Top beginner questions about reselling
Mar 28, 2025
Getting Started with Reselling: What Newcomers Need to Know
Reselling—buying items to sell them for a profit on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace—can seem overwhelming at first. Beginners often have many questions: What should I sell? How do I keep inventory organized? How do I track my profits and fees? Is it possible to get help from others without chaos? Here’s a practical guide to the most common beginner questions, with straightforward steps you can actually take.
1. What Should I Resell as a Beginner?
Start with what you know or have access to. Look around your home for unused electronics, clothing, books, or collectibles. These are low-risk and help you learn how listings, shipping, and customer service work. As you gain experience, you can branch out based on what sells well and what interests you.
Research: Search completed listings on eBay Advanced Search to see what items actually sell and for how much.
Start small: Don’t overbuy inventory. Learn the ropes before investing heavily.
2. Which Marketplaces Should I Use?
Each platform has unique strengths:
eBay: Best for a wide range of items, especially collectibles and electronics.
Poshmark: Focuses on clothing and fashion.
Mercari: Good for general goods, easy to use.
Facebook Marketplace: Great for local pickups and bulky items.
Start with one or two platforms. Once you’re comfortable, consider cross-listing (posting the same item on multiple sites) to increase your chances of a sale.
3. How Do I Keep My Inventory Organized?
Disorganization is one of the top reasons new resellers get frustrated. Even with a handful of items, you’ll want a simple system:
Assign each item a unique code or number. Mark this on the storage bin or shelf where the item lives.
Use a spreadsheet (like Google Sheets) to record each item’s location, description, purchase price, and where it’s listed.
Centralize your inventory and listing management as you grow. Tools like Gavelbase can sync inventory and listings across multiple marketplaces, helping you avoid double-selling and saving time. Other options include spreadsheet templates or apps like List Perfectly and Vendoo for crosslisting.
Basic inventory control from the start prevents mix-ups and lost items, keeping your operation stress-free.
4. How Can I Keep Listings and Inventory in Sync Across Sites?
When cross-listing, the biggest challenge is keeping inventory accurate so you don’t accidentally sell the same item twice. There are two main approaches:
Manual: When an item sells, immediately remove it from other platforms. This works for a small number of items but gets risky as you scale.
Automated: Use a central management tool (like Gavelbase) that updates all your listings when an item sells. This reduces errors and saves time, especially for solo sellers or small teams.
5. Should I Work Alone or Build a Small Team?
Most beginners start solo. If you want to involve friends or family—or eventually hire help—set clear roles from the beginning:
Sourcing: Who finds and purchases items?
Listing: Who photographs and writes up listings?
Packing & Shipping: Who handles fulfillment?
Customer Service: Who responds to messages and manages returns?
Use shared tools (like Google Sheets or Gavelbase) so everyone knows what’s happening. This avoids confusion and keeps the workflow smooth.
6. How Do I Track Sales, Fees, and Profit?
Understanding your numbers is crucial—even at a small scale. Start with a simple spreadsheet to track:
Item description and code
Date purchased and cost
Date sold and sale price
Marketplace and associated fees
Shipping cost
Final profit
Most marketplaces provide downloadable reports. As you grow, consider an all-in-one tool to automatically track fees, shipping, and profit across platforms. Gavelbase, for example, can consolidate this data for you.
7. How Should I Handle Shipping or Local Pickup?
The right shipping approach depends on what you sell and where:
Shipping: Use the marketplace’s built-in shipping options. Weigh and measure every item accurately. Consider Pirate Ship for discounted USPS rates. Keep a supply of boxes, bubble wrap, and tape on hand.
Local Pickup: For bulky or fragile items, list them with local pickup options (especially on Facebook Marketplace). Always meet buyers in safe, public locations—many police stations offer "Safe Exchange Zones."
Communicate clearly with buyers about pickup times or shipment tracking. This builds trust and minimizes issues.
8. What Are the Common Pitfalls for Beginners?
Overbuying inventory before learning what sells.
Poor organization, causing lost or misplaced items.
Inaccurate tracking of sales and expenses.
Neglecting marketplace policies (like prohibited items or shipping requirements).
Lack of prompt communication with buyers.
Avoid these by starting small, staying organized, and building good habits from the start.
9. What If I Make a Mistake?
Mistakes are part of learning. If you oversell an item, apologize to the buyer promptly, cancel the order, and offer a refund. If you ship the wrong item, communicate and fix the error. Most buyers are understanding if you’re honest and responsive.
10. Where Can I Learn More?
There are many free resources and communities to help you grow:
Connect with others, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Final Thoughts
Reselling is accessible to anyone with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to stay organized. Start with what you have, keep things simple, and leverage the right tools as you grow. Whether you’re selling solo or with a team, clear systems for inventory, listing sync, sales tracking, and fulfillment will set you up for success.