In today’s economy, where money is hard to come by, many people have turned to less conventional ways of earning it. With prices rising, resellers (also called flippers or pickers) profit from everyday items most people overlook, buying them with the goal to sell again soon, hopefully for profit.

Reselling spans trading cards, Legos, Hot Wheels, vintage clothing and even rare snacks. It’s all over social media, and many people even do it for a living. According to Business of Apps, eBay, which is one of the biggest secondary markets, has more than 18 million active sellers.

But we also have to consider what this does to people who don’t have the time or advantage to scour thrift stores and garage sales. Scalpers and flippers have made many items nearly impossible to find at retail, which drives up prices on the secondary market. Pokémon cards are a perfect example. Getting them in store now means waiting in line at 4 a.m. or catching a lucky restock. It is not uncommon for a fight to break out among resellers over who gets a coveted product or whether or not someone cuts in line. Thrifting is no different. Resellers pick over the good items, so people who rely on shopping at thrift stores are left with the bottom of the barrel, especially if they aren’t able to duke it out.

The trend isn’t slowing either. Depop, a rapidly growing clothing and fashion platform, was acquired by eBay for $1.4 billion in July, according to Fortune. ThredUp, yet another reselling website, projects the secondhand apparel market will reach $393 billion by 2030, according to their 2026 Resale Report. Gen Z is driving much of that growth, with nearly 90% of Depop’s active buyers under 34.

There’s not a clear answer about whether reselling is good or bad, but there are two sides worth weighing. On one hand, there’s real money to be made in reselling if you find your niche. A good business can be lucrative if it has a loyal customer list, a strong online store and access to unsorted inventory such as thrift bins. On the other hand, it makes it harder for others to find affordable, quality clothing without spending a pretty penny.

Reselling can be a legitimate way for people our age to earn money when jobs are hard to find. But the downside is hard to ignore, especially when shelves are left empty and greed leads to fights. Is there a correct answer to this rising side hustle?

You decide.