🏬 Retail Arbitrage
Reseller Guide
Essential Apps
| App | Cost | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Seller | Free | Scan barcodes, see FBA prices/fees, profit calculator |
| Scoutify/InventoryLab | $40-70/mo | Advanced scanning, profit tracking, listing |
| Keepa | €19/mo | Price history graphs, sales rank tracking |
| eBay App | Free | Scan for eBay sold comps |
| BrickSeek | Free/Paid | Check store inventory for clearance |
Best Stores for RA
Target
- Clearance end caps (look for 50-70% off stickers)
- Toy clearance is excellent Q1 (post-holiday)
- Check electronics, home, seasonal sections
- Circle app for additional coupons
Walmart
- Clearance aisles and end caps
- Use Walmart app to scan for in-store price (often lower than tagged)
- Rollback items sometimes flip well
Other Good Stores
- CVS/Walgreens: 75% clearance, seasonal items
- Home Depot/Lowes: Clearance tools, seasonal
- Staples/Office Depot: Office supplies, electronics
- Kohls: Deep clearance with coupons stacking
- TJ Maxx/Marshalls: Brand names at discount
- Big Lots: Closeout store = built-in deals
The Math
Before buying ANYTHING, calculate:
- Buy cost: Clearance price + tax
- Sell price: Realistic selling price (check sold comps)
- Platform fees: Amazon ~15%, eBay ~13%
- FBA fees: If using Amazon FBA, significant
- Shipping: Your cost or built into FBA
- ROI minimum: Most want 50-100%+ ROI to be worth it
💡 Quick Math: If you buy for $10, you need to sell for $25-30+ after fees to make it worth the effort. Know your minimum thresholds.
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring sales rank: Cheap item that never sells = dead inventory
- Not factoring all fees: FBA storage, long-term storage fees add up
- Buying restricted items: Some brands/categories need approval on Amazon
- Over-buying: Start small, learn what actually sells
- Ignoring competition: 50 other sellers on same listing = price war
⚠️ Gated Categories: Toys, groceries, health, beauty often require Amazon approval. Check before buying inventory you can't list.
Seasonal Strategy
- January: Post-holiday toy/decor clearance (buy for next year)
- Spring: Easter clearance, outdoor items starting
- July: Summer clearance starts, back-to-school ramp
- August: Back-to-school supplies peak
- November: Black Friday deals (buy for Q4)
- Q4: Sell, don't source—prices peak, inventory flies
Best Categories
- Toys: Always in demand, especially Q4
- Books: Textbooks, niche non-fiction
- Home/Kitchen: Brand name small appliances
- Health/Beauty: If ungated, great margins
- Office supplies: Consistent sellers
- Grocery: Long-dated items (if ungated)
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