Independent sellers’ ability to establish their own prices makes Amazon a particularly attractive marketplace for startups and established businesses alike.
However, some vendors appear to have cracked the code by purchasing goods in bulk from wholesalers or discount stores, which allows them to sell the goods at a profit with little to no additional work.
One TikToker, Yamie Michelin, explained how she makes $15,000 monthly by reselling items from the discount store Marshalls on the online marketplace Amazon at a much higher price.
TikTok user @yamie the realtor (Michelin) has previously stated that thrift stores are her go-to for finding bargains. She bought two Sephora primers at Marshalls for $3.99 and resold them for $22.54 each, as an example. Michelin claims that she uses an Amazon scanner app to instantly show how much the item is selling for on the website after scanning the barcode on the item in the store she is purchasing from.
She says that shipping costs are a major factor in determining whether or not to make a purchase for resale. Michelin is so successful at buying and reselling on Amazon that she is now selling a book teaching others her methods. Some commenters, however, were not pleased with Michelin’s business practices and blamed her for the fact that “products are sketchy” on Amazon.
“One customer even went as far as saying they would never shop for skincare products on Amazon again.”
Michelin and her legion of followers, many of whom have approached her seeking guidance in launching their own companies, appear unfazed. According to her TikTok, Michelin is paid every two weeks and can earn up to $7,000 in a single check.
Michelin advised viewers to “shoot for an item that is selling 2-3x more than purchase price” when selecting an item to resell and that “anything to improve the appearance is always going to sell, wrinkle cream, acne, dark spot, make-up, etc.” She recommends shopping at Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Ross, Walmart’s clearance section, or a liquidation store.
