize profusely. Automation tools solve this.)
People always ask me...
"What are the best items to flip on Facebook Marketplace Reddit threads suggesting?"
Common question I see. If you browse r/Flipping, the consensus is almost always furniture and vehicles.
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Why: Reddit users favor high-margin, local cash deals. They hate fees and shipping.
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The Warning: Reddit also loves to talk about "pallets" (buying returned Amazon goods in bulk). Be careful. 90% of pallet flipping is sorting through broken trash to find one good item.
"Is it better to specialize or sell everything?"
People always ask me this. Start as a generalist. Sell everything.
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The Evolution: Over time, you will naturally gravitate toward what you enjoy and what makes money. I started selling everything but realized I hated measuring jeans, so I stopped selling clothes and focused on hard goods. Let the data tell you what your niche is.
"How do I find out what an item is worth?"
Common question I see. Use "Sold Listings."
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eBay: Search for the item, filter by "Sold" and "Completed."
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Terapeak: eBay's internal research tool (free for sellers) shows a year of data.
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The Mistake: Never look at "Active" listings. Anyone can ask $1,000 for a Beanie Baby. It only matters what someone actually paid.
Conclusion
Finding the best items to resell is a skill that you sharpen over time. It transforms the world around you. You stop seeing "junk" and start seeing dollar signs. A garage sale isn't a neighbor cleaning out their house; it’s a potential sourcing trip.
But be honest with yourself about your space and your patience. If you live in a studio apartment, flipping sectional sofas on Facebook Marketplace isn't for you. Stick to jewelry and video games. If you have a barn, go buy that tractor.
The best item to resell is the one you can find cheaply, ship easily, and profit from consistently. For me, that’s vintage electronics. For you, it might be designer handbags or discontinued lush bath bombs.
Start scanning. Start listing. And don't be afraid to make a few bad buys—it’s just tuition for the University of Reselling.
If you are ready to get serious about your inventory, check out our guide on Inventory Management for Multi-Platform Sellers. And if you want to know the best software to keep it all organized, read our review of the Best CrossListing Apps for 2025.
FAQ
Here's something everyone wants to know: Is reselling still profitable in 2025?
Yes, absolutely. While competition has increased, the second-hand market is projected to reach nearly $350 billion by 2027. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable, affordable, or vintage options. The key is to move beyond "easy" flips and develop knowledge in specific niches like vintage tech, workwear, or discontinued collectibles.
Common question I see: What is the easiest item to flip for beginners? Clothing
is the most accessible entry point because it is everywhere, cheap to source, and easy to ship (it doesn't break). Specifically, look for "bread and butter" mall brands like Lululemon, Patagonia, and Carhartt. While they aren't rare, they have high sell-through rates, meaning they sell quickly for a predictable profit.
People always ask me: Where is the best place to source items?
It depends on your budget. Goodwill Bins (The Outlet) is the cheapest (pay by the pound) but requires hours of digging. Garage Sales offer the best margins because homeowners just want stuff gone. Online Arbitrage (buying from one site to sell on another) allows you to source from home but margins are thinner.
