How I Pay for Design School with eBay

Written By Corey Willett

When people ask how I pay for school, they're usually expecting to hear about scholarships, loans, or a part-time job.

Instead, I tell them I sell old cassette players, vintage electronics, cameras, Bionicle sets, Coca-Cola collectibles, audio equipment, and just about anything else I can rescue from a thrift store.

It's usually not the answer they're expecting.

What started as a fun hobby has grown into a business that's shipped over 2,900 orders all over the world and become one of the primary ways I fund my education as an Industrial Design student at the University of Cincinnati.

More importantly, it's completely changed the way I think about products.

Learning to See Opportunity

One of the biggest misconceptions about reselling is that it's just buying something cheap and selling it for more.

In reality, most of the value comes from knowledge.

Walking through a thrift store now feels completely different than it did a few years ago. Instead of seeing shelves full of random items, I notice thoughtful engineering, quality manufacturing, interesting design, and products that still have value despite being overlooked by almost everyone else.

Sometimes it's a vintage Sony cassette recorder.

Sometimes it's an old Sonos speaker.

Sometimes it's a limited-edition video game that's still sealed.

Every trip is different, and that's part of what keeps it exciting.

Every Product Is a Lesson in Design

As an Industrial Design student, I've realized that reselling has become an unexpected extension of my education.

Before listing an item, I usually clean it, inspect it, test it, and occasionally repair it.

That process naturally leads me to ask questions like:

  • Why was this designed this way?

  • Why has it lasted this long?

  • How was it manufactured?

  • What makes collectors willing to pay a premium for it?

I've learned just as much by taking products apart as I have by designing new ones.

It's More Than Just Selling

Running an eBay store means wearing a lot of different hats.

Every listing requires:

  • Researching the product

  • Testing functionality

  • Cleaning and restoration

  • Product photography

  • Writing descriptions

  • Pricing competitively

  • Packaging carefully

  • Providing customer support

Those experiences have strengthened skills that translate directly into design—attention to detail, organization, communication, and understanding what people actually value.

Paying for More Than Tuition

The income has helped pay for classes, tools, materials, trips, and everyday expenses.

But the biggest return hasn't been financial.

Reselling has made me a better observer.

It's taught me how to recognize quality, appreciate thoughtful engineering, and understand why some products remain desirable decades after they were made.

Those lessons influence the way I approach every project I design today.

Final Thoughts

When I graduate, I hope to build products that people value for years—not just because they look good, but because they're well designed, thoughtfully engineered, and built to last.

Ironically, one of the best teachers I've had hasn't been a classroom.

It's been thousands of products sitting on thrift store shelves, each with something new to teach.

Tools I Use Everyday in Resale

The list goes on…

Corey Willett https://coreywillett.com
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