PRE-BUY CHECK
Buying for resale: what to check before you buy
A margin only exists if the item is what you think it is, can be sold honestly and reaches the next buyer safely.
Confirm the exact item
- Match the model number, generation, capacity, colour or material and regional variant.
- List every accessory required for normal use and confirm what is included.
- Check that the photographs show the item offered, including labels, ports and damage.
- Ask whether serial numbers or identifying marks are intact where relevant.
Turn “used” into observable condition
Ask specific questions: Does it power on? Which functions have been tested? Are there cracks, repairs, warning lights, odours, stains or missing pieces? For battery products, ask for useful evidence of battery condition. Keep the seller’s answers in the marketplace message system when possible.
Check ownership and restrictions
Avoid items where the seller cannot reasonably explain ownership or where device locks, finance, account activation or reported-loss status could prevent legitimate use. For branded or collectible goods, examine provenance and authenticity evidence. If you cannot resolve a material doubt, walk away.
Review the transaction
Check seller history in context, accepted payment method, returns position, collection arrangements and marketplace buyer protections. Do not move payment outside the marketplace merely to preserve an apparent bargain. For collection, choose a safe place, inspect before completing where the platform process permits, and keep a record of the transaction.
Plan the onward sale before buying
Decide the honest condition grade, required testing, repair or cleaning, likely selling venue, packed dimensions and shipping service. Check restricted or prohibited-item rules on the marketplace and carrier. Read eBay vs Etsy for Resellers if venue fit is uncertain.
Calculate the walk-away number
Use conservative completed-sale evidence and subtract every cost plus your required profit. Include travel, parts, packaging, selling charges, outbound delivery and a contingency. The resulting maximum is a ceiling, not a negotiation target. See the full resale profit calculation.