What if we tell you you can make money selling used items on amazon? Yes, besides selling in online arbitrage, private label brands and drop shipping, you can sell your used items to make extra money. In fact, some people make a living by selling used items, especially books. However, keep in mind that not all used items can be sold on Amazon. In some categories, you can only sell new products. With that said, let's check out how you can start selling used items on amazon and what is required of you.
What is the Amazon's Used Products Condition Policy?
1. Used - Like new
The product should be in great working condition. It should have the original packaging and be in good condition, with or without the original protective wrapping. Also, the item should have instructions included.
2. Used – Very Good
The product should be in good working condition, well-maintained and used for a short period. This used product can have minor damage, such as small scratches or aesthetic issues. Also, the product can have damaged packaging or repackage. Moreover, the product should have a condition note in case of missing accessories.
3. Used – Good
The used product should be in good shape and good working condition. It can have evidence of wear from regular usage. Besides, it may arrive with damaged packaging or repackaged. The product may also have minor scratches or aesthetic issues. Additionally, it may have missing accessories, parts or instructions.
4. Used – Acceptable
The product should be in good working condition. However, it can be in damaged original packaging or repackaged. Also, scratches, worn edges, dents or identifying markings can be visible. Plus, accessories, parts or instructions may be missing.
Product Categories that You Can Sell Used Items
- Amazon Device Accessories
- Kindle Accessories & Amazon Fire TV Accessories
- Amazon Kindle
- Books
- Home & Garden
- Office Products
- Personal Computers
- Camera & Photo
- Video Games
- Cell Phones & Accessories
- Consumer Electronics
- Automotive & Powersports
- Music
- Musical Instruments
- Entertainment Collectibles (ensure the item is as Used-Like New condition)
- Outdoors
- Major Appliances
- Software
- Video, DVD & Blu-ray
- Collectible Coins (ensure they are in Used-Like New condition)
- Industrial & Scientific
- Tools & Home Improvement
- Sports
- Sports Collectibles (ensure they are in Used-Like New condition)
- Pet Supplies
What Are the Used Products You Shouldn't Sell on Amazon?
Apart from restricted products, some items or products in certain conditions are barred from sale on Amazon. Let's check out the Amazon's guidelines on items;
- The product requires repair
- The item has damage that's affecting its functionality
- An accessory or a part needed to use the item is missing
- The item has molds, corrosion, heavy stains or other signs of discoloration.
- The product was made for promotional purposes or as a copy of an advance-reading copy
- The item is a result of replicating, reproducing, counterfeiting or copying an original product
- The expiration date of the item has been changed, or the item is about to expire
Unfortunately, a used product is perceived as low quality. We, however, recommend listing an item lower than what you believe it should be. For instance, if your used item is "Like New," it's wise to list it as "Very Good" because if a customer is unhappy with a product you described as "Used-Like New" when it was actually "Used-Good," it will be a great hit to your business. Therefore, by doing so, the customer expectations are satisfied rather than unmet.
Product Categories that You Can't Sell Used Items
Amazon has a list of the product categories in which you are not allowed to sell any used items. So, before you start selling on Amazon, take a look at these categories;
- Clothing
- Shoes & Handbags
- Baby Products (except apparel)
- Toys & Games
- Sports Collectibles
- Health & Personal Care
- Beauty
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Fine Art
- Independent Design
- Entertainment Collectibles
- Collectible Coins
- Grocery & Gourmet Food
How Do You List Used Items on Amazon?
When listing used items on an Amazon seller account, the procedure is similar to listing new items. The only difference is that you will set the condition of the items as "Used." With that said, let's check out the steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Register as an Amazon seller.
First, sign up on Amazon as a seller so that you can list your used product. Amazon usually has two types of accounts; Individual and Professional. An individual account will charge you $0.99 (the per-item fee after selling something). Conversely, the Professional account will charge you a fixed price of $39.99 per month. We recommend choosing the Professional selling plan account if you can manage to sell 40 pieces or more per month.
Step 2: Determine how to fulfill your orders
When it comes to the order fulfillment method, you are presented with two options; Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM). So, if you are selling a few items on amazon as a side hustle, we recommend going for Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM). However, keep in mind that each order fulfillment method has pros and cons.
Amazon FBA is prime eligible, whereas FBM isn't. If you go for Amazon FBA, Amazon will deal with customer services and take care of storage and fulfillment, so as a seller, you can pay FBA fees and track your inventory in one place. However, if you opt for Fulfilled by Merchant, you will handle customer services and have to set up your warehouse or work with a 3PL.
Step 3: Add your used products to your selling account
Amazon doesn't allow numerous product pages for the same product. However, the good thing with selling used items on this online retail platform is that there is the possibility of a similar listing for that item. So, you can go ahead and piggyback on those listings.
