How to get into flipping markers

[Out Of Air]

Hey MCB,

If one was looking into buy/selling/etc. markers for a hobby where would you start? I don't know much about the old Evils, Angles, Cockers, etc. but I learn pretty quick. What does one look for? How do you know if the price is right where you can flip it and get ahead (Obviously experience is a big part of this)?

I can't get out and play as much as I used to, but I love teching these things, and this may be a way for me to stay connected to the sport in some way.

Thanks!

PS. Feel free to offer any other advice, or tips

[JeeperCreeper]

The sad reality of it is because of the new PayPal rules and taxing, it's hard to do it as just a hobby. You gotta keep track of everything you buy and sell, and pay taxes on yearly profits over $600. You need to scout the internet constantly searching for the same deals that everyone else is looking for. I'm not saying don't do it, we're all on this forum for a reason. I'm just saying it's alot of work, and it's difficult to make a bunch of money doing it. Just keep these things in mind.

[Jonnydread]

Great point. Find for a hobby, but don’t plan on profit

[Cdn_Cuda]

He’s Canadian, so taxes work differently.

[Jonnydread]

Keep a close eye on Craigslist/kijiji lots, swipe on the pictures. You can find hidden gems in otherwise crappy lots of gear. I’ve found cockers and other cool stuff among a sea of 98s and plastic garbage

[Impactfour]

I keep waiting to find my magical craigslist deal, seems like most paintballer get theirs eventually if they keep looking.

[Out Of Air]

Appreciate that. Now, what gems should I keep my eyes open for?

[Jonnydread]

Out Of Air look for older guns: cockers, mags, PL OG electros, stuff that the average person wouldn’t think has much value. Also old JT flex stuff

[Chuck E Ducky]

I use to flip gear to pay my way threw Xball seasons. Help offset the cost of playing every weekend.

But honestly today with shipping costs and fees and the only way of protecting yourself sending you a 1099 at the end of the year. It’s just not worth it unless you’re in it for the gear or a collector. I like to trade rare stuff I have collected over the years but now it’s all stuff I want in my collection.

If you’re in it for the money paintball is a terrible investment strategy.

[Out Of Air]

I use to flip gear to pay my way threw Xball seasons. Help offset the cost of playing every weekend.

But honestly today with shipping costs and fees and the only way of protecting yourself sending you a 1099 at the end of the year. It’s just not worth it unless you’re in it for the gear or a collector. I like to trade rare stuff I have collected over the years but now it’s all stuff I want in my collection.

If you’re in it for the money paintball is a terrible investment strategy.

Understandable. It wouldn't be for a cash cow, it would be just for fun. Something different. Just don't want to go broke doing so lol.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I usually do alright. I would buy packages to get specific pieces that I wanted for my personal builds. My Phantom build is pieces of like 6+ markers I bought and sold. But I got most of the rare pieces I wanted and broke even on most of the markers. You can find some JT, Renegade, Sandana stuff that’s worth some serious cash but you really need to know what you’re looking for and tons of People are hunting so it’s a rat race getting the stuff. Social media is a must its ware all the hype is for finding people to pay to dollar for specific items by marketing to people who collect. She Fight Club Phantom BST, JT proflex BST, Sandana BST. People pay lots of money to look like they have been playing as long as most of us have been. For me BookFaces isn’t worth the hassle of dealing with the toxic BS of social media.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Start small and local. Still the best purchases I have made have been local sales. Less competition as lots of people are doing the paintball hustle these days.

Buying older markers that have been sitting, get them up and running (adding value) and selling a now working market is a good start.

Start small! Cheap and easy. Buy markers that are cheap and easy to fix. Also look for people selling gear with spare parts and o-rings to build up your supplies on hand. Ordering in parts and shipping eat into profits. Build up a profit that allows you to buy fancier/more expensive markers. Those same markers are a lot riskier too. Can’t get parts? Can’t fix it? Not worth much.

Keep a budget! Know how much you’ve spent and how much you’ve made. Too easy to assume a profit when you actually lost money.

Know your markers. The more you know the better. Are parts available, if you can even get replacement parts, resale value of markers. And know if you can fix them and have parts for them. Easy to buy an old Angel and realize you can’t rebuild things like rams and boards are expensive. Easy to lose your shirt when “fixing” markers.

Learn to search! Most of your effort is hunting for deals. Learn where, how and what to search and look for hidden treasures.

Being a fellow Canadian, it’s harder. Smaller marker pool, several big fish watching for the next big deal.

