If thrifting feels dead, you're not imagining it.
For years, thrift stores were the default hunting ground for Aussie eBay sellers. Then staff started pricing against eBay solds. Online stores skimmed the good stuff. Back-room deals kept winners off the floor. The "treasure" got thinner while the sticker prices climbed.
Flippedit co-founder Matt has been selling for six years and mostly lived in thrift stores. Over the last 12 to 18 months, he says that channel stopped making sense. His answer wasn't to quit. It was to move the bulk of sourcing to Facebook Marketplace.
This post breaks down that process so you can run it without watching every second of a sourcing vlog.
Why Thrift Got Harder
Modern thrift stores often behave like competitors:
- They check eBay pricing before tagging
- They sell better items through their own online channels
- They have relationships that keep stock off public shelves
- The leftover floor stock is picked over and overpriced
You can still get lucky. Luck is not a system.
Marketplace is different. You're dealing with regular people who want the item gone, often today, often for cash, often without researching comps the way a reseller does.
The Facebook Marketplace Playbook
1. Search with intention, not endless scrolling
Start with categories and brands you already understand. Media, electronics, specific consoles, known model numbers, brands with consistent demand.
Matt's examples in the video include things like:
- Audio / production gear (with exact model numbers)
- Blu-ray and multi-region players
- Brand names he already sells well
If you don't have a niche yet, pick one and go deep. Random scrolling is how you waste two hours and buy junk.
2. Research before you message
Open eBay and check:
- Exact model / title match
- Sold and completed results
- Your country first, then worldwide if local data is thin
- Active listings (how much competition is live right now)
- Condition language in the Marketplace post ("works," "as is," one photo only, etc.)
You're answering one question: if I buy this at X, can I list at Y and still keep a healthy margin after fees and postage?
3. Do the profit maths before you fall in love with the deal
Rough formula:
Expected sale price − eBay fees − postage − cost of goods − promotion = profit
Example pattern from Matt's process:
- Marketplace ask: $140
- Realistic list price: around $299 with Best Offer
- Postage: ~$20
- Expected profit after fees: roughly $90 if it sells near list
Another pattern:
- Ask: $250
- Offer: $200 cash today
- List around $400
- Expected profit around $120 after costs
If the deal only works at a fantasy sale price, it's not a deal.
Use the free Flippedit profit calculator before you commit, especially while you're learning.
4. Message like a closer, not a tourist
Strong messages are short and commercial:
- Clear offer amount
- Cash
- Pickup today / this morning
- No essay
Examples of the style that works:
- "Will you take $400? I can pay cash and pick up today."
- "I'm interested. Does it work? Can you tell me anything else about it?"
- "I can offer $200 cash this morning if you're available."
Urgency helps when it's real. "Cash today" is useful because many sellers want the item out of the house, not a higher maybe later.
5. Watch for red flags
Skip or slow down when you see:
- One blurry photo
- No model number
- Vague condition ("pretty sure it works")
- Price that only works if international solds are perfect and local demand is fantasy
- "Parts/repair" language when you need a working unit
- Too many active listings worldwide and almost no solds
Confidence comes from comps, not vibes.
6. Prefer nearby, stack pickups, build seller relationships
Distance kills profit. A "great" item an hour away can lose the day once you count fuel and time.
When Matt finds a good local seller, he checks what else they have. One pickup with three solid items beats three separate drives for maybe-deals.