Flipping Clearance Packs at Walmart & Target for Profit

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A lot of sports card collectors like myself are stepping back into the hobby after years of absence. It is very easy for new investors to be overwhelmed with all of the different brands of packs, card variations and players.

Here is one trick I’ve used to make profit from packs at my local Walmart and Target store.

Last Year’s Packs can be This Year’s Treasures 

Once packs have been out on the shelves for a prolonged amount of time, Walmart puts these packs packs on clearance. This is where many card collectors/investors make the common mistake of either overlooking them because the packs are “old” or ripping the packs because they were cheap.

Some of these packs are quick, easy, and safe flips. Unlike investing in players, which takes time to research stats, watch them play in games, only to hope they perform and gain value, flipping clearance packs is just one eBay search away to check the sold/completed listings to know if it is a good buy. Just because they are old, it doesn’t always mean they’re not worth buying.

Topps Baseball 2018 Update Series

Although they are becoming harder and harder to come by, Topps 2018 Update is a must buy if you can find the packs at your local retailer. These packs may be on clearance for $3.95 each. Each pack sells for around $15-18 + buyer pays shipping.

This is a great example of the potential profit you can gain from flipping clearance packs:

12 2018 Topps Update Fat Packs @ $3.95 

12 x $3.95 = $47.40 + Sales Tax (6.35% for me)

$47.40 + $3.01= $50.41 (Your original investment)

(Each pack sells for around $17) 

12 (packs) x $17 (money from each pack) = $204

$204 (total after packs sold) x .13 (eBay fee) = $26.52

$204 – $26.52 = $177.48 – $50.41 (initial investment)

$127.07  TOTAL PROFIT AFTER FEES

I don’t think anyone would be complaining about an extra $127 in their paypal for just listing on eBay then shipping!

2018 Topps Update is just one of many packs you can flip for profit. Some other good packs are: 2018 Topps Series 2, 2018 Optic Football Blaster Boxes and 2018 Optic Basketball hangers, cellos, or blasters.

Do note, sometimes the items from last year are not always on clearance. This is typically because a Walmart employee missed the boxes or packs. If you ask a manager you can most likely get a price match to the clearance amount. If you buy packs not on clearance there’s still the potential to make money but paying double the initial investment will only further reduce your final figure of profit. 

Good Luck! 

With everyone in the basketball hobby driving around looking for 2019 Prizm, people seem to have become tunnel visioned on Prizm and have become blinded to other opportunities to make money. I have picked up at least 20 packs of 2018 Update while looking for Prizm Basketball. I can only imagine the countless amount of people that have looked over these packs before me!

Next time you are Walmart and Target be sure to check the clearance bins! 

I know a lot of us “hunt” at out local stores like Target and Walmart – can you provide any further guidance or tips for the community? Tell us in the Comments below.

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