How to move slow-selling items
Jun 27, 2025
Understanding the Slow-Sale Challenge
Every reseller faces the frustration of products that just won’t move. Slow-selling inventory ties up cash, eats up space, and can even demotivate your team. The good news? With a few easy-to-implement steps and a little organization, you can turn those shelf-sitters into cash and free up resources for new opportunities.
1. Get Your Inventory in Sync (Across Every Platform)
The first step is knowing exactly what you have and where it’s listed. If your inventory is scattered across spreadsheets, sticky notes, and multiple marketplace accounts, it’s easy to lose track. Centralizing your inventory lets you see what’s slow to move and prevents costly mistakes like double-selling.
Use a Central System: Platforms like Gavelbase make it easy to track inventory and keep listings updated across all selling sites (eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and more). This ensures that when an item sells on one platform, it’s removed elsewhere automatically.
Simple Alternatives: If you’re just starting, even a shared Google Sheet can work—just be diligent about updating it as soon as sales happen.
2. Assign Basic Team Roles
Even if your team is just you and a friend (or a family member), assigning roles helps everything run smoother. For beginners, keep it simple:
Inventory Manager: Keeps the central inventory list up to date and flags slow-movers.
Listing Specialist: Handles posting and updating listings on different platforms.
Shipping/Pickup Coordinator: Manages packaging, shipping, and local pickups.
This structure ensures accountability and makes it easier to spot bottlenecks—like shipping delays or missed updates.
3. Track Sales and Fees for Each Item
Profit margins can shrink quickly if you’re not tracking fees and final sale prices. When trying to move slow-sellers, understanding your bottom line helps you decide how much you can discount or bundle items.
Log Each Transaction: Record sale price, platform fees, shipping costs, and net profit for every item. This can be done in your inventory management tool or a basic spreadsheet.
Identify Patterns: Over time, you’ll see which items and platforms perform best, and which fees eat into your profits the most.
4. Refresh and Optimize Listings
Sometimes, slow-selling items just need a little love:
Update Photos: Use natural light and clear backgrounds to make items pop.
Rework Titles and Descriptions: Add relevant keywords and correct any typos. Make sure to answer common buyer questions up front (size, condition, shipping details).
Adjust Pricing: Check what similar items have sold for recently (use eBay’s Sold Listings tool) and consider lowering your price or offering free shipping.
Bundle or Lot Items: Group similar slow-movers together in a single listing for a better value proposition.
5. Promote and Cross-List
Don’t rely on just one marketplace. Cross-listing gets your items in front of more buyers and increases your chances of a sale. Use your central inventory system to avoid double-selling.
Manual Cross-Listing: Copy your listing to other platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, or Depop.
Automated Tools: Tools like Gavelbase (and others) can help automate the process, syncing inventory and updating listings everywhere.
Run Promotions: Offer limited-time discounts, coupons, or even local pickup discounts to incentivize buyers.
6. Make Shipping and Pickup Simple
Buyers love fast, predictable shipping and clear pickup options. For slow-moving items, making the buying process frictionless can tip the scales.
Use Prepaid Labels: Most selling platforms offer discounted shipping labels—take advantage of them.
Set Clear Pickup Rules: For local sales, specify a safe, public meeting spot and communicate availability up front. Consider using platforms like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace for local transactions.
Keep Packing Supplies Ready: Have boxes, tape, and labels on hand to avoid last-minute scrambling.
7. Analyze, Learn, and Adjust
After moving your slow-sellers, take a few minutes to review what worked. Did bundling help? Which platforms delivered the most sales? Use this knowledge to refine your process and avoid slow-moving inventory in the future.
Review Reports: Many inventory platforms offer sales and performance reports. Even a simple spreadsheet can reveal trends over time.
Solicit Feedback: Ask buyers for feedback on their experience—especially if you’re new to reselling.
Final Tips for Beginners
Start simple—don’t worry about fancy systems until you need them.
Stay consistent—update your inventory and listings the same day sales occur.
Don’t be afraid to discount aggressively on stale items; cash flow and shelf space are valuable.
Use central tools like Gavelbase when you’re ready for automation.