Sourcing workflow
Work through the sourcing analysis
- 01
Record the listing price
Use the current product detail page as a snapshot, and account for the possibility that price or offer conditions may change.
- 02
Enter the source price
Use your actual per-unit purchase cost and include inbound shipping, prep, or other costs needed to get the unit ready to sell.
- 03
Choose the right marketplace and fulfillment
Review Amazon FBA or FBM and Walmart WFS or seller-fulfilled economics separately.
- 04
Screen the buy
Check estimated profit, margin, ROI, break-even, and maximum buy price. A Review or Avoid result can help identify assumptions that need attention.
- 05
Check pack and price risk
Confirm that the source pack matches the marketplace listing and test whether a lower selling price changes the decision.
Fast screening is not demand validation
Positive estimated unit economics do not establish sales velocity, listing eligibility, offer stability, authenticity, or supplier reliability. Validate those separately before committing cash.
Margin Seller reads supported data visible in the active browser tab and keeps research browser-local unless you explicitly export or share it.
Online arbitrage risk checks
Verify the exact product, pack size, and variation. Check for restrictions and whether competing offers are pushing the price down.
Buy a small quantity first, and record real results to refine your assumptions.
Capture the real cost and identity of an arbitrage buy
Use the price you can actually pay after only the discounts or coupons you qualify for. Add applicable tax, shipping, preparation, and other per-unit costs to the source cost, then verify the product’s exact variation, condition, and marketplace listing match.
Keep source evidence with your research, such as the receipt and the product identifiers shown by the retailer. A favorable unit estimate does not establish authenticity, listing eligibility, or that a promotion will still apply when you purchase.
- Confirm the source item matches the listing model, pack quantity, and condition.
- Count tax, shipping, and prep in the cost basis when they apply.
- Check eligibility and test a lower resale price before committing multiple units.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What should online arbitrage sellers include in source cost?
Include the purchase price plus per-unit shipping, tax where applicable, prep, and other costs required to get the unit ready for resale.
Can the buy signal make the decision for me?
It is a screening recommendation based on estimates and configured thresholds. Sellers should verify important assumptions and make the final sourcing decision.
How do I know if an arbitrage deal is profitable?
Confirm the listing match, run an audit with all fees and a conservative selling price, and check that profit and ROI exceed your thresholds.
Ready to check a listing?
Put the assumptions to work.
Bring the visible listing facts and your own costs into a product audit before you commit to inventory.