FlipCheck: Helping an Electronics Repairer Find Deals with Local AI

Description and use

FlipCheck consolidates eBay and Facebook Marketplace searches, extracts product details locally with Gemma 4, and offers margin estimates, reducing repetitive manual checks for an electronics repairer.

Problem

An electronics repairer spends time repeatedly searching Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and other platforms for used devices, repairable products, and spare parts, manually reviewing listings and extracting specifications.

Outcome

FlipCheck consolidates marketplace listings, extracts product specs locally, and provides margin estimates, reducing repetitive manual checks for an electronics repairer. Early user feedback indicates perceived value and willingness to pay for a more complete version.

Workflow

• 1. Define product searches (e.g., PC, MacBook, camera) with budget, target margin, and cost assumptions.
• 2. Start a scan manually; the backend queries SerpApi for eBay and Apify for Facebook Marketplace.
• 3. Backend normalises listings, stores photos, and sends listing text to Gemma 4 via Ollama.
• 4. Gemma extracts product details and returns them with supporting source excerpts.
• 5. Python validates extracted facts against required specifications and conflicting details.
• 6. The UI displays listings with photos, extracted specs, missing details, and margin estimates.
• 7. User reviews, corrects, or dismisses listings, and marks those that meet the “Worth a closer look” criteria.
• 8. Data is stored locally in SQLite for offline access and future reference.

Evidence

I built FlipCheck to bring those searches and listing details into one workspace.

Source

It uses Gemma 4 locally to extract product information from seller descriptions, with supporting text beside each assessment.

Source

The current version connects eBay Australia and nearby Facebook Marketplace.

Source

From the combined feed, you can: Browse actual seller photos and open the original listings. Review extracted specifications, supporting excerpts, and missing details. Correct facts, save or dismiss listings, and inspect margin estimates when enough evidence is available.

Source