Arbitrage, in it’s simplest form, is to “Buy Low and (re)sell High".
One of the biggest hassles of selling on ebay is product sourcing. Finding a constant supply of profitable items to sell on ebay has to be one of the most talked about challenges most sellers have to deal with – ask any of them, or just read about anything that’s been written about selling on ebay. Being skilled and prolific at ebay Arbitrage alleviates this problem - Permanently. Not only does the ‘lack of supply’ problem disappear but substantial income can also be made this way. In addition, it’s a rather enjoyable endeavor!
Arbitrage aside, below is a brief review of some typical ways (and associated problems) of acquiring inventory while moving up the ebay volume ladder:
Items around the house – This is a great way to get started and learn about selling through ebay as one goes, but supply eventually runs dry.
Garage sales – Finding the right items that will sell for enough money is a skill in itself. It can be very time consuming, and not reliable for a steady flow of goods. Garage sales should not be ignored as a supplement though – great finds can sometimes be found nowhere else as easily.
Dropshipping – A great concept but certain hurdles include low profit margins, handling fees, supplier reliability, and heavy competition.
Liqiudation/Surplus – Some hefty profit potential exists here but so do some unwelcome obstacles such as logistics, storage, inventory control, shipping, manifests, disposal, repairs, etc.
A large number of ebay sellers swear by these methods and do very well, especially if they are in positions to easily take advantage of them. For the majority of others who are in a state of supply acquisition flux, Arbitrage is the solution.
A prolific arbitrageur can find auctions that have many characteristics which prevent them from being bid on by others. By purchasing these items and then re-selling them the proper way, there exists a significant difference between initial purchase price and the eventual resale price.
Many people have already tried ebay Arbitrage by guessing, misspellings, misplacements, or random, aimless searches but simply get lost in all the thousands of listings or just got too overwhelmed to know what to do next. A chronological step-by-step education from start to finish is what’s required to turn anyone familiar with the ebay basics into a knowledgeable and prolific arbitrageur, in a rather short period of time.
Arbitrage is best achieved though bid sniping and is the most recommended way to bid in order to guarantee a win. Among other reasons, sniping is bidding on an auction within the last few seconds of it’s close with the goal of beating other bidders to the punch before the auction closes. Many free and low cost 3 rd party services are available to automate sniping so additional auctions can be found and targeted without having to babysit existing ones.
Through knowledge and practice, instincts become sharper and more accurate, and better deals are spotted more often with higher profit potential. This comes without even having to be an expert in any particular item category .
What becomes an addicting and exciting treasure hunt eventually causes one to reluctantly force themselves away from ebay and the dread of missing out on more great finds! Inventory starts growing faster than it can be resold and shipped back out - dry spells are history. It’s easy to see that Arbitrage can soon become a full time occupation.
Most of the original work, like packing, is already done. In fact, there’s really no obligation to have to leave to go anywhere. Most shippers provide supplies and the means to produce and print labels. In addition, packages sold are picked up at the same time sniped arbitrages arrive.
Many established authors of ebay manuals, tutorials, and newsletters refer to Arbitrage in several forms within portions of their work. To date, a dedicated guide strictly focusing on ebay Arbitrage itself has been missing. As a result, the author of “eBay Arbitrage – The Complete Guide to Flipping" has taken experience and practice to put together as much material as possible - in one book – about ebay Arbitrage alone.
How else can one work at their own pace, answer to nobody, and have complete control over what’s going to be sold, how much it cost, and how much profit can be made?
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
