How to scan your way to money making using bar code scanners at garage sales, thrift stores and retail stores.
I have sold over $150,000 in used goods in the past two years. All of these used goods were found at garage sales and through resale stores. Many of the new items were from discount clearance sections, resale stores, and garage sales. Being a smart consumer and seller can maximize your profits. You never know what people will donate or sell for a fair price just to get rid of it.
There are many ways to make money selling online, but one sure-fire way is by reselling new and used media goods on websites like Amazon. The easiest way to make the most money is to find hot items such as video games, computer software, books, CDs, and other barcoded items. If you find them for the right price, these items have a nice profit margin .Whether you're an experienced seller or just starting out, these items are a great way to make money because of how easy they are to find, sell, and ship.
This method is best for Amazon due to the ease of listing.
There are two different method you can take when looking for video games, software, music, CDs and books.
Scanning media method 1.
- PDA with database media scouting.
PDA scouting using hardware such as the Dell axim v51 with a barcode scanner.
This method works very well for areas that do not have cellular signal.
This method usually requires a monthly subscription to a service such as
media scouting service.
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| First month is free. |
You download the services database to your PDA, along with their scanning program. When a barcode is scanned, the media scouting program will search it's database, and provide you with feedback of rejected, buy new only or buy depending on the specific criteria you set the program to.
Two PDA examples that can be used for scouting books, music CDs, video games & DVDs.
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| DELL AXIM X51 |
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| SOMO 655 |
Scanning media method 2.
- Smartphone with Live media scouting.
This option is a great way to test the waters of the media scouting world. Unlike the database version, you are not required to pay a monthly fee for the service service if you use an application such as profit bandit. Instead, you pay a one time fee of $15.00 for the program and another one time $50.00 fee to activate the ability to use bluetooth scanners. You can easily make much more money than what the fees will cost you. They are a great investment if you are planning to make some easy money.
Live media scan be used with your smart phone. This media scouting method does not require a barcode scanner, but I highly recommend purchasing one. The camera scanners for barcodes can be quite slow and we all know time is money.
Recommended smartphone barcode scanners.
I use the Wasp WWS100I for my barcode scanning. It is easily concealable, light weight, to help bring less attention to yourself while scouting. This scanner does have a silent mode, so you are able to scan books, movies, CDs, and video games without attracting attention. I would, personally, recommend this scanner because I have used it and I know that it works well.
Once you have all of the tools where do you start scouting?
Scouting at garage sales.
Everyone has been to or seen as garage sale at one time or another. Not only are they great for finding treasures and cleaning house, but they are great way to make money easily. When you go to a garage sale look for video games, CDs, movies, books and other media items. These items are relatively easy to find because of how common they are.
Prices will vary depending on the neighborhood and the people running the sale, but generally they are a steal. Having some background knowledge of popular items can help you recognize a good buy faster and easier, but don't overlook items that you have never heard of because they could like gold.
I have found nice video games at garage sales for FREE, Which means that there is PURE PROFIT from that item when it sells. People usually want to just get rid of everything. They are cleaning house and they just want to see it gone because if it does not sell, they will probably donate it to a thrift store.
If you find some good items, but you don't really like the price, you can always haggle the price down to get a better deal. Items found at garage sales are easy to buy low and sell high to maximize your profit. They are a great way to obtain products to sell online because they are plentiful and fairly priced. Check around for citywide garage sales in your area to get the most out of your buying trip.
Scouting in thrift stores.
Thrift stores are the next best thing to garage sales. They are almost guaranteed to have the media items you are looking for. They have a plethora of books, CDs, and movies. Although scanning all the media items at a thrift store can be time consuming, because of the vast amount of them, it can also be VERY rewarding. Different thrift stores will have different prices on their items. Be aware of the sale price and resale price to make sure you're getting the best deal. Thrift stores can sometimes be very busy, depending on the area in which they are located.
A good way to get the most out of your buying trip (because gas prices aren't very nice) is to look up all the thrift stores in the area you will be visiting. There are various websites and apps for smartphones that can help you compile a list of stores, along with their location and rating. This will make your buying experience much more rewarding. If you visit stores frequently, you will develop a knowledge of which stores are good for the items you are looking for, and which ones do not. If you can, try not to skip the ones you don't generally find items at because that one time you don't go, they might have mountains of gold waiting for you. You'll never know what the store has unless you go, but sometimes we have to make choices. Time is money.
Scouting in retail stores.
When you are scouting in retail stores it is best to look at clearance sections or for seasonal items. Clearance items change regularly, so it is best to check them frequently. Sometimes the clearance sections can kind of be hidden in a store, so keep your eyes pealed. The easiest way to find out what to buy, is to simply scan the UPC code of each item and see which have the largest profit margin.
Seasonal items are ones like winter coats, gloves, or snow boots. These items are better for websites like eBay, because they are clothing and Amazon has stricter rulers on sellers interested in selling clothing items. Stores will have the best prices for these items when the season is over. The best time to buy winter clothing is when the weather is starting to get warm, because stores want to get rid of them so they can put out the summer items. A way to make money from this is to buy items when the season is over and they are the cheapest, then simply sell them the next time the season comes around. Buy the clearance winter items in the spring, and sell them the following winter when people actually need them.
