When to Repair vs. Sell As-Is

Not every damaged item deserves repair. Sometimes selling as-is with honest disclosure makes more business sense than investing time and materials. The question is: which items are worth fixing?

This framework helps you decide quickly, based on the same ROI thinking you apply to sourcing decisions.

The Repair ROI Formula

Before repairing anything, calculate:

Value if repaired - Value as-is - Repair cost (time + materials) = Repair ROI

If that number is positive and significant relative to the item's value, repair. If it's marginal or negative, sell as-is or skip the item entirely.

Example: Missing Button on Blazer

Value if complete: $65. Value with missing button: $40. Repair time: 10 minutes. Materials: $0 (spare button from collection).

ROI: $25 value increase for 10 minutes work = $150/hour effective rate. Definitely repair.

Example: Broken Zipper on Jacket

Value if working: $80. Value as-is: $25. Professional repair cost: $25. DIY time: 1 hour (if skilled).

Professional repair ROI: $80 - $25 - $25 = $30 gain. DIY ROI: $55 gain but 1 hour time.

Decision: If you can do the repair yourself, worth it. If professional repair is needed, marginal—depends on how fast the item would sell either way.

Quick Decision Rules

Factors That Shift the Decision

Brand Value

A stain on a Gap t-shirt? Probably not worth treating. The same stain on a BOLO brand vintage piece? Worth multiple treatment attempts because the repaired value is significantly higher.

Your Skill Level

If you can sew, many repairs become worthwhile. If you can't, factor in tailor costs. Some repairs only make sense as DIY.

Time Availability

During slow periods, repairs make more sense—you're using time that wouldn't generate income otherwise. During busy seasons, your time is better spent sourcing and listing new inventory.

Storage Costs

An item waiting for repair takes up space. If your death pile is overwhelming, sometimes selling as-is quickly beats waiting for repair time.

The "As-Is" Selling Strategy

Selling damaged items as-is isn't failure—it's strategic when done correctly:

Price appropriately: Research what similar items with the same flaw sell for. Damaged items have a market, just at lower prices.

Disclose clearly: Photograph the flaw. Describe it accurately. "Small stain on front—see photo 3" protects you from returns.

Target DIY buyers: Some buyers specifically search for damaged items they can repair themselves. Crafters, upcyclers, and skilled sewers are your customers.

Consider lots: Bundle multiple damaged items as a "repair lot" for crafters. Sometimes the bundle sells better than individual pieces.

When to Walk Away Entirely

Some items aren't worth selling even as-is:

If the as-is value minus fees and shipping is close to zero, don't waste time listing. Your time has value. Donate, recycle, or trash items that won't generate meaningful profit.

This is the hardest lesson in reselling: knowing when to cut losses. Holding damaged inventory hoping to repair it "someday" leads to overwhelming death piles and mental drag.

The 2-Week Rule

If you've had a damaged item for 2 weeks without repairing it, make a decision: repair it now, sell as-is today, or donate. The "I'll get to it eventually" pile grows faster than you think.