Amazon Flips?

[james.hendrickson]

Hi Guys,

Just read about this on-line.

Evidently, Amazon flips/Amazon flipping is a way to find items in retail stores, then resell them on Amazon for more than the retail price.

How the model works is you install a bar code scanner on your phone. Then you find any product and do a quick scan and you will have the information that you need to know whether to buy it or not. Two primary factors are the current price of the item on Amazon and the demand. So, for an item to be a wise purchase you must buy it at a low enough price and it must also be a product that has strong demand.

Found a cool blog posting on this.

http://blog.christianmoney.com/2014/11/amazon-flipping-a-weird-new-way-that-people-are-making-money-online.html

Note, this article is trying to sell you an e-book, but its good overview of the basic business model.

[disneysteve]

This really isn't a new concept at all. I've had a collectibles business since 1986 totally based on buying items in one place and reselling them for a profit in another place. Early on, I did mail order sales and live collectibles shows. Then I migrated online and sold through my own website and then ebay. I've also sold on Amazon and Craigslist.

Pretty much any time someone comes here saying they need more money, we suggest selling stuff online as a means to boost income. I will say that smartphones have made the process far easier than it ever was before because you can check the resale value of items instantly.

There is one person here who buys clothing at Ross and resells it online for profit. While in the store, they look up the items and only buy the ones that look like they will bring good prices. And if something doesn't sell, they can always return it to the store.

The key - and this is the BIG issue - is learning to identify the items that will work best for you. You need to develop a knowledge base for what sells well and what is readily available in your area at a good price.

[PeggyHefferon]

This really isn't a new concept at all.

THIS

I have never done this on a consistent basis, but I have had some success at it. One of my better deals was an item I purchased from Oriental Trading Company and sold it on eBay for over twice what I paid for it. After fees, I was still doubling my money. Buyer paid shipping. Sold them as fast as I listed them, and I stopped buying when too many other sellers popped up. Probably made over $600 on that item.

Also used to buy stuff at Burlington Coat Factory and resell it.

[disneysteve]

THIS

I have never done this on a consistent basis, but I have had some success at it. One of my better deals was an item I purchased from Oriental Trading Company and sold it on eBay for over twice what I paid for it. After fees, I was still doubling my money. Buyer paid shipping. Sold them as fast as I listed them, and I stopped buying when too many other sellers popped up. Probably made over $600 on that item.

Also used to buy stuff at Burlington Coat Factory and resell it.

I have done it consistently for an extended period of time.

One good source of merchandise, for anyone interested, is post-holiday clearances of holiday items. For example, go to your local Hallmark store the day after Christmas and buy up the limited edition ornaments at 70% off. You need to have a good eye for what is worth it but mainstays like Star Trek, Star Wars, Disney, Peanuts, etc. are generally good sellers. When you can buy a $20 ornament for $6, it's pretty easy to turn a profit.

My best ever source of stock was the Lenox collectibles outlet in PA. I used to go there every week, load up my cart, come home and list it all, and do it all again the next week. They would sell items for as little as 10% of retail. I could resell them for 50-60% of retail and make a great profit.

[amarowsky]

My best ever source of stock was the Lenox collectibles outlet in PA. I used to go there every week, load up my cart, come home and list it all, and do it all again the next week. They would sell items for as little as 10% of retail. I could resell them for 50-60% of retail and make a great profit.

Very Thrifty, I like it.

Honestly one could do the same with Motorcycles if they have the room. I remember when that show sons of anarchy was popular and still running.

Every year Motorcycles go for significantly less @ the end of the season (mostly from those who buy them and either get bored or don't have anywhere to store for winter).

Then as soon as spring rolls around (North US applicable primarily) people are soo pumped for warm weather, they will pay like 30% more than the discount prices they went for in mid/end fall.

Pretty good turn around if your patient, and willing to give up ~25 sq ft of your storage per bike.

[Mandy63]

This is a practice that has been going on for decades, probably even longer, just the methods have changed. Finding the right market can provide some good income.

[msomnipotent]

I have done it consistently for an extended period of time.

One good source of merchandise, for anyone interested, is post-holiday clearances of holiday items. For example, go to your local Hallmark store the day after Christmas and buy up the limited edition ornaments at 70% off. You need to have a good eye for what is worth it but mainstays like Star Trek, Star Wars, Disney, Peanuts, etc. are generally good sellers. When you can buy a $20 ornament for $6, it's pretty easy to turn a profit.

My best ever source of stock was the Lenox collectibles outlet in PA. I used to go there every week, load up my cart, come home and list it all, and do it all again the next week. They would sell items for as little as 10% of retail. I could resell them for 50-60% of retail and make a great profit.

I did that with Swarovski and Mikasa. I used to be able to buy Swarovksi Christmas ornaments from Costco, keep them one or two years, and sell for a profit. I would make even more $ when buying the figurines and then sell when I got sick of looking at them. I don't think crystal is all that popular anymore. I haven't been able to find anything worth buying at the Mikasa outlet in a long time.

[disneysteve]

I did that with Swarovski and Mikasa. I used to be able to buy Swarovksi Christmas ornaments from Costco, keep them one or two years, and sell for a profit. I would make even more $ when buying the figurines and then sell when I got sick of looking at them. I don't think crystal is all that popular anymore. I haven't been able to find anything worth buying at the Mikasa outlet in a long time.

I think part of the problem is the market got saturated. Ebay and Amazon and other sites made it simple for anyone to be a seller. That is a double-edged sword.

