How to Price Items for Resale (Poshmark, eBay & Mercari)
Pricing is where reselling profits are won or lost. Price too high and it sits; too low and you work for pennies. Whether you flip on Poshmark, eBay, Mercari or Depop, here's a simple framework for pricing items to actually make money.
Start from your true cost
Your real cost isn't just what you paid for the item. Add up cost of goods + platform fees + shipping + supplies, then decide your profit on top of that. A $5 thrift find that sells for $25 might only net $10–$12 after a 20% fee and shipping — know that number before you list.
Research the going rate
- Check sold listings (not just active ones) for the same item — that's the real market price.
- Price a little above your target to leave room for offers and coupons.
- Bundle slow movers to lift your average order value.
Track every sale
You can't improve margins you don't measure. Logging cost, fees, shipping and sale price per item shows you which categories and platforms actually make you money — and which to stop sourcing.
Want it done for you? The Reseller Profit Tracker at Planful Nest auto-calculates everything — type in the white cells and the colored cells do the math. Prefer to start free? Grab the free printable budget planner first.
Related reading: Reseller Tax Deductions and How to Track Your Net Worth.
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