Are you looking for ways to make money online?
If you’ve looked at selling on Amazon but found the startup costs too high for now, you may be wondering, can you sell used items on Amazon?
The answer is yes, but under specific circumstances.
In this article, we’ll break down what those circumstances are, and give a step-by-step guide on how to sell used items on Amazon successfully.
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What categories of used products CAN you sell on Amazon?
In its Overview of Categories, Amazon defines exactly the categories in which you can sell used items.
They are:
- Amazon Device Accessories
- Amazon Kindle
- Books
- Camera & Photo
- Cell Phones & Accessories
- Consumer Electronics
- Home & Garden
- Industrial & Scientific
- Kindle Accessories and Amazon Fire TV Accessories
- Major Appliances
- Music
- Musical Instruments
- Office Products
- Outdoors
- Personal Computers
- Pet Supplies
- Software
- Sports
- Tools & Home Improvement
- Video, DVD & Blu-Ray
- Video Games
If the used product you want to sell is in one of these categories – you’re good to go!
What categories of used products CAN’T you sell on Amazon?
Just as there are a number of categories where you can sell used items on Amazon, there are a number in which you can’t.
They are:
- Automotive & Powersports
- Baby Products (excluding apparel)
- Beauty
- Clothing
- Collectible Coins
- Entertainment Collectibles
- Fine Art
- Grocery & Gourmet Food
- Health & Personal Care
- Independent Design
- Jewelry
- Shoes & Handbags
- Sports Collectibles
- Toys & Games
- Watches
What are Amazon’s Used Condition Guidelines?
Amazon gives in-depth information on its condition guidelines to help you accurately list items for sale on the platform.
When it comes to used products, there are four conditions to be aware of: Used – Like New, Used – Very Good, Used – Good, and Used – Acceptable.
Let’s take a look at each one, and the guidelines Amazon gives for them.
Used Like New or Open Box
Amazon state this is “an item in perfect working condition“.
Original protective wrapping may be missing, but the original packaging should be intact and in good condition, although minor damage is possible.
To be classed as used like new, instructions for the product should also be included (if applicable).
Used – Very Good
Amazon state this should be “a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use and remains in good working condition“.
The item can show limited signs of wear – e.g. small scratches or cosmetic blemishes.
The original packaging for the product may have damage or be repackaged and be missing accessories but any such missing parts should be clearly defined in the listing.
Used – Good
Amazon state “the item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and functions properly“.
Again, the product can arrive with damaged original packaging or be repackaged.
It’s also acceptable for it to be marked, have identifying markings on it, have minor cosmetic damage, and may be missing accessories.
Used – Acceptable
Amazon states a product listed with a Used – Acceptable condition “is fairly worn but continues to function properly“.
Like the other conditions, the Used – Acceptable condition allows for the product to be marked, have minor cosmetic damage, or be missing accessories.
How to sell used items on Amazon
So, you know the types of products you can sell and the condition they need to be in, now how do you actually sell used items on Amazon?
Step 1: Create a Seller Central account
The first step is of course to create an Amazon Seller Central account.
This is a simple process that involves filling in information about you and your business.
You don’t have to have a legal business entity like an LLC to sell on Amazon, you can start as a sole proprietor and incorporate a business if you choose to.
If you’re just selling a few items on Amazon as a bit of a hobby then you can choose an individual account.
However, if you’re starting to sell 40+ items per month, or you get the ‘sell on Amazon’ bug and what to have a go at building a private label brand then it’s worth upgrading to a professional plan.
You can always downgrade your Amazon Seller Central account later if need be.
Step 2: Search for products to sell
Once your account is set up, the next step is to find some used products to sell.
For some people, that may well just look like finding some products from around the home that you no longer use like old computers or cell phones.
However, if you want to scale the operation up you could try garage sales, thrift stores, or even Facebook Marketplace.
You’ll often find some great deals on Facebook Marketplace as people are looking to sell items quickly and don’t always know exactly how much they are worth.
To get an idea of how profitable a used item might be, check out the XRay Chrome Extension by Helium 10 which will give you a full breakdown on each product page.
