Product Flipping: How I Make Extra Income on Amazon, eBay & Facebook Marketplace

Ever walked past a clearance rack and thought, “Someone would totally pay more for this online”? If yes, you’ve already had the instincts of a product flipper.

Product flipping is one of the most underrated, low-barrier side hustles that can start paying your bills—fast. I’ve been flipping items on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for a while now, and it’s covered everything from my rent to weekend getaways.

In this article, I’ll break down exactly what product flipping is, how I started, where I source inventory, how I price and sell items, and tips for scaling it up.

What Is Product Flipping?

Product flipping means buying items at a low price and reselling them online for a higher price, pocketing the difference as profit.

You might find products at:

• Thrift stores

• Yard sales

• Retail clearance aisles

• Liquidation stores

• Online deals (like Walmart, Target, or Amazon itself)

Popular flipping platforms include:

• eBay (vintage, collectibles, electronics, fashion)

• Amazon FBA (retail arbitrage, books, gadgets)

• Facebook Marketplace (local, bulky, or fast-moving items)

Why Flipping Works (Even in 2025)

There are always people looking for:

• Discontinued or hard-to-find items

• Brand names at a discount

• Quick convenience (they’ll pay more to not hunt themselves)

And there are always retailers offloading:

• Overstocked inventory

• Clearance items

• Returned goods

This price gap = your flipping profit.

How I Got Started

I started with $100 and zero experience. Here's how I approached it step-by-step:

1. I Researched the Market

Before buying anything, I studied:

• What sells fast on eBay

• Top trending products on Amazon

• Local demand on Facebook Marketplace

Tools I used:

• eBay Sold Listings: Search → Filter → Sold Items

• Keepa & SellerAmp (Amazon): Track product history and demand

• Facebook Marketplace search: See what’s trending in my area

2. I Hit the Clearance Aisles

Retailers like Walmart, Target, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Home Depot often have clearance or “hidden” markdowns.

First flips:

• Baby monitors (Walmart, $15 → sold on eBay for $45)

• Name-brand coffee makers (Target clearance, $35 → Facebook Marketplace $70)

• Books from Goodwill ($1 each → sold on Amazon for $10+ each)

3. I Took Clear Photos & Wrote Simple Listings

Good images = more sales. I used my phone, natural lighting, and plain backgrounds.

Descriptions were short but included:

• Brand & model

• Condition (new, open box, used)

• Keywords people search for

Where I Flip (Platform Breakdown)

eBay

• Great for: Collectibles, small electronics, fashion, used goods

• Pros: Massive buyer base, international shipping, buyer protection

• Cons: Fees (~13%), shipping logistics

Pro tip: Use eBay’s mobile app to scan items in-store and see past sales in seconds.

Amazon (Retail Arbitrage)

• Great for: Brand new items, books, beauty, toys

• Pros: Huge reach, fast sales, FBA does fulfillment for you

• Cons: Steep learning curve, strict rules, need approval in gated categories

Amazon FBA model: You ship your products to Amazon’s warehouse → They pack & ship to the buyer → You earn profits (minus fees).

Facebook Marketplace

• Great for: Local flips (furniture, electronics, home goods, gym equipment)

• Pros: No fees, fast cash, no shipping

• Cons: Time-wasters, meetups needed, less buyer protection

Pro tip: Offer delivery for bulky items. I’ve flipped couches, chairs, and air conditioners for big margins just by being willing to drop them off.

How Much Can You Make?

Your profits depend on how much time and money you invest. Here’s what my first 3 months looked like:

Month	Profit	Items Flipped	Time Spent
1	$320	12 items	~15 hours
2	$780	27 items	~25 hours
3	$1,500	41 items	~30 hours

I now average around $1,000–$2,000/month flipping part-time.

Some flippers who go full-time make $5K–$10K/month, especially if they scale on Amazon FBA or specialize in niche markets (like sneakers, vintage video games, or rare toys).

Best Places to Source Items

1. Thrift Stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army)

   • Great for books, small electronics, clothes

2. Retail Stores (Walmart, Target, Ross, TJ Maxx)

   • Scan clearance racks with eBay/Amazon apps

3. Garage Sales & Estate Sales

   • Weekend goldmines for collectibles and underpriced items

4. Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist

   • Find free stuff, underpriced deals, or people clearing out storage

5. Liquidation Sites (like Liquidation.com or B-Stock)

• Bulk lots of returns or overstock inventory

Pro Tips to Flip Smarter

• Start small: Don’t buy $500 worth of inventory on day one. Learn the ropes.

• Use scanning apps: eBay, Amazon Seller, and Keepa will help you make fast decisions in-store.

• Look for trends: During the pandemic, puzzles and exercise equipment exploded. Right now, AI tools, smart home items, and vintage fashion are hot.

• Negotiate: Especially on Facebook—never be afraid to offer lower.

• Stay organized: Use a spreadsheet or app like Notion to track costs, sales, and profits.

 What to Avoid (Common Mistakes)

• Overbuying: Don’t assume something will sell just because it’s cheap.

• Bad photos: Blurry or poorly lit photos turn buyers away.

• Ignoring fees: eBay and Amazon have fees that can eat into your profit. Know your margins.

• Poor packaging: Damaged items = returns = lost money.

• Burnout: Don’t try to scale too fast. Make it fun first.

 Long-Term Strategy: From Hustle to Business

If you enjoy flipping and want to scale:

• Use tools like InventoryLab, GoAura, or Sellerboard (for Amazon)

• Consider a small storage unit or garage for bulk items

• Hire help for packing/delivery

• Build a brand/storefront (e.g., niche Etsy store or Instagram reseller page)

Some people evolve this into a reselling business, turning flipping into full-time income or even a company.

Final Thoughts

Product flipping is one of the easiest, most flexible ways to start earning online—even with little money or experience. All it takes is:

• An eye for deals

• A willingness to learn

• A few hours a week

Whether you’re saving up for rent, paying off debt, or building a second income stream—this side hustle is totally doable.

I started small with a $15 item from Walmart. That flip gave me the confidence to do 10 more. Now, flipping pays my rent—and gives me the freedom to work on my own terms.