Buying hand tools on eBay to sell on Amazon

Why the model number is the match key

Good hand tool brands print a model number on the tool or the packaging, and many listings carry a UPC. The number, not the title, ties a listing to one specific Amazon item. Two tools with near-identical names can differ by one digit and sell at different prices.

Brands, model numbers and how sellers write them

Knipex. Numbers are often written in groups, such as 87 01 250. Sellers type the same number as 8701250 or with dashes. When you search, try each spelling so you do not miss a listing.

Klein Tools. Model numbers mix letters, digits and dashes, and a suffix can separate versions of one tool. Check the full number, not the first part.

Other brands. Channellock, Wera, Wiha and similar brands follow the same rule: the full model number is the match key, and the title is a hint. Our guide on how to read a model number was written for power tools, and the same habits apply here.

Single tools, kits and pack counts

This is where hand tool listings go wrong most often. The same tool can be sold alone, in a 2-piece or 3-piece set with other tools, or with a small extra such as jaw protectors or a level. Amazon lists each form as its own item with its own price.

• Single tool or set. A listing for one pair of cutters is not the listing for a 3-piece kit that includes them.
• Tool plus extras. A seller who adds accessories to a tool has made a different bundle from the one you sell.
• Pack counts. A pack of 2 or a lot of 4 is a different item from a single one. Words like "pair", "set of" and "lot of" change what you receive.

Bundles with added extras are the hardest case to catch from a title. Check the photos and the listing text before you buy.

Working out the math by hand

Before you buy, work the numbers for that one listing against your own Amazon price and your own profit line.

Amazon price for your product
- estimated Amazon fees
- eBay asking price
- eBay shipping to you
= estimated profit, before your own costs and taxes

Before you buy

Buying on eBay to sell on Amazon can add risk to your Amazon account. Items bought on eBay come with eBay order records, not retail invoices, and some sellers report that Amazon asked for invoices during an account review. We cannot promise how Amazon will treat your account. Keep every receipt, read Amazon's current rules for your category, and start small. This is not legal advice.

New to the method? The step-by-step sourcing guide walks through it. The category MarginPing supports is power tools, and the same habits apply there.

Questions