Appliance Flipping

[HustleHard]

Who wants to partner and take over the appliance business together?

 

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[HustleHard]

I reached out to Ryan Finlay, LaJuan Diggs, and Chris Stokes, hopefully they will chime in with their thoughts on the subject.

 

[minivanman]

Ryan only knows about the old 12-30 year old washers so he would be no help at all. A few years ago they were 'ok' washers but nowadays you basically rip people off if do a quick flip on those old washers.

I would like to add, although I would have liked to kicked his a$$, I praise Ryan for not letting me give out my 'secret'.... although he probably quickly found out what I told him doesn't work, but I did find a way to perfect it. So while I do not like him.... on the other hand, I love him

 

[Ryan Finlay]

Hello minivanman! I banned you because after reading your posts for a few months I never saw you give any specifics that would indicate that you were actually buying/selling and repairing appliances. It was all talk, and the details you would give were outlandish. It didn't appear to me that you were having anything to do with appliances and when you announced that you were walking away from the used appliance business and that you wanted to share with everyone a hot new business, that was when I removed you from the forum. I simply didn't trust you, and had no reason to.

Below you talk about a faulty "structure of a business". Could you give me some specific critiques of the model that I encourage people to use? Please, specifics only.

I agree, the message boards are valuable even if you aren't using them to learn. They can be used as recruiting grounds for all sorts of things, but that is not allowed in this forum, nor mine. So you got banned. You knew that is not accepted pretty much anywhere, yet you are bitter at me for banning you?

You said $1,000 cash that most of the numbers are dreamed up. What specific numbers are you talking about? I'll take your bet!

Probably the best way to allow you to air your grievances would be for you and I to get on a live video chat and invite everyone here to watch. This would give you and I a fair opportunity to question each other and let others judge for themselves. Let me know if you are interested and we can get it setup.

I am bitter at Ryan but not at his 'school'. Maybe he added more stuff to it since I was there but when it first started it didn't really help at all.
I only joined so I could get to the message board, I had already watched Youtube and got an idea of what to do when repairing them. Personally I didn't really need anything to start making money in this business except help on repairing them. As far as any structure of a business, his structure was/is laughable anyway but I guess it could kind of help people get a start. As you said, it was only $150 and that is why I paid. If it had been much more I doubt I would have. Personally I think the message board was worth $150 (to me) but now we are here and this is free so there is not really a need to pay him money. lol By the way, I'll bet you $1000 cash most of his numbers were dreamed up in his head because he kept giving me different numbers... but I never said anything. It wasn't a big deal, I let him feel good about it all.

As far as interaction with him, we got along great until he blocked me with NO warning when I told him what I was going to post. A real business man would have said... I'd rather you not tell people that. And I would have said Ok since it is his site and his world... I would have respected that. And instead of hating him now I would love him since I got back in to the business.

I wouldn't mind getting together. The only problem would be time. I stay on the internet selling most of the time (or cleaning them and delivering them) so for me personally it would be hard to get away and lose money. For example, since I've been typing this I've sold 1 set, and I'm a fast typer. The guys that have done it before know how it is. You are kind of tied to your computer if you want to make money.
Do you also sell appliances The Dillion?

 

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[HustleHard]

Someone pass the popcorn j/k

I wasn't hoping to start any drama, just wanted to see if Ryan and the others might have some tips or advice, and can share their valuable knowledge on the subject of appliances.

Welcome though Ryan, hopefully you and minivanman can move past y'alls differences.

 

[Ryan Finlay]

You know why minivanman can confidently say that I didn't give out his secret? Because he himself never divulged his "secret" haha There is no secret.

Minivanman is a charlatan. Plain and simple.

Also, minivanman, why don't you share with everyone who you really are. Twitter profile, facebook profile, blog etc. Let's see some social proof that you have a history of evidence and track record to back up your endless claims to special and secretive knowledge?

Edit: I see you are still recruiting people to private conversations minivanman. Whoever is the moderator here should look into minivanman's posts.

