Flip Like a Pro: 5 Best Apps for Flipping Items
Let’s face it, thanks to the rise of online marketplaces and the ease of access to a wide range of products, the world of reselling has exploded in recent years. However, with so many apps and platforms available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s where this post comes in. I’ve rounded up the top apps for flipping items, based on the number of users, the app commissions, and my general experiences. Keep reading to find out more.
| App | Customers | Seller Fees | Best For | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
eBay | 138 Million | 3%-15% (+$0.30) | Selling anything online | Learn More |
Poshmark | 80 Million | 20% | Selling trendy clothes, shoes, and accessories | Learn More |
Mercari | 20 Million | 12.9% (+$0.50) | Selling items not allowed on eBay | Learn More |
OfferUp | 20 Million | 0-12.9% | Selling locally | Learn More |
| Facebook Marketplace | 800 Million | 0-5% | Sourcing locally | Learn More |
1. eBay
eBay is the OG of online marketplaces, and for good reason. It’s a reliable platform for buying and selling just about anything, from vintage clothing to electronics. While eBay has a reputation for being a bit intimidating to new sellers, it’s worth the effort to learn the ropes. eBay’s huge customer base of 138 million buyers and wide range of products means there’s always a demand for items, and with a little bit of research, you can find profitable items to flip.
Customer base: 138 Million Users
Seller fee(s): Usually a 13.25% commission, but it ranges from 3% to 15%, depending on the category. Also, there’s a $0.30 final value fee added to every sale. If you sell more than 250 items per month, you also have to pay a $0.35 insertion fee.
The pros: Out of all the apps on this list, eBay has the largest customer base. That means, that you’ll have more eyes on your items and a higher chance of actually selling your items.
The cons: Firstly, there’s more competition, which means that you’ll have to price your items competitively to make the sale. Secondly, the fees are insane and can eat into your profits.
2. Poshmark
Poshmark is a great app for selling clothing, shoes, and accessories. And if you’re selling uber-trendy items, you’ll probably make more on Poshmark than on any other platform. Poshmark’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to list items quickly and efficiently from your smartphone. Additionally, the app provides built-in shipping labels and a chat feature for smooth communication with buyers, streamlining the selling process.
Customer base: 80 million users
Seller fee(s): 20% commission on items sold over $15, or $2.95 on items sold for $15 and under.
The pros: Firstly, the app is incredibly intuitive. With that, creating listings is as easy as pie. Secondly, the shipping labels are sent directly to your email and you can use any free USPS priority bag or box to ship your items, as long as your items weigh less than 5 pounds. So many people are afraid to start reselling because they’re afraid to mess up on shipping, so this could be a good opportunity to get your feet wet if you’re one of those people. Third, if you’re selling trendy items, Poshmark users will typically be willing to spend more on trendy items than on any other platform.
The cons: Firstly, unlike the other apps, Poshmark is niched down, meaning it’s largely limited to selling clothing and shoes. Secondly, the fees are much higher than the other apps on this list. Often, you’ll have to mark up your items to account for this massive fee. Third, you’ll have to take time to “share” your closet every day so that your items are displayed at the top of the search results. You can’t set it and forget it like some of the other apps. Fourth, the app is beyond annoying. If you’re notifications are on, you’ll get a never-ending supply of notifications for “live shows” and “party” notifications.
3. Mercari
Mercari is a newer player in the reselling game, but it’s quickly gaining popularity among sellers. Like eBay, Mercari allows you to sell just about anything, but the app has a more streamlined interface that makes it easy to list items quickly. Mercari also offers a built-in shipping label system and holds funds in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt of the item, which can help protect you as a seller.
Customer base: 20 million users
Seller fee(s): 10% commission, a 2.9% + $0.50 payment processing fee is tacked onto every completed sale, If you list more than 50 items per month, there’s also a $0.35 listing fee for each item.
The pros: Since selling on Mercari is geared to , the biggest pro of Mercari is that it can be great for sourcing. A lot of the time, people are trying to get rid of their stuff and make a little cash on the side, so you can negotiate low prices and source items from the comfort of your own home. Another good things is that you can sell things that are banned on eBay, like P90X or Velcro.
The cons: Because Mercari doesn’t have that many users, I wouldn’t focus my energy on it. Reselling is mostly a numbers game, after all.
4. OfferUp
OfferUp is hands down the best app for selling your items locally (and yes, I think it’s better than Craigslist). I mean, using the app is incredibly easy and intuitive–you just snap a few pictures, set the price, and set the title, while the app takes care of the background info automatically. Not to mention, you can pretty much sell anything on OfferUp. The app spans a ton of categories, from furniture to home appliances to clothing, the list goes on. On top of that, it has an integrated chat feature in the app, so that you don’t have to give out any of your personal info (emails or phone numbers) to strangers.
Customer base: 20 million active monthly users nationwide
Seller fee(s): 0 if selling locally via cash, 12.9% if selling through the payment portal
The pros: The best thing about selling on OfferUp is that you don’t have to worry about shipping. Personally, I use OfferUp to sell things that are either fragile, heavy, big, or otherwise difficult to ship.
The cons: Firstly, since Offerup is a local reselling platform, you have to be careful when setting up in-person meet-ups with buyers. If possible, try to meet in high-traffic public spaces (like a Starbucks, supermarkets, or even at a police stations). And please look at the buyers’ star rating before you sell to them–the ratio between “bought”/”sold” and star ratings should be around 1:1. Meaning, if someone only has one rating (even if it’s a five star rating), they shouldn’t have “25 Bought” on their profile–that’s suspicious. Secondly, it’s not the best platform for shipping items nationally, so I wouldn’t really waste my time on that end of things.
5. Facebook Marketplace
Launched in 2016, Facebook Marketplace has become a popular contender as a local buy and sell platform. Its biggest advantage is that it combines a local marketplace with social media. That means that your listings can be shared to, not only your Facebook friends and family, but also to local Facebook groups. The more eyes you have on your items, the more chance they have of selling.
Customer base: 800 million active monthly users on Facebook Marketplace specifically
Seller fee(s): 0 if you’re selling locally, 5% if you’re selling nationally
The pros: You can find anything on Facebook Marketplace. And this seems like people tend to sell things cheap, so sourcing items from here is easy and lucrative. Also, if you plan on shipping your items, Facebook only takes a 5% commission, which is something you can’t beat, especially when it comes to the other platforms on this list.
The cons: First, like any other local marketplace, there’s a stranger-danger element. Like OfferUp, you have to be smart about who you meet and where you meet. Second, to put it simply, the search function sucks. It’s hard to filter items and it seems like the things at the top of the search results are pretty random sometimes. If I’m having this problem, your potential buyers are probably also having this problem.