Thrift Store Flipping evidence: 22 quotes from 7 creators
Every quote, figure and source behind our thrift store flipping guide: 22 quotes from 7 creators, grouped by claim, with the full source list.
Every quote, by claim
Accepted figures: each is backed by the creators quoted under it, verbatim and linked to the moment they said it.
Full-time or part-time: full time capable
“I kept going after work, [clears throat] kept going on the weekends, and then finally, uh, I ended up quitting my job and just doing it full-time.”
Income volatility: high
“But this business does go through es and flows, and you just need to stay focused, keep listing, try and list more, maybe send out some more aggressive offers than you have in the past.”
“you just really have to keep, you know, a strong mentality when you are self-employed because your income is so unpredictable.”
Ongoing cost: $70/month
“I'm paying I think my plan is $69.99 because of the number of items that I have, but of course they have lower plans if you don't have as many as much inventory.”
Physical demand: high
“I had back pain almost every day cuz I was hitting the bins”
Scalability: low
“cherry picking is not going to make you rich, you know? It's just it's a really good way to turn your capital at the beginning, you know?”
Schedule control: own schedule
“That's just why I love this little job I've created is I can make it work when I need to. I can pause it when I need to.”
Single reports, not yet confirmed
What one creator said, before a second independent source backs it. Not used as a fact anywhere on the site.
Monthly earnings, part time
“Today I'm joined with a healthcare administrator who's selling 6,000 per month and you've been doing this for years.”
Startup cost
“if you literally have no books at home, you are going to need 10 or 20 bucks to buy used books with”
Ongoing cost
“I'm paying I think my plan is $69.99 because of the number of items that I have, but of course they have lower plans if you don't have as many as much inventory.”
Common pitfalls
“make sure you're not selling big bulky awkward breakable items for 2030 bucks.”
“So, the fact is you're probably not scanning all the books. And also, even though thrift store prices are up, what about posting on Nextdoor app?”
“if you don't fix finding in demand items first, then nothing else will matter.”
Income volatility
“But this business does go through es and flows, and you just need to stay focused, keep listing, try and list more, maybe send out some more aggressive offers than you have in the past.”
“you just really have to keep, you know, a strong mentality when you are self-employed because your income is so unpredictable.”
Schedule control
“That's just why I love this little job I've created is I can make it work when I need to. I can pause it when I need to.”
Equipment
“Steamer (SIMILAR to mine, had for 4+ years): https://amzn.to/3Gg0s5s”
“Lighting Kit: https://amzn.to/3KUJY6i - I’ve had this light kit for 4+ years and still use!”
“Lighting Kit: https://amzn.to/3KUJY6i - I’ve had this light kit for 4+ years and still use!”
Scalability
“cherry picking is not going to make you rich, you know? It's just it's a really good way to turn your capital at the beginning, you know?”
Full-time or part-time
“I kept going after work, [clears throat] kept going on the weekends, and then finally, uh, I ended up quitting my job and just doing it full-time.”
Physical demand
“I had back pain almost every day cuz I was hitting the bins”
Employee pay in the related job, nationally and by state
BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation, not side-hustle income.
