How to find good job lots on eBay
Published
Job lots are one of the cheapest ways to source stock, but the good ones go quickly and sellers describe them in many different ways. These tips help you find them and judge them.
Search the terms sellers actually use
The same thing can be listed as a job lot, joblot, bundle, bulk, wholesale or simply x10. FlipaMarket's bulk mode searches all of these at once, alongside your product words.
Work out the price per item
Divide the lot price, plus postage, by the number of usable items. Compare that with what single items sell for, after the fees you pay when selling. If the margin is thin, it is not a deal.
Read the description and photos closely
- Is the quantity exact, or "approximately"?
- Are the items tested, untested or sold as faulty?
- Do the photos show the actual lot or a stock image?
- Are there mixed models or sizes that are harder to sell?
Check the seller
Look at feedback, how long they have been selling and whether they have sold similar lots before. A new account selling large lots well below value is a warning sign.
Think about postage and storage
Large lots can be expensive to post. Collection-only listings near you are often cheaper because fewer buyers can bid on them, so it is worth setting a UK location on your alert.
Act fast, but not blindly
Good lots sell within hours. Setting an alert means you see them early, which gives you time to check the details properly instead of rushing.