Rob and Melissa Stephenson are master flea market flippers and thought leaders. They've been married for 14 years already and have 3 children together. Rob says he was the first one who got into flipping - with his first garage sale flip on eBay back in 1996! He loves recalling uploading a listing in HTML and getting paid by check in the mail. Melissa got into flipping in 2007. They've both been doing flipping as a side hustle in their singlehood and married life. It wasn't until 2016 that they quit their full-time jobs and fully focused on their flipping business. 

Rob and Melissa are passionate about sharing what they know to help others succeed. This is why they started the Flea Market Flipper blog. They talk about their arbitrage business, recent flips, reselling tips, how to ship, etc... They also host a podcast called The Pro Flipper Show and have a YouTube channel. Besides that, they have the Flipper University course, educational workshops, free PDFs, and a course affiliate. They even have a Flipper University: Kid's Edition for the young ones who want to join in the fun. They created this with the help of their children, who also flip items themselves.

What Are Rob and Melissa Stephenson’s Claims?

Rob and Melissa claim you can have a profitable flipping business if you take their Flipper University course. This is because it walks you through the steps, from sourcing to selling. Additionally, they claim that you can recover the course fee in 30 days if you follow it diligently. This is because they'll teach you how to do your first flip with no initial cost. They say you only need a mobile phone and a printer. However, Rob and Melissa are honest in that you need a passion for treasure hunting and selling. If you don't, it will be harder to start and grow a flipping business.

Rob and Melissa base their claims on their own flipping success. They know all the ins and outs of the business - and are willing to share it with others. They say they went from $42K as a side hustle to $133K as a full-time business. They can also back their claims with their hundreds of satisfied students. Some have mastered the skills to start a profitable side hustle. Others have made enough money to quit their full-time jobs. Many students vouch that you can quickly earn back the money spent on the course. Here is what one student from their Facebook group says:

Rob and Melissa Stephenson’s Claims Debunked

Rob and Melissa Stephenson's claims can be true since flipping items for a profit can be done quickly. Plus, having the right knowledge and resources will quicken the process. However, it requires dedication to start earning within 14 days and cover the course cost in 30 days. Even if you follow the course religiously, success in flipping is never guaranteed. This is because this business relies on several outside factors. 

For one, you'll need to find cheap high-profit or high-demand items. You have to go out and search for these items in flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores, etc... Well, your trips might not be successful. You also have to find someone who will buy your second-hand item for a higher price. Sure, online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace make it easier. But many items on there never get sold. Shannon Chatham shares her experience in Quora:

What Are the Challenges of Flea Market Flipping?

Is Flea Market Flipping Profitable? 

Flea market flipping is profitable if you put in the hard work. So the more items you source, repair, list, and sell, the higher your earnings. You get what you give in flipping. Rob and Melissa Stephenson are great examples of having a profitable flipping business. They earn $100K+ a year, allowing them to quit their regular jobs and focus on flipping full-time. Other flippers can earn an average of $50 to $500 a week, depending on how much effort they put into it. Here are what flippers have to say on Reddit:

Flea market flipping is a legitimate way to make money. This is because you're buying items at a low price and selling them for higher. So if your overhead cost is $20 and you sell the item for $50, you make a profit of $30 per flip. Flipping is completely legal, but you must know and follow the laws in your area. This may include sales tax, business licensing, resale certificates, intellectual property, zoning laws, and stolen goods.

What Are the Best Things to Buy and Sell for Profit?

Here are the best things to buy and sell for profit:

Top Ways to Make Money With Craigslist in 2024

Here are the top ways to make money with Craigslist in 2024:

Conclusion: Local Lead Generation Is a More Lucrative Side Hustle Than Flea Market Flipping

Local lead generation is a more lucrative side hustle than flea market flipping because it's easier to scale and can generate passive income. Local lead generation focuses on acquiring leads for local businesses. You create a website that attracts people searching for services in a local area. When the website is getting high traffic, you can rent it out to a local business in the industry. Since these businesses need quality leads, they will be willing to rent it for $500 to $3,000 a month. You can easily scale up by creating, ranking, and renting different service websites. It's also passive income since you're paid "rent" every month. 

Flea market flipping can earn $100K a year through constant, manual work. You may earn an extra $30 to $40 a month if it's a side hustle. Local lead generation can earn $50,000 a month without doing anything. The hard work is only at the beginning - creating and ranking a website. Once that's done, you can enjoy passive income. If you do it as a side hustle, one website can already earn $500+ a month.