The numbers of reselling
“I bought it for 100 and sold it for 150, I made 50.” It’s almost never true. You have to take everything else off.
What it really costs
- Fees: on Wallapop and Vinted, on a normal shipment, the buyer pays the protection fee and shipping and you pay no fee. On eBay and other platforms the seller does pay.
- Shipping: if you offer free shipping, you pay it. On Wallapop a small parcel costs about €2.40–3.50.
- Repairs and cleaning: a case, a part, cleaning products.
- Travel: fuel or transport to collect it.
- Your time: searching, negotiating, going, photos, replying, shipping.
Example: second-hand console
Purchase: €120 · New controllers and cleaning: €15 · Fuel: €5
Sale: €190 (the buyer pays shipping and protection)
Profit: 190 − 120 − 15 − 5 = €50
Total time: 4 hours → €12.50 per hour
Purchase: €120 · New controllers and cleaning: €15 · Fuel: €5
Sale: €190 (the buyer pays shipping and protection)
Profit: 190 − 120 − 15 − 5 = €50
Total time: 4 hours → €12.50 per hour
What matters: the money turns over
With €120 you can do this deal several times a month. If every week you buy and sell one console, that’s about €200 a month with the same money. Money standing still (things that don’t sell) is the enemy.
Do your numbers in the resale calculator before buying.