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Retail Arbitrage Guide

Buy clearance at stores, sell online for profit. Simple concept, but execution matters. Here's how to do it right.

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)