How to Flip Video Game Consoles and Small Electronics

Caleb Foster

May 16

2 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago

Video game consoles are one of the best things to flip if you don’t have a truck, or even a car. They’re small, easy to store, and there are always buyers. If you already know games, you’ve got a head start because you won’t need to research everything you see.

What to flip

Current-gen consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
Last-gen consoles, which sell cheap and fast to kids and casual players
Controllers, especially bundles
Retro consoles and games (if you know that market)
Small electronics: headphones, speakers, tablets, monitors

Bundles are where the deals are

A lot of people sell a console with games and controllers for one price, and don’t think about what each piece is worth. Buy the bundle, then sell the console, games, and controllers separately. The parts often add up to a lot more than the whole.

How to test before you buy

Always see it running. Ask the seller to have it hooked up, or bring a small portable monitor and an HDMI cable.

Make sure it powers on and gets to the home screen
Put in a disc and make sure it reads (if it has a disc drive)
Test every controller, including the sticks for drift
Check the HDMI port. Damaged HDMI ports are a common problem.
Listen for a loud fan and feel for overheating
Make sure it’s signed out of the old owner’s account, or that they’ll factory reset it in front of you

Watch out for stolen gear

Small electronics are the most common stolen items on Marketplace. Be careful with deals that are way too cheap from a profile that looks new. Ask if they have the box or the receipt. If the serial number has been scratched off, walk away. See How to Spot a Facebook Marketplace Scam.

Clean it up

Blow out the vents with compressed air
Wipe down the console and controllers
Factory reset it
Replace worn controller thumbstick caps if needed

How to sell

Show it powered on at the home screen
List the model, storage size, what’s included (controllers, cables, games), and that it’s factory reset
Meet in a public place. Plenty of police stations have safe exchange spots.
Let buyers test it before they pay, just like you did

See How to Take Photos and Write Listings That Sell.

Timing

Consoles sell well before the holidays and before big game releases. Right after the holidays, a lot of people sell their old console after getting a new one, so it’s a good time to buy. See Seasonal Flipping.

Finding deals

There’s a lot of competition on electronics, so being first matters even more. Set an alert for one word, like “Xbox” or “PS5,” with a price cap below what you know they sell for. See How to Set Up Deal Alerts.