How to decide what to pay for a thrift store find

Start from sold prices, not asking prices

Search for the exact item and look at what has actually sold recently, not what sellers are asking. Asking prices include items that never sell. Use a realistic middle value, not the single best sale you can find.

Count how many sold compared to how many are listed. Lots of sales and few listings means it moves. Few sales and many listings means it may sit.

Subtract the costs that come out of the sale

Take the expected sale price and subtract eBay's fees, your postage, packing supplies, and any ad fee you expect to pay. What is left is the most you could spend and break even.

Then subtract the profit you want

Decide your minimum profit per item, in dollars, as a percentage, or both. Subtract it. The result is your maximum purchase price.

A worked example

A jacket usually sells for about $40 with free shipping. eBay's fee is 13.6% of $40, which is $5.44, plus $0.40, so $5.84. Postage is $6.00. After fees and shipping you would have $28.16.

If you want at least $10 profit, the most you should pay is $18.16. If it is priced at $22, pass, or treat it as a gamble and accept lower profit on purpose.

Be conservative where you are unsure

Round shipping up, assume the price is the middle of the sold range, and leave room for a return or a slow sale. Being wrong in the cautious direction costs you a missed find. Being wrong the other way costs you money.

Do the math in seconds

FlipHall's max bid calculator does this calculation from a sale price, fees, and shipping, and its list price calculator works backwards from your target profit. Use them on your phone while you are in the store.