Can You Make Money Flipping Second-Hand Clothes? My First-Hand Experience

Like many of us, I fell down a YouTube rabbit hole, watching video after video about people earning extra cash from side gigs. One that stood out was clothes flipping—buying second-hand clothes and reselling them for profit.

After seeing multiple influencers raking in hundreds of dollars, I decided to test it out myself. Could this be a worthwhile side hustle, or just another time-consuming venture with minimal returns? Here’s what I discovered.

The Ethical Dilemma of Reselling Thrifted Clothes

As excited as I was to begin, I couldn’t shake a bit of guilt. Was I taking advantage of charity stores by reselling their low-cost items for my own profit? And by purchasing affordable clothing in bulk, was I reducing access for people who truly needed them?

Some YouTubers addressed this issue, pointing out that many clothing items sit unsold for weeks or end up discarded. Plus, the money I spent still went to the charity. While this logic made me feel slightly better, the ethical question still lingered.

My First Attempt at Clothes Flipping

Setting aside my concerns, I decided to give it a go. I live within a 30km radius of 12 thrift stores, so I mapped out a one-day thrifting route. Since I work a standard 9-to-5 job, Saturdays were my only window to source inventory (many stores close early or aren’t open on Sundays).

Key Observations:

• Prices varied significantly across different shops—some felt like luxury boutiques, others like they were practically giving clothes away.
• Some stores were overpriced for reselling, while others were filled with unsellable items (ripped, stained, or extremely outdated clothing—unless 80s shoulder pads are making a comeback?).
• I recognised repeat shoppers at multiple locations, likely other resellers doing the same thing. We exchanged awkward nods like members of a secret club.
• Not being a fashion expert slowed me down—I had to constantly Google brands to determine value. (Not all fancy-looking names mean high resale value.)

By the end of the day, I’d spent $340 on 45 garments, most priced between $4–$10. At least I knew my money was supporting charity organisations, even if my bank account was starting to sweat.

Listing the Items: A Surprisingly Tedious Task

What I underestimated the most was the time investment required to list the clothes online.

Without a mannequin, I had to hang clothes on a doorframe for photos, which wasn’t ideal. My lighting setup was less ‘fashion studio’ and more ‘dungeon chic.’ I now have a newfound respect for product photographers.

While photographing, I also noticed flaws I had missed in-store—stains, missing buttons, and broken zippers. Some could be fixed, but others went straight to the “donation pile” (again). Lesson learned: thrift shopping is like dating; always inspect closely before committing.

After taking hundreds of photos, I then spent hours writing descriptions and uploading listings to TradeMe (New Zealand’s equivalent of eBay). I marked up items by $5–$10 and hoped for the best.

The Results: Profit vs. Time Investment

A few items sold almost immediately, which was exciting! I made $20 on a shabby-looking Orton wallet that I bought for $5 and ended up flipping for $25. Maybe I should switch to flipping accessories? However, most listings sat idle, attracting watchers but no buyers—like a dating profile that gets swipes but no messages.

Over the next month, I started lowering prices to move inventory. Eventually, I recouped my $340 investment and made an extra $180 profit. However, after subtracting TradeMe’s 7.5% success fees and fuel costs, my earnings shrank significantly.

When factoring in the hours spent sourcing, photographing, and listing, I realised I had essentially earned around $5 per hour—not exactly a goldmine, but at least better than working for exposure.

Lessons Learned: How to Make Clothes Flipping More Profitable

While this first attempt wasn’t a huge financial win, it was a valuable learning experience. If I were to do it again, I’d make a few key changes:

• Focus on mid-range brands – Forever New and Max sold best, while high-end brands were often overlooked on TradeMe.
• Explore alternative selling platforms – TradeMe’s fees cut into profits, so platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark might be better.
• Invest in a mannequin – Clothes would photograph much better, improving buyer interest. (And hey, maybe I’d have someone to talk to while listing items.)
• Get familiar with profitable brands beforehand – This would save time Googling in-store.
• Be more selective – Avoid impulse purchases. If it wouldn’t sell in your own wardrobe, chances are it won’t sell online either.

Side Hustle Breakdown: Rating Clothes Flipping Out of 10

• Startup Costs – 6/10: Low initial investment, but costs add up with inventory and supplies.
• Flexibility – 6/10: Can be done part-time, but requires a lot of hands-on work.
• Profitability 7/10: Possible to make money, but margins are low unless you have experience.
• Time Investment 4/10: Very time-consuming, from sourcing to listing and shipping. Prepare to lose a weekend or two.
• Fun Factor 6/10: If you enjoy thrifting and treasure hunting, it’s exciting—like a game show where the prize is more laundry.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10 – Clothes flipping is a viable side hustle, but it’s far from passive income. Success depends on your ability to source valuable items efficiently and optimise your sales process.

A Happy Ending: Giving Back

In the end, I returned all unsold garments to op shops, along with extra clothes from my own wardrobe after a spring-clean. While this wasn’t a huge financial success, it was a learning experience that gave me a new appreciation for the second-hand clothing market.

Would I do it again? Maybe—but next time, I’d be smarter with my purchases and streamline my process. Clothes flipping can be profitable, but like any side hustle, it takes time, research, and effort to get it right.

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering clothes flipping, go in with a plan. Research trending brands, find the best resale platforms, and optimise your listing process. While it’s not the fastest way to make money, it can be rewarding if you enjoy fashion and thrifting.

So, is it worth it? With the right strategy—maybe!