I've created an easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to make money flipping items you find from Goodwill that you can find at the top of the page. I'll continue to add tips to the guide so that you can find the same success that I have in flipping items!

Don't forget to enter the sweepstakes on the right to win valuable items I've picked from Goodwill. All you need to do is share this page on Facebook or Twitter. Enter your name, e-mail, and post the link to where you posted the blog and wait for the deadline!

Good luck!

Starting today I will be taking entries into a sweepstakes of sorts that I have created. As a reward I'll be giving away items that I have purchased to sell on ebay. The values and types of items will be completely random and will be shipped to you the Monday after the drawing on Friday, February 7th at 11:59 pm central time. The items are yours to do with as you please you could sell them on ebay or keep anything you like. I'll be picking anywhere from 1-5 winners depending on how many entries so encourage people to enter!

Simply follow the instructions on the top right of the blog to be entered for a chance to win. You'll be contacted by email if you've won!

Good luck!

Over the last couple days the picking has been a little dry but I did manage to grab two late 90's PC games for about $3 that when sold separately will probably bring in about 40-45. Also found a couple more polo's and a Michael Kors button up for about $10. I try to only by clothing that is worth $20 on it's own so that there is room to make profit. I'm still slightly nervous about selling clothing since this is my first time listing any of this stuff, but from what I've seen designer brands will always sell well over what you can get them for in a thrift store.

This Wed-Fri is another buy 10 books for $1.49.I may have to try a different Goodwill however since the nearest one always seems to have a poor selection of books and none of the ones they do have are worth anything.

Here are a couple listings that ended a few days ago:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171221717794?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

A 500GB external hard drive that I got for $14.99 and sold very quickly for $39.99 and paid about $8.00 shipping. Probably my quickest sale and profit was about $18.00.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171214751959?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

and a Super Nintendo game that I picked up for $2.00 and sold for $20.50. Shipping was $2 so about $16 profit.

Good luck to anyone who has been trying their hand at this and let me know in the comments how it's going!

Today and tomorrow is Goodwill's blue tag sale where every blue tag is half off! With a tight work schedule however I wasn't allowed much time to shop, but I did make off with a copy of F-Zero GX for the Gamecube, a Tommy Hilfiger pullover, and a Ralph Lauren polo for about $10. I'll be sure to make it in again tomorrow to pick any good deal before it's over.

My estimations:

Both the polo and pullover should go for about $20 a piece.

The Game seems to be hitting right around $20 as well.

Nothing phenomenal this time, but worth the walk!

Found a 500GB external hard drive at Goodwill for $15 and listed it for $40 and we'll see how it goes! Electronics can be an excellent investment when it comes to flipping items, but I have two guidelines that help me narrow the selection at hand.

-No printers.. You will find tons of printers at Goodwill and even if you can own one for 10-15 dollars that is worth around 50-60 you still have to calculate shipping which is on average 20-25 dollars for an item that large. If buyer is paying shipping you'd be safe listing your printer for maybe 30 dollars and although you would have doubled your money, the flip just wasn't efficient.

-If it is still brand new in packaging it is worth a look! The price of electronics is greatly effected by its condition. New items are always worth well over used items in electronics because buying used electronics can be somewhat of a gamble for the buyer. For example a wireless mouse in packaging can be worth $25 and that same mouse in the same condition can be worth maybe 10-15 just because the buyer is unsure.

Last night wasn't too great. I found a few Nike golf polo's which are great to buy, but were priced at 5-7 dollars, which is a little high to be flipping for only 12-15. However, my Goodwill is having a blue tag sale on Sunday where every blue tag will be 50% off so I'm planning on making a haul between my work schedules!

A few tips for anyone starting out:

-Try to keep your investment as low as possible. Sometimes what you buy for $30 can be worth $50 but this seems like a poor investment to me. I always try to at least triple or quadruple what I put into it!

-Just because it has sold on Ebay before doesn't mean it still will. Some items that used to be popular on Ebay just aren't anymore. Make sure you check recent completed listings that show the item being sold in previous weeks.

-STAY ALERT when it comes to "designer shoes or bags" I recently purchased what I thought was an authentic Louis Vuittons hand bag then turned out to be a very well crafted fake. Thankfully I only spent $15 and was able to return it due to their generous return policy. This doesn't mean that Goodwill doesn't sell real items though, many people make off with real LV and Burberry items all the time. Just keep your eye out and find someone who knows about products that you don't!

Good luck!

I was going to save this post for awhile, but it's one I'm very excited to talk about.

About a week and a half ago I made my routine stop over at the Goodwill next to my LA Fitness and I spotted a strange looking black box with a viewing glass in the electronics section..

