Rob & Melissa Stephenson from Flea Market Flipper talk about why new resellers fail at their flipping business.
Enter the contest for a $100 gift card. Leave a review and send a screenshot of your review to rob@fleamarketflipper.com with "Review" in the title of your email.
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleamrktflipper/
Check out our FREE Workshop: https://courses.fleamarketflipper.com/flipper-university-workshop-webinar
You can find us at: https://fleamarketflipper.com/
The Pro Flipper Show - Why New Resellers Fail At Their Flipping Business
Rob: What's up, Pro Flippers? On today's episode, we are talking about why new resellers fail at their business.
Rob: All right guys, so we are talking about what can totally sabotage your business and stop you, before you get started or even once you get started. What is that thing?
Melissa: Yeah. A lot of times new resellers, this is a big reason why they fail at their flipping business. So we're gonna dive into, it's a huge piece. And one, kind of one cool thing that we get to see is we get to work with a lot of people. So we see things over and over, that, you know, can help in other people's businesses because it's, it's, it's all well and good.
Like, people like, oh, well you can do that, but what about me? But we actually get to work with these people and work with a lot of different, people all ends the spectrum on their business. Yeah. So it's pretty fun. So, yeah.
Rob: So, and today I, we were listening to a podcast or a training today. Yeah, while we were running and something came up in my memory that I've never really thought about. I have thought about it, but it's back towards the beginning of my journey of flipping, and trying to relate to more people, bringing up those memories in my mind of stuff that I struggled with. And in the beginning, in the beginning, to try and help other people who are on the beginning stages of their flipping business or journey.
That's what I, I want to try, we try and help you guys with that for sure. So, what is that one thing? One thing that can totally sabotage you is confidence.
Melissa: Not having confidence. Exactly. So, and not growing your confidence cuz you can, it's something that you can absolutely grow in yourself, in your business, and it sounds like, okay, whatever, that's confident, but it is a huge game changer, especially when you're just getting started.
Rob: Yeah. So, and one of the stories that I remembered as a kid, starting this business, I mean, I used to go and I don't know, I mean we, we've talked about it before. So I grew up in a big family, six older sisters. I'm the youngest and only boy. My parents went to yard sales to provide for us kids. That's a big family and kids, my parents by no means were wealthy.
But that's part of the way they were able to provide for a big family, was going to yard sales, getting stuff secondhand, stuff like that. So, I got modeled that as a young age and I still remember, I mean, through my childhood, going waking up Saturday morning and getting the classified section with my mom early, before light.
And she would circle the, the classified sections of the yard sale she wanted to go to because they looked like they had a good ad and it looked like they had some cool stuff. So we'd pick those and we'd go to 'em. I still great memories, fond memories of being able to do that with my mama.
Absolutely loved it. Such a great time, but also to the point where I started growing up and I getting older. At some point I had to start going to the flea market into yard sales by myself. My mom was always that she was like this rock hard. The stone is, I mean, I don't know the right word to use, but she was the person who she didn't, she didn't fear anything when it came to going to yard sales, going to flea markets, talking to people and really negotiating. She had a skill set that was amazing and probably from the years of my childhood that I don't remember that. She built that up. She built that up and, and when I had to go the first time, I still remember my first time going to the flea market by myself. And going into the flea market, going through the vendors and all the lines, like I have one route when I go into the flea market, I go around the whole thing and walk the whole thing and do the whole thing. My first time going. I walked into the flea market, walked around and just like, it was like speed walking. I went through the whole thing, didn't talk to anybody because I was so nervous to actually talk to somebody, ask somebody for a price on an item just because it just felt weird.
It felt awkward. I didn't have my mom there to be able to back, you know, be able to negotiate or do whatever for you. Exactly. I could, you know, talk to her. Hey, mom, look at that over there. That's a good deal. My mom would go up and she'd negotiate and stuff like that, so I didn't have that. So needless to say, this was one of the stories that, like I said, I remember it came in my mind this morning thinking about.
Melissa: So you didn't get anything or you didn't stop at all?