Parts are also hard to get here and ordering things out of the US is expensive between shipping and exchange rates. Selling into the US is good though, as exchange is in your favour at least.

[Ecapnation]

Worth mentioning..... Terrible time to start market is very soft and not much sells. End of season plus holidays nuke sales

[flyweightnate]

Or perhaps it's a fantastic time to build inventory... with hopes the market recovers eventually

[Memornix]

The MCB way to do this is simple.

Step 1: troll ebay, craigslist and the classifieds on here waiting for the perfect marker

Step 2: not find the perfect marker but get an ichy buy finger and buy something old broken and impractical

Step 3: repeat Step 2 several times

Step 4: see the perfect marker show up and not have any money left to buy it.

Step 5: sell other markers for a loss

Step 6: repeat

[Out Of Air]

This comment wins

[Memornix]

Glad I could help

[maggot]

My opinion's a bit harsh on this: if you have to ask, you don't have what it takes.

What I mean by that is you have to knowledge that you've built because you're obsessed with the game, and/or the gumption to take the plunge on some buys after doing the research on your own. You'll build up your knowledge through years of experience doing deals - and what I mean by that is not just on the markers themselves, but online BST in general.

The other headwind is that most of the gems, mechanical masterpieces from the 90's, were pulled out of the closet and sold during the 2008 recession. Also, there's a lot more people in the "flipping" game now with TV shows about about flipping and it being in style at the moment. Less supply and more people looking for the scores. Gotta act fast!

[Out Of Air]

I appreciate the honesty

[Magageddon]

Me personally, I more so do the flipping thing to basically stay in the game/trade up for a more expensive marker I want. One of the biggest things I've done that has helped me is learning to tech older markers and know how to trouble shoot/rebuild them. Its not just looking out for deals, sometimes those "deals" will have red flags that if you dont look carefully enough, you'll end up taking a bath.

[Cyberpyr8]

You need to know your markets. Different markers go higher and lower depending on the time of the year, newer releases and simple supply and demand.

I would suggest picking a type of marker and just follow the sales for a few weeks. See what they're selling for. Buy your first cheaper than the market and flip it quickly. If you hold on too long you can lose money. You can buy lots but if you just want to flip markers, buying lots leaves you with soft goods other stuff you might not want. I buy markers and use them then resell. Most of the time I break even or profit slightly. But I get to own and use different types of markers. It's fun.

Don't buy markers that you don't know their worth. I look at sales of markers to know how much I should pay. Buying right before world cup or events is usually the best time to find steals. People need money for tournaments and dump equipment cheap. Wait until after the event and watch prices rise. It's all cyclical. But you need to stay on top of the market.

[cougar20th]

Almost every time I decide to try buying a marker to flip I lose money. But if i buy a marker i want to keep everyone is willing to pay crazy money.

Best advice is above somewhere. Know the market, Know the guns. Not everyone's way will work for everyone.

[Cunha]

Most of the good deals are found on craigslist or on eBay lots.

I buy and sell a lot, or I used to. I did it by looking for guns I wanted and finding them at good prices. By the time I was ready to sell a gun I could usually break even or better even after fees and stuff. Sometimes you get to make some money but a lot of the times no. It also depends on how long you’re willing to sit on something if it’s rare enough that eventually someone will pay you some decent amount of money. I never allow any gun to sit for sale for more than a week or two though unless I really don’t mind keeping it. I price stuff to move.

it’s the same principles that apply to any “flipping” and it is really about knowing your stuff and buying right. The best way to learn is be interested in something and find out what you can. Doing it for a business is a bad way to go. You will make more money at Starbucks by the hour by a long shot, and meet more people in your area.

buy and sell paintball guns because you like them, and get a job.

[Out Of Air]

Well, I'm a Journeyman Automotive Mechanic, so I got the job thing down lol

[woouulf]

1. Stick with what you know... If you know spyders ,know how to rebuild them. then your set.. If you dont know what something is worth, know someone that does....Have a lump of cash handy but remember 1000s of people do what you want to do ... I dont bother with any FB, CL , Let go sites anymore due to competition here in the So Cal area....#2 And most important "know people that are experts with certain markers....Parting markers for parts is a good way to start....

[Cdn_Cuda]

Also, Canada Post flat rate boxes are your friends. Cheapest way to mail things anywhere in Canada. Small boxes fix most markers, large boxes are great for big gear packages.

[Out Of Air]

That's a good reminder. I used to have to deal with that with Pink Bike, that plus having to deal with COD all the time lol. Thanks!