This is what I had found..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171212589771?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

It was actually a home use watch winder, which I had no idea were worth anything until I did some Ebay research.

As you can see the item sold for $118.61..

I paid $4.99...

Thank you Goodwill!

I'm going shopping tonight and will let you know what I find!

BOOKS: Books can be an excellent purchase from Goodwill especially with how cheap you can snag them for. My local Goodwill every Wednesday through Friday has a book sale, which allows you to buy 10 books with a certain color tag for $0.15 a piece if you purchase all 10. All you need to do with books is look them up on Ebay and see if that book sells often and for more than a couple dollars. I'll post a couple that I was able to sell and let you know what I did with the rest of them. (Books are heavy but are very cheap to ship. USPS has what is called media mail where books are shipped extremely cheap.)

College writer's text book: $9.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171198415732?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1559.l2649

Older psychology book: $4.99 (already deleted the listing for this one sorry!)

$0.15 + $0.15 = $0.30 spent

$4.99 + $9.99 - $0.30 - seller's fees = ~$13.00 profit

The rest of the books that I guest might be worth something (I look for text books or books with recent publishing dates)

$1.30 spent

Brought the other eight books to my local half-priced books store. Was given $11.00 dollars for the remaining books.

$11.00 - $1.30 = ~$9.70

$9.70 + $13.00 = $22.70 total profit

It may seem like profit is slow but after I purchase the items and list them there is no action required of me besides placing it in a box or envelope and ship it at the post office on my lunch breaks at work.


I made about 70 ~ 80 dollars my first week of shopping! Stay tuned!

Something I quickly learned I could take advantage of is Goodwill's generous return policy. This is where I eliminated any risk of this business. Goodwill has a policy where you can return any item purchased within seven days as long as you have a receipt, the original tag still attached, your phone number, and the card you purchased it with. 

Simple!

-Purchase item

-List for 5 days on Ebay

-It sold... GREAT!!

-Doesn't sell... return it... full refund... NO RISK!

Do not abuse this ability though. You should always research the item before you purchase it otherwise you could waste a lot of time buying and returning items as well as causing Goodwill to become suspicious of your buying habits and they can deny your return.

These are the next two items I purchased.

HP Pocket Computer: $9.99

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171210840120?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

Brand new Logitech wireless mouse: $3.99

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171211581497?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

$9.99 + $3.99 = $13.98 spent

$23.50 + $20.50 - $13.98 - seller's fees = ~ $28.00 profit

I ALWAYS have buyer pay shipping prices.

Stay tuned!

My first trip into Goodwill with the idea of making an income was cautious but successful. Right off the bat I wasn't sure what I was looking for. The first two items I bought were a Digital Stream converter box, and a set of 1990's Volvo OEM (original equipment manufacturer) brake pads. Together my receipt was a little over $6. ($2.99 on each) How did I know I would turn a profit?? The Ebay application is quite literally the only tool you need to make money here. A quick search on the app showed that the last converter box of that type went for $22.50 + shipping, and the brake pads went for $30.00 + shipping. Make sure when checking Ebay you always look at COMPLETED LISTINGS. Completed listings are things that already sold not just what people are asking for them.

Converter box listing ended $19.14 + shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171199750735?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

Brake Pads $14.99 + shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171199229237?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

$2.99 + $2.99 = $5.98 spent.

$19.14 + $14.99 - $5.98 - seller's fee's = ~$25.00 profit on my first two purchases.

Hello, my name is Brennen. I currently live in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. This is a large city close to the heart of the Twin Cities that consist of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I moved here five months ago to attend the University of Minnesota seeking a degree in business management. Paying bills and tuition out of my own pocket was and is still a killer to my bank accounts. Working as operations for the local LA Fitness, and being a part of local sales marketing team for Granite City Food & brewery I'm able to stay in the black when it comes to finances. BUT I needed more to feel safe. In the beginning of November a Goodwill opened up in the same parking lot as the LA Fitness I work at. (Literally 50 yards away from the front door) This really sparked my interest as I'm always seeking to be frugal on the items I buy. However, after my first walk through of this Goodwill I instant saw earning potential. St. Louis Park is one of the epicenters of wealthy lifestyle in the Twin Cities and you wouldn't believe the things people simple donate, and how cheap Goodwill lets it go for.

This blog will focus on the specific items I buy each month and how much I make off each. I'll also teach you along the way what I look for and how to know whether to buy it or leave it.

I enjoy thrift shopping, and it's even more exciting to turn a profit in such a short amount of time using Ebay to sell the items I come across.