The resale market is bigger than ever. People are making real money selling items that seem worthless or outdated. Online marketplaces connect sellers with buyers who actually want this stuff. Here are twelve things people are selling online for surprising profits.
Vintage Tupperware and Pyrex
Old Tupperware from the 1970s and 1980s sells for $20 to $100 per piece. Vintage Pyrex bowls in desirable patterns go for even more. Collectors pay premium prices for specific colors and designs.
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Check your parents’ or grandparents’ kitchen cabinets. That avocado green bowl set gathering dust could be worth $200. eBay and Etsy are full of buyers searching for these exact items. The nostalgia market is strong and shows no signs of slowing down.
Used Books in Good Condition
Textbooks, first editions, and out-of-print books sell well online. A college textbook that cost $200 new might sell for $80 used. First edition novels can fetch hundreds or thousands depending on the title and condition.
Amazon, ThriftBooks, and specialist sites make selling easy. Scan the barcode and see what it’s worth instantly. Many people find valuable books at garage sales for $1 and flip them for $50 to $100. Some folks treating this as a side hustle make hundreds per month just from book arbitrage.
Old Video Games and Consoles
Retro gaming is huge. Original Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation games sell for $20 to $500 depending on the title. Complete-in-box games with manuals command even higher prices.
That dusty Nintendo 64 in your closet could be worth $100. Popular games like Mario Kart 64 or GoldenEye sell for $40 to $60. Rare titles go for hundreds. People are actively searching for these games to rebuild childhood collections or start new ones.
Designer Clothes and Handbags
Gently used designer items hold value surprisingly well. A Coach purse that sold for $400 new might resell for $150. High-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès retain even more value.
Poshmark, Mercari, and The RealReal make selling luxury items simple. Authentication services verify designer goods for buyers. Clean out your closet and turn unwanted designer pieces into cash. Many sellers focus on thrift store finds and flip designer items for profit.
Craft Supplies and Fabric
Quilters, sewers, and crafters buy materials in bulk online. Unused fabric, yarn, beads, and ribbon sell quickly. A bag of mixed buttons goes for $15. Quality fabric sells for $8 to $15 per yard.
People buy craft supplies with big plans, then never use them. Those supplies sit in closets for years. Someone else wants exactly what you’re not using.
Furniture You’re Not Using
Quality furniture sells fast on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. A solid wood dining table worth $800 new might sell for $300 used. People furnishing apartments and houses want good furniture at reasonable prices.
Take decent photos, price fairly, and it’ll move quickly. Mid-century modern pieces are especially popular. Even basic IKEA furniture in good condition finds buyers. When people are trying to live comfortably on less, buying used furniture makes perfect sense.
Old Cell Phones and Electronics
Old iPhones, iPads, and Android devices have value even if they’re a few generations behind. A three-year-old iPhone might sell for $200 to $400. Trade-in programs and resale sites like Decluttr make the process easy.
Even broken electronics have value for parts. Cracked screens and battery issues don’t make devices worthless. Someone will buy them to repair or harvest components. Check your drawers for old devices before throwing them away.
Collectible Toys Still in Boxes
Unopened action figures, LEGO sets, and Barbie dolls from the 1980s and 1990s sell for shocking amounts. A vintage Star Wars figure in original packaging can go for $100 to $1,000. Limited edition Beanie Babies still have a market.
Collectors want mint condition items. If you kept toys in boxes thinking they’d be worth something someday, you were right. Check sold listings on eBay to see actual market values. You might have more valuable items than you realize.
Kitchen Appliances You Never Use
That bread maker, air fryer, or juicer you used twice has value. Small kitchen appliances in good condition sell for 30% to 50% of retail price. A $150 KitchenAid mixer might sell for $75.
People want to try these appliances without paying full price. They’re happy to buy gently used. Clean it up, take good photos, and list it. Someone will buy it within a week on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp.
Sporting Equipment in Good Shape
Bikes, golf clubs, camping gear, and exercise equipment move quickly online. A bike that cost $500 new sells for $200 to $300 used. Golf club sets, kayaks, and weightlifting equipment all have active resale markets.
Sporting goods are expensive new. Buyers look for used options to save money. If you bought equipment for a hobby you abandoned, someone else wants to start that same hobby. Clean it up and sell it to free up space while making money.
Vinyl Records and CDs
Vinyl records are back in demand. Classic rock, jazz, and rare pressings sell well. Common albums go for $5 to $20. Rare pressings and first editions can hit hundreds. Even CDs from the 1990s and 2000s have buyers.
Music collectors want physical media. Check thrift stores and garage sales for underpriced records. Flip them on eBay or Discogs for profit. Some people run entire businesses around buying and selling records.
Brand Name Baby Gear
Baby items get used for months, then outgrown. Quality strollers, car seats, and cribs hold value. A $400 stroller sells for $150 to $200 used. Baby clothes in good condition sell in lots for decent money.
Parents need this stuff but don’t want to pay full price for items that get used briefly. Buy-sell-trade groups for baby items are incredibly active. List your outgrown items and they’ll sell within days.
The Resale Opportunity
These items prove that one person’s clutter is another person’s purchase. The key is knowing where to sell and how to price items fairly. Research sold listings before pricing. Take clear photos in good lighting. Write honest descriptions.
The resale market creates opportunities on both sides. Sellers clear space and make money. Buyers get items they want at lower prices. Many people have turned casual selling into steady income streams. Start with what’s already in your house taking up space. You might be surprised what people will pay for things you no longer want or need.
This article first appeared on Cents + Purpose.