Walk into any reselling community—whether it's a Facebook group, Reddit thread, or YouTube comment section—and you'll immediately encounter a wall of jargon. BOLO, NWT, ROI, comps, the bins, death pile, flipping... it can feel like everyone's speaking a different language.
They are, kind of. Like any niche, reselling has developed its own vocabulary. Knowing these terms isn't just about fitting in—it's about understanding the concepts that make the difference between profitable flipping and wasted effort. If you're new to all this, start with our complete beginner's guide first, then come back here as a reference.
This glossary covers every term you'll encounter, organized by category. Bookmark it. You'll be back.
Sourcing Terms
BOLO (Be On the Look Out)
Brands or items known to sell well and worth grabbing when found. A "BOLO list" is a reseller's mental or written catalog of what to hunt for. See our 2025 BOLO Brands guide.
The Bins
Goodwill Outlet stores where unsold items are sold by the pound in large bins. Chaotic, competitive, but potentially very profitable. Also called "the outlets."
Sourcing
The act of finding and acquiring inventory to resell. Can happen at thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, online, or anywhere items are undervalued.
Sourcing Run
A planned trip to find inventory, often hitting multiple stores in one outing.
Honey Hole
A consistently productive sourcing location. Usually kept secret to avoid competition.
Cherry Picking
Selectively buying only the best, most profitable items while leaving lower-margin inventory behind.
Haul
The total items acquired in a sourcing session. "Haul videos" show what a reseller found and what they expect to sell it for.
Sleeper
An item that looks ordinary but is actually valuable. Often overlooked by casual thrifters and inexperienced resellers.
Condition Terms
NWT (New With Tags)
Item is brand new with original tags still attached. Commands highest prices.
NWOT (New Without Tags)
Item appears unworn/unused but original tags are missing. Still valuable, slightly less than NWT.
EUC (Excellent Used Condition)
Lightly used with minimal signs of wear. No significant flaws.
GUC (Good Used Condition)
Shows normal wear but is still fully functional and presentable.
VTG / Vintage
Generally refers to items 20+ years old. Not automatically valuable—age alone doesn't equal demand.
Deadstock
Old inventory that was never sold or worn. True deadstock is unused, often still in original packaging.
Platform & Selling Terms
Cross-Listing
Listing the same item on multiple platforms simultaneously to increase exposure. Usually done with software tools.
Comps (Comparables)
Similar sold listings used to determine pricing. "Check comps" means research what identical or similar items actually sold for.
Sold Listings
On eBay, completed auctions/sales that show actual prices paid—not asking prices. The most reliable pricing data.
FVF (Final Value Fee)
eBay's percentage-based commission on completed sales. Currently around 13.25% for most categories.
Share / Self-Share
On Poshmark, sharing your own listings to boost visibility. Was once essential; now less impactful due to algorithm changes.
OTL (Offer to Likers)
Poshmark feature that sends discounted offers to everyone who has "liked" an item.
Lowball
An offer significantly below asking price. What counts as a lowball varies, but generally 50%+ off is considered aggressive.
Bundle
Multiple items sold together to one buyer, often at a discount. Saves on shipping and moves more inventory.
Business & Financial Terms
COG / COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)
What you paid for the item. Essential for calculating true profit.
ROI (Return on Investment)
Profit as a percentage of what you spent. A $10 item sold for $50 with $10 in fees = $30 profit = 300% ROI.
Sell-Through Rate (STR)
Percentage of listed inventory that sells within a given period. Higher is better—indicates pricing and selection are right.
ASP (Average Selling Price)
The mean price of your sales over time. Helps identify whether you're moving higher or lower-value inventory.
Death Pile
Unlisted inventory sitting in bags or bins. Every item in the death pile is money you can't spend. The #1 profit killer.
Stale Inventory
Listings that have been active for a long time without selling. Often needs repricing, better photos, or relisting.
1099-K
IRS tax form issued by platforms when you exceed certain sales thresholds. As of 2025, thresholds are changing—stay informed.
Shipping Terms
Poly Mailer
Plastic shipping envelope. Lightweight, cheap, works for most soft goods (clothing, accessories).
Calculated Shipping
Shipping cost based on buyer's location and package weight/dimensions. Common on eBay.
Free Shipping
Seller absorbs shipping cost (builds it into item price). Increases conversions but reduces margins.
Pirate Ship
Third-party shipping software offering discounted USPS/UPS rates. Popular with eBay sellers.
Ground Advantage
USPS service that replaced First Class Package and Retail Ground. Cheaper but slower than Priority Mail.
Dimensional Weight (DIM)
Shipping cost calculated by package size rather than actual weight. Large, light items cost more than you'd expect.
Clothing-Specific Terms
Pit-to-Pit
Measurement across the chest from armpit seam to armpit seam. Standard way to indicate fit.
Selvedge / Selvage
Self-finished edge of denim fabric. Indicates higher-quality construction. Look for the colored thread on the inside seam.
Gorpcore
Fashion trend featuring technical outdoor/hiking wear as everyday clothing. Brands like Arc'teryx, Salomon, and Patagonia.
Pilling
Small fiber balls that form on fabric from wear. Can often be removed with a fabric shaver.
Made in USA
For many brands (Carhartt, Levi's, Filson), domestic production indicates older, higher-quality construction and commands premiums.
Keep Learning
This glossary covers the essentials, but the reselling world evolves. New slang emerges, platforms change features, and trends shift what's valuable. The best way to stay current is to stay active—keep sourcing, keep selling, keep learning.
When you encounter a term you don't know, look it up. When someone uses jargon that confuses you, ask. The reselling community is generally helpful to newcomers who show genuine interest in learning.