When to Pass on a "Good Deal"

That $5 Coach bag seems like easy money. The vintage lamp with the cracked shade is only $3. The box of electronics has "potential." These are the deals that fill death piles—inventory that sits, eats space, and never sells. One of the most important skills in reselling isn't finding deals; it's knowing when to walk away from them.

This article complements our items to never buy list by focusing on the decision-making framework rather than specific categories.

The Hidden Cost Calculation

Every item you buy incurs costs beyond the purchase price. Time to photograph, measure, write descriptions, and list. Storage space while it sits. Platform fees when it sells. Shipping supplies. Customer service if there's a problem. These costs are real even if you don't track them.

A $3 item that takes 30 minutes to list and ships for $6 needs to sell for at least $15 to make minimum wage on your time—and that's before platform fees. If your hourly target is higher, the math gets worse.

Time Sink Scenarios

Market Reality Checks

Slow Turn Categories

Some items sell eventually—but "eventually" might be 6-12 months. Niche books, specific sizes in clothing, regional collectibles. If your capital sits in slow-turning inventory, it's not available for faster-moving finds.

Know your tolerance. If you're building long-term inventory and have storage space, slow turn is fine. If you need consistent cash flow or limited space, prioritize items with proven 30-day sell-through rates.

Saturated Markets

Check eBay sold listings before buying anything you're uncertain about. Sometimes items that "should" be valuable are already heavily listed by other sellers. High supply drives prices down regardless of quality.

This is especially true for items that seem valuable due to nostalgia—people hoarded them, and now the market is flooded.

Your Time Value Framework

Different resellers have different constraints. Your decision framework should match your situation.

If time is your scarcest resource: Pass on anything requiring restoration, research, or complex listing. Focus on grab-and-go items with established markets. BOLO brands you recognize instantly.

If capital is your scarcest resource: Pass on expensive inventory that ties up cash. Focus on low-cost items with high percentage returns, even if absolute dollar profit is smaller. $3 to $25 beats $30 to $80 if you can turn it faster.

If storage is your scarcest resource: Pass on large items, slow-turners, and seasonal holds. Focus on small, high-value items that sell quickly. A $50 jacket taking up hanger space for 6 months costs more than you think.

The "Maybe Later" List

Not every pass is permanent. Some items aren't right for you today but might be tomorrow. Keep mental (or actual) notes of items you've passed on and why. If circumstances change—you gain a skill, enter a new category, or find a buyer for a specific type—you know where to look.

Building relationships with thrift staff can help here. They might hold items for you or let you know when certain categories come in, letting you be more selective in your passes.

The Freedom in Passing

Every item you don't buy is money and time preserved for something better. Experienced resellers pass on far more than they buy. They've learned that the best deal today might still not be worth their resources. Building this discipline—the ability to walk away from "good" deals—separates struggling resellers from profitable ones.