Retail Arbitrage: the hustle they never taught us in school 💸
Good morning squad,
Let me start this one off with full transparency:
I have never personally done retail arbitrage.
My first business in college was dropshipping—and I’ll be real with you, that business model is not as easy as the 17-year-olds driving Bugatti’s make it seem. It took me a year and a half to find the right product, but I eventually had a five-month stretch where I did over $12K in sales and sold around 600 bucket hats.
You gotta build a site, figure out a niche, test ads, deal with customer service, shipping times, margins. It's a real business that requires money, time, and patience. Most people burn out before they ever make a dollar.
That’s why I wanted to share a different play that’s more beginner-friendly and honestly way easier to test out:
Retail arbitrage.
Now again—I didn’t do it personally. But I’ve got friends who used this to bring in $300 to $500 a month consistently. And it’s all from flipping clearance items. No ad spend. No LLC. No digital storefront.
Here’s how it works:
You walk into discount spots—Walmart, Ross, Marshalls, Macy’s Backstage, Nike outlets—and go straight to the clearance racks.
You open Google Lens on your phone, snap a picture of the item, and see what it’s selling for online.
Let’s say you find a pair of Adidas sneakers on clearance for $35. Google Lens shows they’re reselling on eBay for $85.
That’s your flip. You buy the product, go home, and now you’re ready to sell it.
But here’s where most people get stuck:
“How do I even sell this? How would people find my product?”
Let me break that part down for you too.
You can list the item on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or even Amazon (if you’re approved to sell in that category).
You create a listing with clear photos, a strong title (based on what people are already searching), and a short, honest description.
Make sure your price is competitive with what’s already out there—and just like that, you’re live.
On eBay, buyers will find you through searches or suggested listings. If the product’s hot and your price is fair, you’ll get offers fast.
On Facebook Marketplace, you’re reaching local people immediately. No shipping, no seller fees—just a quick flip if you're willing to meet up.(Please note: Always be very careful when meeting up with strangers. Ideally, you should do it in a public place with plenty of people around—and bringing a friend with you wouldn’t hurt either.)
I know it sounds simple, but even one flip a day can change your cash flow. That extra $50, $100, or $200 a week? That’s breathing room. That’s seed money for your goals.
I’m not saying this replaces your job or makes you rich overnight. But if I had to start over—and didn’t want to launch a full-on business—this would be one of the first plays I’d run.
And once you’ve got that extra cash coming in—even if it’s just $50–$100 a week—that’s the money you can use to start building real wealth.
Building Wealth Bootcamp
If you’ve ever felt like money was confusing, overwhelming, or just something you were never really taught… you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created the Personal Finance Bootcamp.
It’s a 1-on-1 experience—designed so you can finally understand money at your own pace, ask real questions, and follow step-by-step solutions that actually make sense.
I built this after working on Wall Street, earning my Master’s in Finance, and realizing most people were never given a real roadmap. This bootcamp is my way of breaking that down—no fluff, just what works.
If you’ve been thinking about getting serious with your money, this is your sign to stop guessing and start building with a system that walks you through it—one step at a time.
Get after it,
– Gabriel | WallStreetPapi