When I first started selling collectibles in 1986, it was somewhat hard. I had to pay to place ads in collector newsletters and magazines. I had to pay to print my mail order catalog. I had to pay to mail it out to potential customers. When we sold at collectibles shows, we had to rent booth space and had other expenses we incurred in traveling to those shows (hotels, meals, etc.).

Fast forward to today when I can list something online for sale for free in a matter of minutes using my iPhone.

[greenskeeper]

I grab the resale appliances at my work. The ones that are only a few years old and still in good working order I sell on craiglist. The ones that are older or damaged I part out and put on ebay. The remainder gets scrapped at the yard.

Best part is I have zero dollars going into obtaining the appliances.

[FLA]

these are all such great ideas

[Gailete]

Hi Guys,

Just read about this on-line.

Evidently, Amazon flips/Amazon flipping is a way to find items in retail stores, then resell them on Amazon for more than the retail price.

How the model works is you install a bar code scanner on your phone. Then you find any product and do a quick scan and you will have the information that you need to know whether to buy it or not. Two primary factors are the current price of the item on Amazon and the demand. So, for an item to be a wise purchase you must buy it at a low enough price and it must also be a product that has strong demand.

Found a cool blog posting on this.

http://blog.christianmoney.com/2014/11/amazon-flipping-a-weird-new-way-that-people-are-making-money-online.html

Note, this article is trying to sell you an e-book, but its good overview of the basic business model.

This is called retail arbitrage and Amazon frowns on it. Currently Amazon is undergoing over the past year or two, HUGE changes from the kind of site it was 15 years ago. Many brand names you cannot resell on there without permission from the company, such as Disney items you need the okay from Disney (and probably won't get it!). Some categories you need to apply for permission from Amazon to sell in that category and pay a non-refundable fee of up to $5K depending the items.

Also, if you buy something brand new at a store and then try to list it on Amazon, under their guidelines you can NOT list it as new!

As I said lots of new rules. However, if your item doesn't fit under a category that needs special permission from the brand owner or Amazon itself, then go for it if you don't list it as new. However, there are plenty of venues that allow you to sell without those restrictions, although no matter where you go, some brands will haunt you and not allow you to sell their items.

Before buying anything for resale, research it on Amazon to be sure that it can be sold. My BIL gave me two brand new pairs of Skechers sneakers to sale and when I tried to list them on Amazon, where he had bought them, even though I am an Amazon seller, I could not list them as I haven't been approved for the clothing and shoes category. Rather frustrating.

[disneysteve]

This is called retail arbitrage and Amazon frowns on it. Currently Amazon is undergoing over the past year or two, HUGE changes from the kind of site it was 15 years ago. Many brand names you cannot resell on there without permission from the company, such as Disney items you need the okay from Disney (and probably won't get it!). Some categories you need to apply for permission from Amazon to sell in that category and pay a non-refundable fee of up to $5K depending the items.

Also, if you buy something brand new at a store and then try to list it on Amazon, under their guidelines you can NOT list it as new!

As I said lots of new rules. However, if your item doesn't fit under a category that needs special permission from the brand owner or Amazon itself, then go for it if you don't list it as new. However, there are plenty of venues that allow you to sell without those restrictions, although no matter where you go, some brands will haunt you and not allow you to sell their items.

Before buying anything for resale, research it on Amazon to be sure that it can be sold. My BIL gave me two brand new pairs of Skechers sneakers to sale and when I tried to list them on Amazon, where he had bought them, even though I am an Amazon seller, I could not list them as I haven't been approved for the clothing and shoes category. Rather frustrating.

I have not heard about this. This is all just nuts. Sorry, but once I buy something or receive something as a gift, it is mine to do with as I wish. If I want to use it, re-gift it, or sell it, that should be up to me.

[Gailete]

I have not heard about this. This is all just nuts. Sorry, but once I buy something or receive something as a gift, it is mine to do with as I wish. If I want to use it, re-gift it, or sell it, that should be up to me.

Very true Steve! But several of the big selling venues seem to have grown too big for their britches: Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. That make rules that have nothing to do with actual law and if you don't want to go along, goodbye or you are suspended. There is a rule that I think is the First Sale Doctrine which is specifically what you said, once you buy something it is yours to do what you want with it. The mega companies are scared that they may lose some money to some sellers that are trying to find a way to feed their families. I don't know where it is going to end. Just wanted to give warning that it isn't as easy to sell on these places as it used to be. Amazon and ebay especially seem to want to cater to the big sellers and could care less about the small guys. With ebay it is especially frustrating as they would be nowhere without the small sellers who made their site great. Amazon at least has some of its own merchandise to sell where as ebay has none.

[disneysteve]

Amazon and ebay especially seem to want to cater to the big sellers and could care less about the small guys.

I think that's really the bottom line. Ebay was all about individuals. The guy who started it did so to sell Pez dispensers. I've been on ebay since early 1997, not that long after it started in late 1995, so I've seen how it has evolved and changed over the years. Many changes have been positive but some have not.

[David James]

I have not heard about this. This is all just nuts. Sorry, but once I buy something or receive something as a gift, it is mine to do with as I wish. If I want to use it, re-gift it, or sell it, that should be up to me.

Yes, but Amazon owns the platform and they don't have to let you sell in their buybox.

Yes, that was a pun off of "play in their sandbox". And my kid says I'm not cool

Part of their decision is due to complaints that Amazon and Ebay allow people to sell counterfeit merchandise, which hurts the brand name of the item being sold and the platform doing the selling.