How to combine similar items into lots
Jan 17, 2025
Why Lotting Similar Items Makes Sense
For resellers, combining similar items into lots—groupings of related products sold together—offers clear benefits: faster sales, higher average order values, and less time spent managing individually low-value items. Whether you’re selling on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or your own site, lotting is a practical strategy to streamline inventory and increase profitability.
Step 1: Identify Items That Belong Together
Start by reviewing your existing inventory. Look for items that:
Share a category, brand, or function (e.g., vintage comic books, kitchen utensils, action figures from the same series).
Individually have low resale value but make a compelling package (e.g., bulk costume jewelry, assorted cables and chargers).
Are slow movers that might sell better as a bundle.
Use your central inventory system to filter and tag items by type, condition, or collection. This makes the next steps much easier.
Step 2: Group and Prepare Your Lots
Once you’ve identified candidates for lotting, physically group them together. Pay attention to:
Condition: Group items in similar condition for transparency and positive feedback.
Logical Sets: Think like the buyer—does this lot make sense as a bundle? For example, 10 paperback mysteries by the same author, or a set of matching dinner plates.
Presentation: Clean items as needed, and arrange them to photograph well together. Take clear pictures from multiple angles, showing the full contents of the lot.
Step 3: Create a Lot Listing in Your Central System
To keep listings and inventory synced across multiple sales platforms, it’s best to use a central management tool. Tools like Gavelbase let you:
Combine individual inventory items into a new "lot" entry without losing track of the original products.
Assign a unique SKU or lot ID for easy tracking.
Automatically update or remove the individual items from active listings.
Push the new lot listing to all your chosen sales channels.
If you’re using spreadsheets or a basic inventory app, create a new row or entry for each lot and mark the constituent items as "bundled" or "inactive." Make sure to update quantities and status on all platforms to avoid accidental double-selling.
Step 4: Assign Team Roles (If Applicable)
Even with a small team or family business, defining clear roles helps avoid confusion. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Picker: Gathers and groups items into lots.
Lister: Photographs and creates the lot listing in your central system.
Inventory Manager: Updates the master list, archives old listings, and ensures quantities are correct across all platforms.
Shipper: Handles packaging and dispatch when a lot sells.
In a solo operation, you’ll handle each step yourself, but the same workflow applies. Document your process once, so you can scale or get help as needed.
Step 5: List the Lot Across Multiple Channels
With your lot prepared and inventory updated, list the lot on your preferred platforms (e.g., eBay, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark). Most central systems allow you to push listings to multiple sites with one click, saving time and reducing errors. If you’re doing this manually, copy details carefully and double-check:
Titles and descriptions clearly explain what’s included
Photos show all items in the lot
Shipping or pickup options are consistent with your process
Step 6: Track Sales and Fees
Once a lot sells, immediately mark it as sold in your central inventory system. This prevents other platforms from offering it after it’s gone. Be sure to:
Record sale price, platform fees, and shipping costs for each lot (many systems, like Gavelbase, track this automatically).
Archive the individual item entries as "sold in lot" for bookkeeping.
Check for buyer messages about combined shipping or local pickup.
Keeping close tabs on costs and fees helps you evaluate whether lotting is improving your margins.
Step 7: Handle Shipping or Pickup Smoothly
Shipping a lot is usually simpler than multiple single-item orders. Here’s how to keep it easy:
Pre-measure and weigh each lot before listing to set accurate shipping rates.
Use sturdy packaging—lots can be bulky or heavy. Reinforce boxes as needed.
Include a packing slip listing all items in the lot, so buyers can confirm contents.
For local pickup, agree on a safe, public meeting spot and confirm details in writing.
Update the order status in your system once shipped or picked up, and request feedback if appropriate.
Tips for Beginners
Start with 2-3 lots to learn the process, then expand as you gain confidence.
Review sold listings on your chosen platform to see what types of lots are successful.
Use clear, keyword-rich titles and full disclosure in descriptions.
Track what sells well as lots versus singles, and adjust your sourcing accordingly.
If using a central tool, explore automations for relisting, cross-posting, and syncing sales data.
Useful Resources
Gavelbase (central inventory and listing tool)
Wrapping Up
Combining similar items into lots is a beginner-friendly, effective way to boost sales, reduce listing workload, and simplify fulfillment. With a clear workflow—identify, group, lot, list, and track—you’ll quickly see the benefits. As you grow, using a centralized system like Gavelbase makes it easy to scale, add team members, and stay organized across channels. Start small, learn what works for your niche, and lot your way to better results.