There’s hidden gold in everyday places — if you know where to look.
That’s the message Rob Stephenson from FleaMarketFlipper.com and Flipper University is spreading, and he’s back with some of his most profitable stories yet.
Rob is a full-time flipper, sourcing low and selling high. He’s turned a side hustle into a full-time business with jaw-dropping profit margins, all from part-time work.
In episode 633 of The Side Hustle Show, Rob explains the “High Profit, Low Volume Flipping Model.” This model draws inspiration from how he consistently finds and flips items for $1000+ profits.
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Round 1: $1k+ Flips
Rob’s philosophy is simple: “It’s not about who sells the most stuff; it’s about selling the right stuff with high margins.”
Here are a few of his most profitable flips:
1. Ambulance Stretchers: $2,200 into $35,000
Rob met a contact at his local flea market who offered him 12 Stryker ambulance stretchers for $2,200. There was doubt, but Rob went with his gut and made the purchase. Those stretchers ended up netting him $35,000.
2. TurboChef Commercial Ovens: $800 into $17,500
While on a road trip in Salt Lake City, Rob found a deal on two TurboChef commercial ovens on OfferUp. He snagged them for $800 and later sold them for $7,500 and $10,000 each, turning a hotel-room scrolling session into a massive win.
3. Florida Oven Find: $120 into $3,000
While on vacation in the Florida Keys, Rob picked up an oven for $120 and flipped it for $3,000.
4. Autoclave Sterilizer: $100 into $3,000
Rob found an autoclave sterilizer for $100 through a contact who clears out businesses. He sold it for $3,000 to $5,000 on eBay. While eBay charges a 13% fee, it caps at $2,500, which makes high-ticket flips like this even more profitable.
5. Parking Lot Security Tower: $5,000 into $25,000
One of Rob’s riskier flips was a parking lot security tower. He bought it for $5,000, a big purchase even by his standards, but it paid off within 30 days as he sold it for $25,000!
6. Air Force Floodlights: $370 into $10,000
At an auction, Rob picked up six massive Cold War-era Air Force floodlights for $370 each. These unique items, standing 6 feet tall, sold for $7,000 to $10,000 per light. One even ended up at Burning Man!
7. Bus Wash: $500 into $14,500
On a road trip, Rob found a bus wash for $500. He drove 10 hours back to pick it up and flipped it for $14,500.
8. Panini Press: $45 into $1,500
At a flea market, Rob spotted a Star-brand panini press. It was priced at $45, and he knew it was worth more. After a quick flip, he sold it for $1,500.
9. Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine: Free into $8,500
One of Rob’s best deals was finding a soft serve ice cream machine listed for free on OfferUp. He wasted no time picking it up, and eventually sold it for $8,500—all pure profit.
Round 2: Donate a Business Idea
If Rob had more time, he’d dive into an eCommerce business focused on “pickleball swag” and equipment. Pickleball has exploded in popularity, and he sees it as the next big thing in sports.
He says this business could take many forms, from selling paddles and balls to offering pickleball-themed apparel and accessories.
As Rob says, “We started out with paddles from Walmart and they are like $20 or $30 paddles. As we started getting better and upgrading to $100, $200 paddles, it is night and day how much better your game will get with the right equipment.”
The rising popularity of pickleball means there’s a growing demand for premium gear, so for someone looking for a business idea, this could be worth tapping into.
Round 3: The Triple Threat
Here are Rob’s top tips for growing your business today:
Marketing Tactic
Rob and his wife Melissa are focusing on affiliate marketing to grow their course sales and online community.
Favorite Tool
As mentioned above, Rob swears by ClickFunnels 2.0. Melissa handles the backend, and they’ve found the latest version to be very helpful for email campaigns, affiliate marketing, and more.
Book Recommendation
Rob is a fan of Russell Brunson’s trilogy:
DotCom Secrets
Expert Secrets
Traffic Secrets
He listens to these audiobooks during his runs and finds new insights each time. These have given Rob valuable marketing ideas that he applies to his business daily.
Final Thoughts
Flipping items isn’t just about finding deals — it’s about spotting opportunities others might overlook. So, next time you’re scrolling through OfferUp or visiting a flea market, remember: there’s gold to be found—you just need to know where to look.
If you want to learn more, check out Rob’s free flipping workshop.
Episode Links
Previous episode with Rob Stephenson
FleaMarketFlipper.com | Free flipping workshop
The best items to flip for a profit
Flipper University (Use code SIDEHUSTLENATION for $100 off!)
Stryker ambulance stretchers
TurboChef commercial ovens
Parking lot security tower
Bus wash
Star-brand panini press
OfferUp
ClickFunnels
DotCom Secrets, Expert Secrets, and Traffic Secrets trilogy
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