Rob: No, no stop. No talk. I didn't do anything. Walked around, walked around, spent 20, 30 minutes walking around the whole thing. All the aisles. All the aisles, going through it, and then back to the car and yeah, I was like, yeah, that was a waste of time. Saw some really cool stuff, but at the same time I was too nervous, too scared to actually reach out and, and ask people stuff.
And maybe that's you right now. Maybe you, are nervous about going to a flea market or a yard sale or a thrift store and actually communicating with people, because you're nervous. Like I used to think if I asked somebody the price of this item that that means I have to buy it or I have to say something back why I'm not gonna buy it.
Melissa: Like you're obligated or you have to give 'em an excuse.
Rob: Exactly. And that was one of those things that I really was terrified in my beginning, in my, my journey starting flipping. So now it's, you know, oh.
Melissa: Now we go, okay, so now we go to the flea market and you're like, everybody's, hey Rob, hey Rob, hey Rob. So, like, you know, like half the vendors there, they, you know, them, you, you know, so it's, yeah, it's a different feel now.
Rob: But the same flea market, the same flea market that I was terrified to go and talk to anybody.
Now from going building the repetition of being able to go and getting the confidence to talk to people and understanding, hey, just because I ask 'em a price doesn't obligate me to buy it doesn't obligate me to do anything. And other than say, well, okay, let me think about it and I'll come back if I wanna buy it.
I mean, that's one of those things, but that is a skill set that totally is learned. And if you're struggling with that right now, guys, guess what? You can get over it. All it is is just keep doing it and doing it, it, and doing it. And you will get so much more comfortable but, and confident with it.
Melissa: But one thing you can't do is just keep learning about it and not doing it because that, I mean, and learning is great.
We, we are big advocates of always learning and always growing ourselves, but if you don't do, like, you don't do the thing that you're learning about, you can't gain confidence cuz you haven't done it yet. So you don't know. Like, it's all well and good. Okay. I, I know how to do this, but you still don't have the confidence, even if you have all the knowledge to, to do it because you haven't done it.
So, yeah. And all the time we get, we see people, you know, just getting started and they do it and then they're like, that wasn't that bad. Like, that wasn't so hard. Why was I, why did I wait so long to get started? And I think like, I don't, because this business is not. It's a simple business.
Rob: It's not rocket science, guys. Look at me.
Melissa: It does not. I mean, you're finding stuff, you're sourcing stuff, and then you're selling it for a higher price. Like, and it's, and it's fun. It's not that hard, like you barely graduated high school.
Rob: It's actually fun. It's a lot of fun. Absolutely.
Melissa: You can't really spell very well.
Rob: You guys see me fumble over words. I probably have a third grade reading level. I mean, this is stuff that I was terrified growing up my whole life is I I can't read that well and you know, I can't spell that well. But this has nothing to do with being a successful re seller or flipper. You totally can learn these skill sets and I love it.
I love what I do. I'm passionate about it. I'm passionate about teaching and helping other people gain these, the confidence and gain these skills to really master the reselling business.
Melissa: Now, and just because I say it's simple doesn't mean it's easy and it doesn't mean it doesn't take work cuz this it is work. And it, yeah, it, it's hard work sometimes and, and then once you gain that confidence and you get better, the, some of the things get easier to do it. But the whole business process is a simple business model. Like it's not that complex. So, and anybody with any skill set basically can do it.
Rob: Absolutely.
Melissa: Which is pretty cool. Like it's a pretty cool thing about our business.
Rob: It is. And it is, and maybe you're in the beginning stages of it and you are nervous about certain things. You're nervous about negotiation. Shipping is a big one that you're nervous about shipping. Yeah. You're nervous about everything in the business.
Guys, if you get into it and you really start to dive into this business, it is, like Melissa says, it is not rocket science. It's really, really cool. You can do it. You can learn these skills just by doing it over and over and over. And the other thing I will add is surround yourself with other people, like-minded people.