 

[HustleHard]

@Ryan Finlay @mikeyjd @minivanman @amp0193

Hey guys just curious about where did / do you get all of your appliances from? Apartment complexes, appliance wholesalers, big box store returns and scratch and dent, scrap metal guys, junk yard, local selling sites? Do you get truck loads shipped into your place of business?

What websites do you use to sell them on? Craigslist, OfferUp, Letgo, Facebook Marketplace, your own website? Any others you can recommend?

Is the sales end more profitable than the fixing and service end of the business?

Do you sell used as well as new appliances?

What appliances sell best?

Do you have a parts division and if so is that profitable for you?

Do you rent out machines to apartment complexes and households? Profitable?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

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[HustleHard]

@amp0193 How's the Ecommerce business going for you? Do you find it more profitable and enjoyable as oposed to the appliance business? Which business do you think has more potential to be successful?

 

[HustleHard]

I've been flipping appliances building capital to start a business, but need to decide between an appliance business, ecommerce business, and a cleaning business. I might just need to throw caution to the wind and start all 3 and see which sticks, multiple irons in the fire, then put those business profits into rental properties and index funds.

Help Each Other Reach Our Dreams

 

[amp0193]

Minivanman is a charlatan. Plain and simple.

I haven't gotten that vibe from his posts here over the last year, although this secret talk seems kind of silly. I can't recall how he used to post on your forum.

Sounds like you were justified in banning him though, if he really was touting off about a "hot new business". Even if it there wasn't any malicious intent, those are 3 words that raise huge red flags, and I'd have reacted the same as you.


Also... welcome to the forum! Came in guns a blazin'

 

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[amp0193]

@amp0193 How's the Ecommerce business going for you? Do you find it more profitable and enjoyable as oposed to the appliance business? Which business do you think has more potential to be successful?

I enjoy ecommerce a lot more than appliances.

Both are profitable and good businesses.

Ecommerce is much easier to scale. I could be running a business worth 5M with a couple of employees. Employees come into play much earlier in the appliance biz.

There, your growth is limited by your human resource pool. To scale, you'd need to develop a reliable way to recruit skilled labor, or a way to train in house.

As far as I know, there is no one doing used appliances on a national scale. Almost no one doing used appliance sales through any kind of a website. There is an opportunity.


It's not, "which would be more successful?" it's "what makes the most sense for you personally to do, given your background, experience, and what you enjoy doing?"

 

[amp0193]

I might just need to throw caution to the wind and start all 3 and see which sticks

Probably a bad idea.

Pick one and focus. Give it a good solid effort. Then pivot if you don't like the direction you're headed.

 

[HustleHard]

I enjoy ecommerce a lot more than appliances.

Both are profitable and good businesses.

Ecommerce is much easier to scale. I could be running a business worth 5M with a couple of employees. Employees come into play much earlier in the appliance biz.

There, your growth is limited by your human resource pool. To scale, you'd need to develop a reliable way to recruit skilled labor, or a way to train in house.

As far as I know, there is no one doing used appliances on a national scale. Almost no one doing used appliance sales through any kind of a website. There is an opportunity.


It's not, "which would be more successful?" it's "what makes the most sense for you personally to do, given your background, experience, and what you enjoy doing?"

Thanks a lot for your detailed responses, if you could recommend one or two valuable resources, courses, books, sites, forum threads, information, whatever for learning ecommerce, what do you recommend ? Thanks again.

 

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[minivanman]

Ryan is the scam. His appliance school is a scam. He knows it and everyone that has been there knows it. I was told just within the last 10 days there is never anyone there that knows anything about appliances.... including Ryan. He wouldn't know what a shift actuator was if it reached out and bit him unless he looked it up on Youtube before answering what it is. For the record I didn't read what he wrote. I'll message MJ and see if there is a way to block a member. I have no interest in reading anything a scum writes.

