How to Start a Bin Store Reselling Side Hustle

Why Bin Store Reselling Is the Perfect Side Hustle

Of all the side hustles available today, bin store reselling checks an unusual number of boxes:

Low startup cost: You can start with $20–$50 and test the model before committing more
No special skills required to start: If you can use a smartphone and follow instructions, you can do this
Flexible schedule: Shop when you want, list when you want, ship when you want
Real income potential: Proven pathways from $100/month to $5,000+/month
Skills that compound: Every visit makes you better, faster, and more profitable

This guide is a practical, step-by-step roadmap for starting from zero.

Step 1: Find Your Local Bin Stores

Before you can source anything, you need to know where to shop. Use BinStoreLocator.com to find bin stores in your area. Note the addresses, hours, and restock days for each store within reasonable driving distance.

Aim to identify at least two or three stores. Having multiple options allows you to compare inventory quality and find the stores with the best loads.

Step 2: Do Your Research Before You Spend a Dollar

Spend one week doing research before your first shopping trip:

Study eBay Sold Listings

Pick 3–4 categories that interest you (electronics, shoes, kitchen, beauty). Search dozens of specific items in each category and check the sold listings filter. Note:

What brands sell well in each category?
What's the typical sold price range?
How long do items typically take to sell?

Watch YouTube Reseller Videos

Search for "bin store haul" on YouTube and watch 5–10 videos. Notice:

What do experienced resellers pick up?
How do they assess items in the store?
What does their math look like?

Set Up a Selling Account

Create accounts on eBay and Facebook Marketplace if you don't have them. For eBay, set up your payment information. A new eBay account has feedback limitations on selling volume, so getting started sooner is better.

Step 3: Your First Trip — Set Modest Expectations

For your first shopping trip, bring $30–$50 in cash and a clear head. Your goals:

Get comfortable with the environment: Walk the whole store before grabbing anything
Practice price checking: Scan 20+ items with your Amazon app and eBay, even if you don't buy them
Buy a few things with confidence: Only purchase items where you're confident of the value and condition

Don't try to maximize profit on trip one. Your primary objective is learning. Treat it like a paid research session.

Step 4: List Your First Items

Within 24 hours of returning from your first trip, photograph and list what you bought. This is critical — don't let items pile up unlisted.

eBay Listing Essentials

Title: Brand + Model + Key features + Condition
Photos: 4–8 clear photos in good light (white background preferred)
Description: Honest, detailed condition description
Price: Based on eBay sold listings — start competitive rather than high
Shipping: Use calculated shipping based on weight and dimensions

Facebook Marketplace Listing

Clean photos
Price 10–15% above your target to allow for negotiation
Clear condition description
Respond to messages promptly — speed wins sales

Step 5: Ship Your First Sales

When your first items sell, package and ship them promptly. What you need:

Boxes and mailers: Save all boxes from your personal deliveries; buy poly mailers in bulk ($10 for 100 from Amazon)
Tape: Heavy-duty shipping tape
Scale: A kitchen scale works for most packages; a small postal scale ($15–$25) is more convenient
Label printing: Print shipping labels at home to save time at the post office (eBay labels print directly on standard paper; fold and tape)

Ship within 1–2 business days of sale. Prompt shipping is the fastest way to earn positive feedback.

Step 6: Track Your Numbers

After your first few sales, track:

Total amount spent at bin stores
Total revenue from sales
Platform fees paid
Shipping costs
Net profit

This data tells you whether you're actually making money and which items/categories are most profitable for you.

Sample tracking spreadsheet columns:

Date purchased
Item description
Bin price paid
Listed price
Sold price
Platform fee
Shipping cost
Net profit

Step 7: Find Your Category Focus

After 4–6 trips and 10–20 sales, you'll have data on which categories are working for you. Double down on what's working. If electronics are yielding consistent profits and shoes aren't moving, redirect more attention to electronics.

The 80/20 rule applies heavily here: 80% of your profit likely comes from 20% of your categories.

Step 8: Build Your Systems

As volume grows, inefficiency becomes costly. Systematize:

Photography setup: Set up a permanent photography area so photo sessions are fast
Listing templates: Create reusable templates for your most common item types
Packing station: Dedicated area with all supplies organized
Listing schedule: Set specific times for listing rather than doing it ad hoc

Realistic Income Milestones

Stage	Time Investment	Monthly Income
Starting	2–5 hrs/week	$50–$200
Learning	5–10 hrs/week	$150–$500
Growing	10–20 hrs/week	$500–$1,500
Serious	20–30 hrs/week	$1,500–$4,000+

Progress through these stages takes 3–12 months depending on how quickly you learn and how consistently you work.