Don't surround yourself with negative people that are telling you you can't do it. That is not gonna help you grow confidence. That's not gonna help you grow your business. That is a big thing, is, surrounding yourself with like-minded people, that are, they're on your side and they're, they're, they're, your cheerleaders.
They're telling you, you guys can do this. Because I, I'm telling if you don't need a college degree and you don't need all these, you know, these skill sets to do, I, it is, it's something that you can totally get in, you can learn and you can get amazing success at it and fairly quickly. It's not like you're gonna have to go through four years of high or four years of college to be able to, to, to make some good money at this business. You can totally start learning it and get the results very, very quickly with this business.
Melissa: Yeah, I, I just like, it really relates to so many things too. Cause I'm even thinking like, I used to really hate to do videos with you. Like, I was like, why?
Rob: Look at you now.
Melissa: I'm not amazing. But why? Like, like why can't, why do I have to do 'em with you? You just do them all. I don't need, I can just be behind the scenes and do this. And then at one point, we had a coach several years ago now, and he's like, I really think it's both of you that are doing this and, and it would work better together versus just Rob.
And so I'm like, oh, that means I have to get on video and I hate video. I hate it so much. But now it's fun. Yeah. Like, I don't know. It's, I'm not, I I, I have more confidence. I don't, I'm still fumble nobody's perfect, I'm not perfect, like I'm not perfect speaker or whatever, but it's not, I'm not scared to do it anymore, so.
Rob: But you're looking at thousands of hours of video time between us.
And that's the thing is, yeah, you have to keep continuing to do it to get better at it. The consistency builds the confidence, builds your business. Absolutely.
Melissa: We were listening to one of your old videos from a long time ago. He was like hey guys, it's Rob. How are you doing? Like I know some people don't love your enthusiasm now, which whatever, like you are who you are, but that was just like, ugh. Like, hey.
Rob: How can anybody ever listen to me?
Melissa: It was so just nothing. No.
Rob: We'll have to do some throwbacks. Some throwbacks. So you guys can see the original, the original start of our business back when we started coaching people and teaching people. And then that's when we got on camera and did stuff and it's so awkward.
It's just, it's just ridiculous. It's painful to watch, but it's there and that's part of our learning story. Yeah.
Melissa: And gaining confidence.
Rob: Absolutely.
Melissa: I think you also, we talked about this earlier too, I think you also gained confidence, the older you get, like we were talking about this, we're like, okay, so now we're in our forties, and I'm like, you don't care as much, I guess what people think of you as long as you, you have your path that you're going so you can get confidence a lot faster.
Absolutely. I feel like, so, so then my whole main point of this was to go out and do the thing that you're scared to do, because that's the only way you're gonna gain confidence.
Rob: Get the results.
Melissa: You can't do it by just learning about it. Yeah. So, and that's what also we were gonna talk about your shipping, like your, the first time you shipped a NordicTrack.
Yeah. That was one of your first big sales. Yeah. It's a big old box and.
Rob: It is, and you have to do it and you have to continue to it. Now I can ship NordicTrack, I mean like that. And you're, we're talking about a big box. It's a, a large box to stick that thing in. Make sure it's padded properly and make sure it's gonna make it from us to the buyer.
Totally. I mean, I just shipped one out a month or two ago. That's, yeah. I, we just shipped one out and that's the first one I probably shipped in years. But I didn't bat an eye. It was a piece of cake and it's one of those things that you have to do it, you have to do it more often. Now I'm not recommending if you're just starting out flipping to jump into something huge, I'm not, recommending that.
I, I totally think if you have a coach that can coach you through it, absolutely. But, you start low, you start with something like this, something small. You put into an envelope, you put it into a box, that you, and then you get better and better at it. You understand the fundamentals of shipping, how to make the item protected and how to make sure once it's dropped that it's not gonna get broken. Once you understand that, the sky is the limit. You can flip and ship a truck on a pallet. No. You know what I mean, though? The sky's the limit. Once you understand how to do it and you, you build the confidence and you, you just, yeah, you know, you can keep going with it no matter what item you have to ship.
