Is there money to be made from Flipping (small goods) buying or selling vintage/antiques or similar…

[ThriftyQueen]

NC for this but a long timer…

We are in a bit of pickle financially, DH in a good stable job and I the same but PT but due to DC very expensive hobby’s which unfortunately is not something we can take back, we are really not well off month to month, particularly if an unexpected bill or breakage occurs.

I have and do take extra hours where I can but for a while now (and after I listened to a podcast) I have been wondering about trying out some form of flipping as a side hustle, whether that was buying something, doing work to it to make better and selling on or buying something from one market and selling it on in ond better suited and seeing if I could keep a chain of profit going…

We have done exactly like this unknowingly in the past with something, bought for a pittance, put our life and soul into for a few years and sold for a huge profit (in relevance to what we paid) and I still look back at what a big achievement it was. It was something quite niche though and not in a position atm to do exactly the same again.

Pros for this for me, I do have good photography skills, I am quite creative by nature and do have a good eye for up and coming trends and enjoy putting research into this…

Thats all I have for experience and not sure that’s enough but I guess I could trial on something on very low value and see how I get on.

Enough rambling from me but wondered if anyone does or has done something similar, if it worked, if they have any tips or advice on how to get started, to make it profitable and if they enjoyed the process.

We did about 15/20 years ago. Bought something niche, flipped it, and sold it on eBay. Unfortunately the fees now don’t make it worth while.

@DustyLee123 I sold some bits on EBay before Christmas and couldn’t believe how expensive the sellers fees were compared to last time I’d been on…

I’ve just tried selling some clothes on Vinted, new with tags, and they didn’t go either, despite dropping the price. I’d rather give it to charity shops than sell for next to nothing.

EBay is ruined for me as a seller now. I have stopped using it due to fees and how weighted it is in the buyer’s favour. I’ve had some success flipping things on marketplace, like you, accidentally really - buying nice furniture, using it, then selling it on for a profit. But it’s hit and miss and I find fewer and fewer bargains on there these days.

Lurking as I need to do the same

EBay is ruined for me as a seller now. I have stopped using it due to fees and how weighted it is in the buyer’s favour.

And that's what keeps them in business.....

I do this for a living, so yes it's possible. BUT it's a full time 40 hour a week job for me. It involves trawling round various shops, recyclers and carboots at often unsociable hours. I've spent years making supplier contacts and building up a reputation online.
As a side hussle you will strike it lucky with some things. However by the time you've taken into account all the costs involved...stock, fees, postage, things lost/broken in the post, returns and tax..you're unlikely to make an income worth the hassle without investing significant time, energy and money.

My oh buys and sells techy things, computer parts and old consoles and games, usually buys them in bundles and sells individually. Every few weeks eBay has a big discount in seller costs which is when he puts everything up for sale. I would look that up and make sure you don't miss it. He says otherwise there is no point.

Have you tried the 10 pounds a day thread? Would 300 extra a month make a difference? I did matched betting for a while along side online surveys/click working and made about 2k in a year. This was working around a newborn so very infrequent?

You’re likely to make more money by increasing hours / taking a full time version of your part time job.

What do you mean?

Only if you have specialist knowledge.

Not worth it as a side hustle. HMRC might be on your case if you exceed 1k gbp sales / or 30 items per year. Online platforms ( EBay, Vinted, etc) will be reporting you from Jan 2025 ( data collected from Jan 2024). Hmrc usual approach is guilty until proven innocent. Imagine the paperwork and hustle you need to go through just to protect yourself.

This. It's pointless trying to do something on the side if you don't even work full time.

This is an interesting site and concept. Buying less attractive, less saleable furniture and upcycling.
Seems high quality finishes expected, but quite a good profit margin.
( there is an accompanying Facebook page too)

https://upcite.co.uk/

Thanks everyone, good for thought!

I have floated round the £10 a day and have made a little bit on Prolific etc but I guess there is something I find interesting/fun and intriguing about the buying and selling for a profit thing and would like to give it a try, even if just as a trial/hobby.

I think if you can add value you might be on to something - like that Money for Nothing show on the BBC where they take knackered old furniture (usually) and do it up. But part of the reason they make money is that the presenters already have a social media following and people who want their stuff.

Or if you have a knowledge of a very niche market and can spot things others would miss.

I worked in an antiques shop a few years back. There were traders working on a small, part time scale - they were making may 50p-£1 on items sold by the time they'd factored in their rent plus any cc charges. They did it as they loved the whole process not as a means to make a living. Those who did make a living worked long hours. So I couldn't recommend antiques or collectables as a means to build up financial reserves.

The disposable income economy at the moment is in a bad way - no one is spending. You would be better off getting a second job or going full time.

You say you can't stop the DC's expensive hobby - why not ? Sorry to be so harsh, but you have to live within your budget and if it's a hobby causing you to tip into financial problems, then the hobby has to either stop or find another way to fund it. Yes that's sad, but basics have to be covered first before you can have the nice to haves. Are there organisations which would provide a grant to help with the hobby ? could family help with expenses by contributing as birthday & Christmas present ?

I’m not really wanting to get into the details of our finances, work routines nor do I feel the need to justify why my DC can’t pack in a hobby they have worked solidly at for years and now compete at an international level.

That wasn’t the part of the thread I opened to discussion.

To everyone else thank you, I feel like trialing this to some level, maybe buying something at even £10 and seeing if I can get to £100 through moving on and up…

@AarlowDK thanks for the link to that website I’ll take a look.

I do this as a bit of a sideline. I specialise in vintage jewellery and ceramics but often buy things that look quality and usually make a profit. But I don't rely on it just like lovely things and find it a challenge and fun. I have had some stonking successes, ie gold items for a few pounds that made c £100 and a vintage amber necklace that sold for a massive profit. But these are not the norm and overall it is probably not profitable given the time spent buying, listing and posting.

@TrumpetOfTheMatriarchy do you enjoy the process?

can I ask when you buy and sell on, is EBay worth your time?

I think you should use your photography skills, print and get them nicely framed. Then try to sell for a profit!

I also wonder if there is anything you could seek lottery funding for your DC if they are competing at such a high level now? Not sure how that works but something to look into maybe?

I buy a lot of things for the house and children secondhand too, especially clothes and I probably cover the cost of everything through profit made on flipping. It's an enjoyable hobby. Big profits occasionally give me a thrill!

I do use eBay and as a hobby I fit it in around everything else.

See my username. This is outing so name change!
I recently bought a 'metal' bowl covered in jungle images. I paid about £17 for it. Got it and realised it was something special, even not hallmarked it was clearly silver. I've had it valued at worth between £400 and £600!!! Not sold it yet. Love it too much.

I used to buy and sell antique jewellery specifically diamond rings on Ebay and market them better and make £50+ profit per item.
However it was time consuming finding and bidding on the right item. Since the sellars fees went up it's hardly worth it now.
With your skill in photography you could do well with some items because some sellers pics are shocking.
I feel like you need a niche knowledge in one or two products really.
Someone I know user to buy second hand clothes in bulk and clean and press and sell as bundles but it was a lot of work.
You need to either be doing a lot of smalls or one or two medium profit items a week.
I will probably take my hobby up again when I retire as I did enjoy it.