Amazon Flips: How to Spot Flipping Opportunities in 2025
Flipping, in the world of selling, refers to purchasing a product and reselling it for a profit in a short timeframe. This concept applies to almost anything, from small household goods to larger assets like real estate, which has even inspired TV shows about house flipping!
There are multiple ways to flip products on Amazon, one of which is Amazon-to-Amazon flipping. This involves buying items directly from Amazon and reselling them on the same platform. While some people find this surprising—and even question its ethics—we’ll break it down in this article.
The primary goal here is to guide you on starting and managing a general Amazon flipping business. This means sourcing products from various places and reselling them on Amazon for a profit.
We’ll introduce some useful tools that can make flipping easier and even discuss some of the best items to flip on Amazon to maximize your earnings.
Why Choose Amazon for Flipping Products?
Amazon stands as the largest online marketplace in the world, with projected global eCommerce sales exceeding $700 billion in 2023. This immense marketplace presents a wealth of opportunities for sellers looking to make money through flipping.
While there are many platforms to explore for flipping, Amazon is among the best places to start due to its vast customer base and seller-friendly infrastructure.
Amazon also offers Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), allowing sellers to outsource storage, packaging, and shipping to Amazon itself. Alternatively, sellers can choose Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), where they manage storage and shipping independently.
This article will walk you through both fulfillment options so you can determine which one aligns best with your flipping strategy.
How Does Product Flipping Work?
At its core, flipping follows a simple principle: buy low, sell high. However, just because the idea is straightforward doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Success in flipping requires skill in identifying profitable deals and acting on them quickly.
There are several ways to spot flipping opportunities. Some sellers constantly monitor online sales and discounts, hunting for bargains they can resell for a higher price. However, once you secure inventory, you also need a plan for storage and shipping.
Let’s break down the key components of this process.
Finding Products to Flip
Some people enjoy hunting for deals at garage sales or thrift stores, similar to the approach popularized by entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. While this method can be profitable, it’s time-intensive and requires a deep understanding of secondhand product value.
Although flipping used items works for some, it isn’t the most scalable business model. Instead, the best long-term strategies for Amazon flipping involve online arbitrage and retail arbitrage.
Online arbitrage entails finding products on retailer websites at a discount and reselling them on Amazon at a higher price. Retail arbitrage, on the other hand, requires physically visiting brick-and-mortar stores to source discounted inventory.
Both approaches have their advantages, and we’ll explore them further.
Storing, Packing, and Shipping Your Inventory
If you have extra space in a spare room or garage, you might prefer to store inventory yourself and handle order fulfillment manually. This method, known as Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM), gives you complete control over packaging and shipping.
Alternatively, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) allows sellers to send their inventory to Amazon’s warehouses, where Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping upon purchase.
While FBA offers convenience, it comes with additional costs that may not be worthwhile for sellers flipping small quantities. Another option is using third-party Amazon FBA prep centers, which manage packaging and shipment preparation on your behalf.
Regardless of which method you choose, an Amazon seller account is necessary to list and sell products.
What Are Amazon-to-Amazon Flips?
Amazon-to-Amazon flipping falls under online arbitrage, where sellers buy discounted products on Amazon and relist them at a higher price on the same platform.
This strategy works because Amazon frequently adjusts product prices, sometimes offering deep discounts that create profitable flipping opportunities.
Now, let’s address some common concerns. Is this practice legal? Yes. Does Amazon permit it? Absolutely—as long as it adheres to Amazon’s terms of service.
However, sellers cannot use their personal Amazon Prime benefits for this business model. Instead, they must set up an Amazon Business account, which differs from a standard professional seller account.
The ethical concerns of Amazon-to-Amazon flipping depend on the context. Let’s examine the key scenarios where these opportunities arise.
When Amazon Creates Flipping Opportunities?
Amazon frequently liquidates stock, offering discounts to clear out inventory. If you can buy these items at a low price and resell them at market value, it’s a fair business opportunity.
Additionally, Amazon sometimes sells products below their standard retail price to attract customers. When this happens, resellers can purchase these items and flip them for a profit.
Pricing errors also occur occasionally due to Amazon’s automated repricing system. Since Amazon relies on algorithms rather than manual price adjustments, mistakes can happen—creating valuable opportunities for savvy flippers.
How to Discover Flipping Opportunities on Amazon?
This is where the excitement begins. Finding profitable products is an art, and many online sellers enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
If you’re new to online arbitrage, consider joining a learning community or challenge that teaches flipping strategies. Many sellers find great success by participating in these educational programs.
Now, let’s go deeper into the two primary sourcing methods: online arbitrage and retail arbitrage.
Online Arbitrage: Finding Profitable Products
There are multiple ways to identify great online arbitrage deals, ranging from manual research to automated software solutions.
One basic approach is signing up for newsletters from major retailers like Bass Pro, Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, and Sam’s Club. This allows you to stay informed about sales and discounts.
For a more efficient method, tools like Tactical Arbitrage scan thousands of websites to identify profitable deals. While these tools require a learning curve and subscription fee, they can generate substantial profits when used effectively.
Another alternative is purchasing online arbitrage lead lists. These curated lists contain pre-researched product opportunities, saving sellers time on manual product hunting.
Retail Arbitrage: Sourcing Products In-Store
Retail arbitrage follows the same principle as online arbitrage but involves purchasing discounted items from physical stores instead of online retailers.
Some sellers monitor retailer sales via email lists and rush to stores to secure inventory. Others casually browse for deals while shopping.
Using tools like the Amazon Seller App allows flippers to scan barcodes and check real-time Amazon pricing. More advanced apps like Scoutify 2 or Seller Amp provide additional insights for making informed purchasing decisions.
Note: Understanding Keepa chart for getting know all the metrices.
The biggest downside of retail arbitrage is its geographic limitation. However, in-store shopping often reveals clearance deals that aren’t advertised online.
Best Products to Flip on Amazon
Amazon hosts over a billion product listings, which can make it overwhelming to decide what to sell.
Popular categories like shoes and toys can be profitable, but success depends on knowledge and sourcing ability. Sellers should focus on analyzing market data to identify consistently profitable products.
Tools like Tactical Arbitrage, Seller Amp, and Keepa help sellers track pricing trends, demand, and sales rank history. These insights are essential for choosing high-margin, high-demand, and low-competition products.
When selecting products to flip, look for:
✔️ Profit margins of at least 20% after fees
✔️ Strong demand and consistent sales
✔️ Moderate competition (not overly saturated)
✔️ No Amazon restrictions or brand restrictions
How Much Can You Earn Flipping on Amazon?
Earnings vary widely based on strategy, risk tolerance, and effort.
Some sellers flip casually, earning a few hundred to a few thousand dollars monthly as a side hustle. Others build full-time businesses, generating seven-figure annual revenues.
The key takeaway? Amazon flipping offers limitless opportunities for those willing to learn and take action.
Final Thoughts: Get Started with Amazon Flipping
While flipping isn’t limited to Amazon, the platform provides one of the best starting points for resellers.
To succeed, begin by mastering Amazon’s marketplace before expanding to other platforms. Start small, gain experience, and scale gradually.
The next time you’re shopping—online or in-store—keep an eye out for deals. That’s how every successful Amazon flipper begins. The possibilities are endless!
