The New Best Way to Make Money Reselling Online?!

The New Best Way to Make Money Reselling Online?!

In this episode, Chris Koerner is joined by Shannon Jean to explore the booming world of live selling and how creators are generating serious income on platforms like Whatnot, Poshmark Live, and eBay Live. They dive deep into liquidation deals, tools, and innovative ideas that are transforming the reselling business.

About This Episode

Live selling has emerged as a powerful new channel where resellers can move inventory quickly without the traditional hassle of photographing and listing individual items. Shannon Jean shares crucial insights on:

  • How to leverage liquidation deals on platforms like Hanes’ auction site to buy thousands of brand-new apparel units for pennies each.
  • Reselling via live auctions without needing photos or traditional listings.
  • Tracking seller activity and bidding trends using tools like Whatnot Spy.
  • A unique vending machine idea turning Amazon returns into “mystery box” sales.

You can find Shannon Jean on X (formerly Twitter): @ShannonJean
Check out her Free Auction Starter Guide and learn more at shannonjean.com.

Liquidation Deals: Huge Pallets of New Apparel at Pennies Per Item

Shannon explains how liquidation sites such as Hanes' platform list massive truckloads of clothing at extremely low bid prices. For example:

  • Five pallets of toddler t-shirts with 4,300 units are listed with opening bids at just 5 cents each.
  • Another example is a truckload of men’s and women’s hoodies, sweatshirts, and joggers with an MSRP supposedly at $442,000 but currently bidding at only $5,000 - roughly 39 cents per unit.

"No one's paying attention to it yet. This stuff sells for literally pennies out there."

Why Is This Opportunity Game-Changing?

Traditional reselling methods require sorting, photographing, and creating listings for thousands of items - an overwhelming task. Live selling eliminates most of this prep:

  • You don’t need to take photos.
  • You sell directly on camera during live auctions.
  • You can sell by the box or pallet.
  • Buyers can bid in real-time, creating auction excitement.

There are two main ways to approach this:

  1. Wholesale to other sellers or businesses, such as screen printers or smaller resellers who want just a pallet or two.
  2. Directly live sell on platforms like Whatnot, Poshmark Live, or eBay Live.

Starting Live Selling on Whatnot & Other Platforms

Whatnot is currently the leading live selling app, recently valued at $12 billion. Shannon emphasizes:

  • Start small by selling items you already own.
  • Build your audience by holding live shows and giving away products.
  • Engage with other sellers and communities to learn strategies.
  • Gradually build your credibility and follower base.

"If you've never heard of Whatnot, you might be living under a rock. Live selling is here to stay."

Tips for New Sellers

  • Don't buy pallets before building a following.
  • Sell 10 items to start and leave good feedback to build your seller rating.
  • Collaborate with experienced live sellers or join masterminds for mentoring.

Shannon's own mastermind group currently includes about 1,800 resellers focused on live selling.

Useful Tools: Whatnot Spy Chrome Extension by Resellbot

One of the most powerful tools discussed is the Whatnot Spy Chrome extension from Resellbot, which is:

  • Free to use
  • Tracks entire streams of live auctions including sales, bids, and buyers.
  • Provides detailed analytics like total sales revenue, average sale price, and item movement.
  • Allows you to reverse-engineer other sellers’ auctions to validate prices before buying pallets or truckloads.

Using this data can help you:

  • Determine if an auction brand (like Hanes apparel) is truly profitable.
  • Make informed bidding decisions.
  • Monitor competitors and untapped markets.

Innovative Mystery Box Vending Machines

Shannon shares a fascinating idea spotted in Germany: vending machines stocked with lost or returned packages, selling “mystery boxes.”

  • Customers pay a fixed price for a box without knowing its contents.
  • This concept mimics the excitement of live auctions with the thrill of surprise.
  • Possible locations include laundromats or near bin stores.
  • Pricing can vary by box, with options like $10, $30, or even “golden” boxes at $100.
  • Upsells such as “buy 3 for $20” encourage higher sales.

“You’re not selling products. You’re selling mystery and opportunity.”

This model could complement live selling and bin store businesses, driving customer interest and traffic.

The Growing Market for Returns and Pallet Flips

  • Amazon and other retailers have increasing volumes of returned merchandise, some categories reaching 20-30% return rates.
  • These returns are typically sold in liquidation pallets by vendors like B-Stock, covering many brands including Target and Home Depot.
  • Unit costs can vary from pennies to a few dollars depending on the category (electronics tend to be more expensive).
  • Some buyers secure contracts to receive a steady stream of truckloads weekly.

Shannon compares this to the bin store model where rescued inventory is sold quickly at discount prices, with turnover happening in days.

Additional Insights on Selling Platforms & Seller Culture

  • Whatnot and Poshmark are noted for being more seller-friendly with fewer returns policies compared to eBay and Amazon.
  • Sellers are advised to connect directly with category managers on large platforms like eBay for better support.
  • Accept that some sales will fail or require refunds; it’s part of the business.
  • Persistence and professionalism matter more than fighting every customer dispute.

On live selling, it’s important to:

  • Sell with enthusiasm and emotion to encourage bids.
  • Consider hiring or collaborating with charismatic hosts if you don’t want to be on camera yourself.
  • Use giveaways and interactive sessions to build your audience.

The Future of Live Selling and E-Commerce

  • Amazon is reportedly exploring live selling to use influencer-style sellers to move major brands like Nike.
  • This would add huge scale and legitimacy to the live selling market.
  • Meanwhile, independent resellers have many emerging opportunities with current liquidation and live selling tools.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Final Words from Shannon

The live selling and liquidation space is rapidly evolving. Whether you’re buying massive pallets of new apparel at pennies or selling small batches live right now, there’s a vast opportunity waiting.

Get started today by:

  • Registering on liquidation sites.
  • Downloading Whatnot and observing auctions.
  • Building your audience.
  • Exploring new and creative approaches like mystery box vending.

This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Always do your own research and comply with applicable laws.

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