How to find things to flip on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist
On local marketplaces a well-priced item often goes to the first person who messages, which is why resellers keep refreshing their apps. Here is a plain way to be early without refreshing all day.
1. Write searches for what you already know
Alerts work best for items whose resale price you know: a tool line, a console, a furniture designer, a clothing brand and cut. Put the brand and model in the keywords ("dewalt flexvolt", "herman miller aeron", "lululemon align") and the price you would pay in "Up to $".
2. Skip the noise
Words like "broken", "parts", "case only", "box only", "wanted" or "kids" in "skip titles with" remove most listings you would never buy. On Craigslist, "by owner only" leaves out dealers.
3. Watch several marketplaces at once
The same item sells for different prices on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Mercari and Poshmark. One saved search can watch any mix of them, and the alerts arrive in one email or one Discord channel.
4. Be fast, then be careful
When an alert lands, open the listing, check the photos and ask a specific question. Meet in public places for local pickups and pay on the marketplace for shipped items. Flip Alerts only finds listings; every deal is between you and the seller.
Real alerts from today
- Levis 510 Premium Quality Jeans Men 31x30 Skinny Fit Blue Denim Jeans Dark Wash$16 on Vinted, seen 1 min ago (search: levis)
- y2k 2000s bootcut light wash faded levis$10 on Vinted, seen 1 min ago (search: levis)
- Minecraft for Nintendo switch$20 on Mercari, seen 1 min ago (search: nintendo switch)
- Lululemon swiftly tech long sleeve white size 2$38 on Poshmark, listed 4 min ago (search: lululemon)
- Lululemon Hotty Hot Short II (Long 4")$18 on Poshmark, listed 4 min ago (search: lululemon)
- Carhartt Mens XL Tall Mock Neck Shirt Gray Distressed$13 on Grailed, seen 5 min ago (search: carhartt)
- Carhartt Hoodie Mens XL Gray Fleece Sweatshirt Outdoor Sweater Extra Large NWT$86 on Grailed, seen 5 min ago (search: carhartt)
- Carhartt men's blue and navy jacket$32.20 on Depop, seen 5 min ago (search: carhartt)
Pricing
Pick how many searches and how fast.
Every plan reads all 8 marketplaces. Starter and Pro start with 7 days free.
Free
One search, to see real alerts before you pay.
Nothing to pay, no end date
- Saved searches
- 1
- Read every
- 30 min
- Email digest every 30 minutes, or Discord
- All 8 marketplaces
Starter
For one category in one area.
or $190 a year (2 months free)
- Saved searches
- 5
- Read every
- 10 min
- Email every 10 minutes, Discord as found
- All 8 marketplaces
- Switch plans or cancel any time from your page
Pro
For sourcing every day across fashion resale and local pickup.
or $390 a year (2 months free)
- Saved searches
- 15
- Read every
- 4 min
- Email every 3 minutes, Discord as found
- All 8 marketplaces
- Switch plans or cancel any time from your page
7 days free on Starter or Pro, once per account. Card at checkout; cancel before day 7 and nothing is charged.
Starter is $19 a month for 5 searches, read every 10 minutes; Pro is $39 a month for 15 searches, read every 4 minutes; yearly $190 and $390. 7 days free on Starter or Pro, once per account: you enter a card in Stripe's checkout, and if you cancel from your searches page before day 7, nothing is charged. After that the plan renews each month or year until you cancel; a cancel keeps it running to the end of the period you paid for. Write to us within 7 days of a charge for a full refund of that charge.