Melissa: Before you know it, you got a table and chairs going exactly across the country on a pallet. So, and you didn't know what you were doing the first time you shifted? No. That was our first freight item. Yep. And it's like you figure it out and then you gain the confidence and now it's like you'll throw anything up.
Rob: Anything.
Melissa: How tall was the bus wash?
Rob: Yeah. I think the 13 or 14 foot tall.
Melissa: That was like one of the longest crates you built. We have the Harley Davidson sign. That was one of the tallest crates that you built. Yeah. And that was, that was an interesting one.
Rob: That was, but I think that barely fit in the back of an 18 wheeler.
I wanna say it was seven or eight foot tall, and that was like 12 foot long. 12 foot. That's how long that sucker was. And four foot wide. So monstrous. But that just goes to show it all started with me doing small items. I started with my mom doing small items and selling 'em on eBay, baby clothes.
Melissa: She did baby clothes. Yeah.
Rob: And baby stuff. And then I went out and I still remember my first big item that I shipped and sold was a NordicTrack, and that one, that's a game changer. Once I got to that, I started growing more and doing bigger stuff and bigger items and then got into pallets and, but you, you have to see the progression of the journey.
Yeah. And that's how you build your confidence with the journey and keep continuing to do it and getting better and better. And I won't tell you I didn't make mistakes. I made tons of mistakes throughout my, my journey as a flipper.
Melissa: They're all learning.
Rob: The every single thing that you do. When you do make a mistake, you're not gonna make it again.
Especially if it's a costly mistake, you're not gonna make it again. So that's one of those things that you will learn and grow from your mistakes.
Melissa: Yeah. I think the Harley sign you bought for $250 and then sold it for $7,500. Yep. I think we, and the shipping was like a thousand and you charged the buyer a thousand.
I think it costs about that. Yeah. Materials and the thing, and then the bus wash, you got better at shipping like that because Harley was one of the first ones you did. And then the bus wash.
Rob: Which we laid it down, it was super tall, but I laid it on its back and that's how I shipped it.
Melissa: We sold two of them actually.
But the first one was or the second one was $500 you paid and you sold it for $14,500. That was our biggest sale two years ago.
Rob: $500 to $14,500, guys. Come on. Come on.
Melissa: You're gonna figure out how to do a pallet for that, right?
Rob: Like that's insane. Yeah. Who would, who would turn that down on making $14,000? I mean, that's ridiculous.
That's a couple months of, somebody has normal, salary that they're gonna make a month. And one sale, come on.
Melissa: And it did take you three days to pallet it. It did, but.
Rob: To be fair days, three days of like three or four hours a day, I'm not working straight through. Yeah, true. It's me doing it, getting, so much done and then going to pick up the kids from school and, and then coming back the next day.
So it is, but it, it was totally doable. We did it and it was totally worth it. Absolutely worth it. That's a game changer on a flip. So, absolutely.
Melissa: But if you would've just started flipping and somebody told you, okay, go sell this bus wash, and you would not have the confidence to ship it. So it is, it's a progression over time.
So get started now. Don't wait like that is. The whole key to today's.
Rob: So you can get better and start making $14,000 and on a single flip and on a single flip, so you can get to that point and you feel confident with doing it. I had nothing, like, there was nothing in my mind who told me that, told me, oh, how are you gonna do this?
You, you're not gonna be able to do this. No, absolutely not. I got this sucker down packed. We are gonna nail this and we are gonna make some good money on it. So, absolutely.
Melissa: So guys, we love that you're here listening with us. So thank you so much. We appreciate you guys so much for listening to the show.
As you know, we just, kind of rebranded the show, so we would absolutely appreciate if you could leave us a review. We are doing a hundred dollar gift card giveaway. A hundred dollar gift card, Amazon gift card giveaway. So for one person who leaves a review, we'll do a drawing at the end of May. So if you just do a screenshot of your review and email it into rob@fleamarketflipper.com we would be so grateful, to help us grow the podcast and just get our message out to more people. Thank you guys so much.
Rob: You guys rock. We will see you on the next episode.