 

[Lajuan S. Diggs]

Hey HustleHard thanks for reaching out! I am finding my way around this site and look forward to learning and sharing what I've learned over the years. Feel free to ask any questions you may have while I catch up on this thread.

LaJuan aka The Craigslist Hustler

 

[Lajuan S. Diggs]

Ryan is the scam. His appliance school is a scam. He knows it and everyone that has been there knows it. I was told just within the last 10 days there is never anyone there that knows anything about appliances.... including Ryan. He wouldn't know what a shift actuator was if it reached out and bit him unless he looked it up on Youtube before answering what it is. For the record I didn't read what he wrote. I'll message MJ and see if there is a way to block a member. I have no interest in reading anything a scum writes.

Not sure if he or his school is a scam, but I have been telling people for years to stay away from online schools because you can learn everything you need to learn from watching YouTube, using Google and a little trial and error. This is a YouTube video I posted in 2014 on this subject.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK_5znfrzl8

 

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[HustleHard]

Hey HustleHard thanks for reaching out! I am finding my way around this site and look forward to learning and sharing what I've learned over the years. Feel free to ask any questions you may have while I catch up on this thread.

LaJuan aka The Craigslist Hustler

Hey man cool to have another titan of the appliance flipping game here with us lol. Yeah between your blog and YouTube videos and Ryans blog I've learned a lot about selling appliances, y'all helped me get started, so thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us.

You been flipping any appliances lately or have you been venturing off to do other things?

 

[HustleHard]

Not sure if he or his school is a scam, but I have been telling people for years to stay away from online schools because you can learn everything you need to learn from watching YouTube, using Google and a little trial and error. This is a YouTube video I posted in 2014 on this subject.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK_5znfrzl8

Ryan isn't a scam, I don't think you need his appliance course to flip appliances but I know someone who took his course and said it was worth what he paid, helped him hit the ground running selling and fixing appliances faster than without taking it, and he said it has a good forum as well. Just wanted to share that.

 

[Lajuan S. Diggs]

Hey man cool to have another titan of the appliance flipping game here with us lol. Yeah between your blog and YouTube videos and Ryans blog I've learned a lot about selling appliances, y'all helped me get started, so thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us.

You been flipping any appliances lately or have you been venturing off to do other things?

I still flip a little here and there, but lately I have been traveling the world and promoting my book The Craigslist Hustle: Live, Laugh, Travel, Repeat. My past flipping has put me in a position to where I don't have to do it as much now, but I still do because it's in my blood and I can't pass up too many sweet deals.

 

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[amp0193]

Ryan isn't a scam, I don't think you need his appliance course to flip appliances but I know someone who took his course and said it was worth what he paid, helped him hit the ground running selling and fixing appliances faster than without taking it, and he said it has a good forum as well. Just wanted to share that.

My experience was the same. Was definitely worth the initial investment.

Made back what I paid for the course in a few days, by putting it into practice.

 

[amp0193]

I have no interest in reading anything a scum writes.

He made some accusations about you, that calls your character into question.

Would be worth at least throwing up a counter to his points so we've got two sides to a story here. I think you're the one that comes out worse by not responding.

And for what it's worth, there is an "ignore member" feature. Just click on the user name and then click "ignore" on the window that pops up.

 

[Real Deal Denver]

I enjoy ecommerce a lot more than appliances.

Both are profitable and good businesses.

Ecommerce is much easier to scale. I could be running a business worth 5M with a couple of employees. Employees come into play much earlier in the appliance biz.

There, your growth is limited by your human resource pool. To scale, you'd need to develop a reliable way to recruit skilled labor, or a way to train in house.

As far as I know, there is no one doing used appliances on a national scale. Almost no one doing used appliance sales through any kind of a website. There is an opportunity.


It's not, "which would be more successful?" it's "what makes the most sense for you personally to do, given your background, experience, and what you enjoy doing?"

Can you explain what ecommerce is? I don't get the lingo, obviously. To me it is the equivalent of business - which is saying nothing. "I'm going to start a business." What does that say? Nothing. I'm going to start a business selling used cars - that I get.