| Related occupation | Median pay | Middle 80% | People employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Merchants | $39.93/hr ($83,050/yr), BLS OEWS, May 2025 | $47,880–$150,010/yr | 1,087,090 |
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $100,240 |
| Alaska | $94,740 |
| Arizona | $83,280 |
| Arkansas | $61,240 |
| California | $87,570 |
| Colorado | $92,520 |
| Connecticut | $85,530 |
| Delaware | $95,040 |
| District of Columbia | $108,160 |
| Florida | $79,650 |
| Georgia | $78,410 |
| Hawaii | $92,620 |
| Idaho | $76,400 |
| Illinois | $82,070 |
| Indiana | $79,030 |
| Iowa | $80,470 |
| Kansas | $83,350 |
| Kentucky | $74,690 |
| Louisiana | $63,220 |
| Maine | $78,830 |
| Maryland | $101,500 |
| Massachusetts | $93,270 |
| Michigan | $81,810 |
| Minnesota | $77,820 |
| Mississippi | $76,980 |
| Missouri | $80,420 |
| Montana | $74,990 |
| Nebraska | $77,980 |
| Nevada | $67,330 |
| New Hampshire | $83,740 |
| New Jersey | $91,060 |
| New Mexico | $79,100 |
| New York | $83,450 |
| North Carolina | $80,230 |
| North Dakota | $80,500 |
| Ohio | $79,350 |
| Oklahoma | $93,640 |
| Oregon | $77,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,700 |
| Rhode Island | $88,130 |
| South Carolina | $79,110 |
| South Dakota | $85,340 |
| Tennessee | $78,690 |
| Texas | $80,820 |
| Utah | $80,190 |
| Vermont | $71,710 |
| Virginia | $85,200 |
| Washington | $100,360 |
| West Virginia | $69,240 |
| Wisconsin | $67,370 |
| Wyoming | $74,060 |
All sources
- Romer the Roamer, California Man Sells $100k/mo in Used Books on Amazon FBA (YouTube, 2 Nov 2026, at 3:05)
- Thrift Adventure PNW, I Sell This On Poshmark, Ebay, & Chairish For Big Profits Ship With Me (YouTube, 8 Oct 2026, at 24:14)
- Thrift Adventure PNW, $1800+ In Sales What I Sell On Poshmark, Chairish, & Ebay Ship With Me (YouTube, 14 Oct 2026, at 42:13)
- Thrift Adventure PNW, I SOLD These For Big Profits On Ebay, Poshmark, & Chairish Ship My Sales With Me (YouTube, 16 Sep 2026, at 18:57)
- Romer the Roamer, Tennesse Man Sells $400,000 First Year Selling Books on Amazon FBA ... Then Opens Chain of Bookstore (YouTube, 28 Oct 2026, at 14:45)
- Hustle at Home Mom, I Spend $7,000/year Shopping at Goodwill - Here’s What I Buy (YouTube, 21 Oct 2026, at 24:33)
- Romer the Roamer, Healthcare Worker Shares How to Sell $6000/mo in Used Books on Amazon FBA (YouTube, 26 Oct 2026, at 0:01)
- Fields of Profit, How to Start Selling on Amazon With No Money (YouTube, 22 Oct 2026, at 1:46)
- Raiken Profit, Goodwill books went up to $4.99–$6.99. There are still books on those shelves that sell for $40–$60. (YouTube, 29 Oct 2026, at 0:12)
- Cayley Elaine, Grow Slow or Scale Fast? - What I’ve Learned Taking My Reselling Business to 6-Figures (YouTube, 26 Oct 2026, at 2:26)
- Mcthriftzie, INSANE Goodwill Thrift Haul to Resell on Poshmark for an AMAZING Profit $$ (YouTube, 21 Oct 2026)
- Mcthriftzie, INSANE Family Thrift Center Thrift Haul to Resell on Poshmark for an AMAZING Profit $$ (YouTube, 30 Oct 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
- O*NET 31.0 Database, 31.0.
All data
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Demand trend | growing | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Full-time or part-time | full time capable | Romer the Roamer, Nov 2026 |
| Income volatility | high | Thrift Adventure PNW, Oct 2026 |
| Nearest occupation | Business Operations Specialists, All Other | O*NET 31.0 |
| Ongoing cost | $70/month | Thrift Adventure PNW, Sep 2026 |
| Physical demand | high | Romer the Roamer, Oct 2026 |
| Scalability | low | Romer the Roamer, Nov 2026 |
| Schedule control | own schedule | Hustle at Home Mom, Oct 2026 |
| Median hourly wage, employees: online merchants | $39.93/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median annual wage, employees: online merchants | $83,050/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 10th percentile: online merchants | $47,880/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Annual wage, 90th percentile: online merchants | $150,010/yr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed: online merchants | 1,087,090 jobs | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change, 10 years: online merchants | 3.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |
| Share self-employed: online merchants | 1.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 |