You will need to create your listings on the Amazon seller central account. After logging in, select inventory, then add a product.
You will be redirected to this page:
You can enter UPC for the product or enter the EAN, ASIN, and ISBN (for books). If you don't know the ASIN of the product, log in to Amazon.com and search for the listing.
Copy the ASIN code, go back to sellercentral.amazon.com and paste the code on "Find your products in Amazon's Catalog." After finding the right listing, select "Used," click "Apply to Sell," and fill out the required details.
Step 4: Generate a shipping plan
If you are using Fulfillment by Amazon, you must create a shipping plan to be able to send your inventory to Amazon.
What Are the Tips for Listing Used Items on Amazon?
1. Always follow Amazon's rules.
Like other online retail platforms, it wouldn't end well with Amazon if you break their rules. They can suspend your Amazon seller account, which will be a great hit to your business, so follow their well-stated rules.
2. Keep it simple
One of the best market strategies that have been there for many years is where most prices end at .99. Most people usually assume that $65.99 is less expensive than $66. Conversely, you can try other pricing strategies such as $65.75 or even $65.50 since no regulation requires you to keep the pricing plan at $.99. After finding the pricing strategy that results in most sales, apply it to your listings.
3. Be flexible
The good thing with Amazon's guidelines is that they're not fixed. However, there are instances when they modify the guidelines. So, you must be alert and prepared to go with the changes if you want to keep selling and earning money on the platform.
4. Be keen on condition grading.
As mentioned earlier, considering condition grading is crucial for your business. Ensure you list an item lower than what you believe it should be. Though you might be tempted to rate your items higher, it's better to have customers with exceeding expectations than those who are dissatisfied.
5. Be quick to respond to customers' queries.
One of the keys to business success is great customer service. Customers like where they have someone available to answer their questions. With that said, Amazon is no exception. Customers may have queries about the working condition of the products you sell. So, your quick response might be the difference between making or losing the deal.
6. Aim for Buy Box
Buy Box is a highly sought-after position for sellers since it usually boosts the chances of a product making sales. So, your used products can win a spot, especially if there are no recent offers. In addition, if your used item has positive reviews and the selling price is reasonable, your chances of the item appearing in the Buy Box are high.
7. Keep in mind that your reviews as a seller help.
As a seller, it's important to note that most customers rely on reviews to make purchase decisions. Therefore, ensure the review you are getting for your used items is good. Customers will read your reviews and analyze the item's number of reviews.
8. Sell niche and hard-to-find items since they do well.
Before you start selling used items on Amazon, we recommend researching items that are hard to find. These are the categories that do better than others. In addition, to our research, hobby items, niche products and refurbished products usually do better in the used market.
9. Use high-quality images
When creating a listing for a product that isn't currently in Amazon's catalog, ensure you use well-lit high-quality images of the item that have a neutral background. Your customer will want to see the entire item. So, when taking the photos, ensure the item is against a white background.
10. Use the existing product detail pages.
As mentioned earlier, Amazon doesn't allow the creation of a new page, especially for an already listed product. So, any additional listing you create, Amazon will remove it immediately since each product is only allowed to be listed once in the Amazon catalog.
11. Increase traffic to your listings
Nowadays, people are using social media to market their products, and it's quite effective. So, to promote your Amazon listings, we recommend sharing them on your social media platforms; WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook marketplace and others. Besides, you can promote your listings on Pinterest.
12. Keep track of your inventory.
Keep in mind that you need to pay storage fees for your products if you use FBA as your order fulfillment method. So, if you have multiple boxes of used items in the Amazon warehouse, it will cost you more money in the long term.
Therefore, we recommend sending inventory that has a high potential of selling in a short period. For instance, if you have 10 boxes of cell phones, instead of sending all of them as inventory, you can send in bits at a time. This way, you have the option to renew your stock. Besides, it's more cost-effective in the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions on Selling Used Items on Amazon
1. Amazon Used vs. Amazon Renewed; What is the difference?
You can use the word renewed to describe a used item and vice versa. However, the main aspect that might differentiate these products is that they're usually extensively tested and inspected by Amazon-certified sellers and suppliers to ensure they're in good working condition and good as new.
2. How do you add a description when selling a used item on Amazon?
Go to inventory on the left, then click "Edit," and scroll and select Manage Inventory/Description. If you're selling used Video games, provide any remarks about the item's condition in the "condition note" box beneath the "Offer" option.
3. Is selling on Amazon really profitable?
Yes, you can earn a living through selling on Amazon. According to research by JungleScout, 45 percent of Amazon sellers observed an increase in their profits from 2020 to 2021.
4. What do you require to start selling on Amazon?
When registering as a seller on Amazon, you must provide a valid address, bank account and identity, which must be verified first. Besides, if you want to open an Amazon professional account, you must provide company details.