Step 3: Add your product to a listing
Once you’ve located a product to sell, the next step is to get it live on Amazon.
Firstly you’ll need to either create a new listing or add your product to an existing listing.
To check what you’ll need to do, head to your Amazon seller account, then navigate to Catolog > Add product in the menu.
Enter the barcode number or product name into the search box and if an existing listing comes up, choose the ‘Used’ condition in the drop-down menu and click on the sell button.
Then add the specific information for the condition of your product.
If there isn’t already a listing for the product you can go ahead and create a new Amazon listing.
Step 4: Send your product to Amazon
You’ll need to decide whether you are going to ship the product to the customer yourself, or send products to Amazon’s FBA fulfillment centers.
If you’ll fulfill the orders yourself then you’re all set.
If you decide to utilize Amazon’s warehouses, create a shipping plan for the products you’re sending in, get the shipping label on the outer box, and send those money-makers on their way!
How to sell used items on Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed is a program that provides customers with the opportunity to purchase “like new” items.
These items are backed by a guarantee, ensuring quality and customer satisfaction for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.
To sell items in this category they must be tested and certified to work like new and be in perfect condition in their original packaging.
The Amazon Renewed program allows you to sell like-new products in categories such as:
- Phones
- Cameras
- Headphones
- Kitchen Appliances
- Power Tools
- Personal Computers
- Tablets
- Television
- Video Game Consoles
To start selling Amazon Renewed products, you’ll need to meet certain criteria. These include:
- Supply invoices showing a minimum a total value of $50,000 in qualifying refurbished purchases in the previous 90 days from the date of the application.
- If you are an existing seller on Amazon, it will require an ODR of 0.8% or less in the trailing 90 days.
- If you want permission to list factory refurbished items (with no manufacturer warranty) you need to submit a minimum of 8 images of a sample unit for product and packaging review.
- Your company backs all of your refurbished products with the Amazon Renewed Guarantee and is responsible for all claims under the guarantee.
- For approval to list the Apple brand in Consumer Electronics categories, Amazon require invoices dated from trailing 90 days that total $2.5 million in Apple refurbished products.
To explore this more, check out all the information available on the Amazon Renewed policy page.
Amazon vs eBay: Which is better for used items?
It’s worth considering how Amazon compares to eBay when it comes to selling used items.
The biggest difference between the two is that when you sell on Amazon it’s possible to get your products seen by far more people.
Amazon’s audience is almost three times that of eBay and gives you a lot more opportunities to sell used items.
The counter-argument could be that most people when looking for used items are inclined to start their search on eBay.
Most people shopping on Amazon are looking specifically for new items and this could hurt conversion rates when trying to sell used items on Amazon.
So, if you’re looking to get your used items in front of a bigger audience then Amazon might be the better option.
But, if you want to reach an audience more inclined to buy used items, eBay is probably the best bet.
Other options for selling used items include similar places you buy them – garage sales, thrift stores, and even Facebook Marketplace.
In his iconic’ Trash Talk’ series, Gary Vee famously showed how you can flip used items easily on these platforms for quick profit.
This of course just involves a bit of extra manual work. But if you’re looking to earn some extra cash on the side this could be another great option.
Whatever you decide, do your research and find out which platform is best for your business!
The Bottom Line: Is selling used items on Amazon worth it?
Selling used items on Amazon can be a great way to make some extra money, as long as you do your research and follow the steps outlined in this article.
With an audience three times larger than eBay’s user base, Amazon offers more opportunities for sellers of all kinds.
However, when it comes to selling used items specifically, many people may find that eBay is still their best bet due to its higher conversion rate with shoppers looking for second-hand goods.
Ultimately how much success you have will depend largely on how well you understand both platforms and how they work together – so take your time researching which platform works best for you before making any decisions!
Of course, if you’re looking to graduate your online selling ventures from hobby or side hustle status into something more meaningful, Amazon FBA is a great opportunity to launch and scale your own brand of products.
New sellers are entering the market all the time and making the most of the opportunity – so don’t wait, and get involved today!