I know I'm behind the times in certain things, so I am hoping you can help fill in the blanks for me. Thanks ~

 

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[amp0193]

Can you explain what ecommerce is? I don't get the lingo, obviously. To me it is the equivalent of business - which is saying nothing. "I'm going to start a business." What does that say? Nothing. I'm going to start a business selling used cars - that I get.

I know I'm behind the times in certain things, so I am hoping you can help fill in the blanks for me. Thanks ~

Commerce - trading goods for money
e - on the internet

 

[Real Deal Denver]

Commerce - trading goods for money
e - on the internet

Sorry - I didn't explain myself clearly. I know that much, at least.

I was wondering because I wanted to compare how you went from appliances to whatever it is you are doing now.

Commerce, business, is too vague, of course. I am following this thread with interest because I think the appliances business would be a very difficult and time consuming business, and I'm intrigued by the people that are in it.

For me, I can't think of a business that would be less appealing than this... my hats off to the ones in this business because they definitely earn their money.

Every business has it's pluses and minuses. The appliance business seems brutal in multiple ways.

For those reasons - fascinating thread.

 

[amp0193]

Sorry - I didn't explain myself clearly. I know that much, at least.

Ok, haha. I really couldn't tell how literal your question was. Sorry if I insulted you!

I was wondering because I wanted to compare how you went from appliances to whatever it is you are doing now.

Business is a squiggly line with lots of overlap from one venture to the next. There's 8 or 9 pies that I've had my fingers in in the last 5 years.

The physical product business model just seemed to fit my skillset better. Really, it's like all of life's cumulative experiences guide your decisions and what is the best choice for you. I'm where I need to be right now, and felt "out of sync" when I was doing appliances.

For me, I can't think of a business that would be less appealing than this... my hats off to the ones in this business because they definitely earn their money.

FWIW, I thought the business was very appealing. I had fun working on machines and delivering them to families who needed their laundry done. I didn't enjoy the business model, and didn't think I had the skills to scale the human resources, which is why I got out.

 

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[HustleHard]

Can you explain what ecommerce is? I don't get the lingo, obviously. To me it is the equivalent of business - which is saying nothing. "I'm going to start a business." What does that say? Nothing. I'm going to start a business selling used cars - that I get.

I know I'm behind the times in certain things, so I am hoping you can help fill in the blanks for me. Thanks ~

GOLD! - Ask me anything about eCommerce (Ongoing)

 

[HustleHard]

NOTABLE! - [Progress] Growing a Cleaning Business

 

[HustleHard]

I still flip a little here and there, but lately I have been traveling the world and promoting my book The Craigslist Hustle: Live, Laugh, Travel, Repeat. My past flipping has put me in a position to where I don't have to do it as much now, but I still do because it's in my blood and I can't pass up too many sweet deals.

What are the most profitable appliances that you flip? Specific brand name front loaders? Stainless steel fridges?

I've just been flipping the smaller top load washers and dryers and can usually get a set for $100 to $150 and sell for $300 offering free delivery and install. But wanting to branch out to more profitable flips.

 

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[HustleHard]

I can also get double top bottom or stackable units sometimes for $150 to $175 and can sell for $400. I probably can get more, I just picked up two yesterday for 150 and 175, I'll try to sell for $450 to see

 

[Real Deal Denver]

What are the most profitable appliances that you flip? Specific brand name front loaders? Stainless steel fridges?

I've just been flipping the smaller top load washers and dryers and can usually get a set for $100 to $150 and sell for $300 offering free delivery and install. But wanting to branch out to more profitable flips.

Honestly man - you work way too hard.

You have to pick these up - clean and test them - deliver them when sold. All for $200? Maybe less?

If, as a side benefit, you're built like a brick sheet house, then that's a great side benefit. But the money - - - I hope your customers tip you well. I would. We've had some pretty hefty furniture delivered lately, and those boys didn't get out the door without a hefty tip!