7 Reselling Mistakes Holding You Back from Making Sales and How to Fix Them
Are you frustrated because your reselling side hustle isn’t bringing in the sales or money you expected? Whether you're flipping items on Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, or another platform, the truth is, most resellers hit roadblocks that are totally fixable. If you've ever Googled "why am I not making sales on Poshmark" or "how to make money reselling," this guide is for you.
Let’s dive into the 7 most common mistakes resellers make and how to avoid them to turn your hustle into a thriving business.
1. You’re Not Crosslisting Your Items
Every platform has its own audience. For example, Depop shoppers are not the same as eBay buyers. By only listing on one site, you’re missing out on potential sales. More marketplaces = more exposure = more sales.
Fix It: Use tools like Vendoo or List Perfectly to easily crosslist your inventory. This way, you can tap into each platform’s unique customer base and maximize your exposure.
(Try Vendoo today and list all of your items to 11 marketplaces with a few clicks! Click here!
2. You’re Selling Items Too Cheap
If you’re selling items for $10, you’re paying yourself less than minimum wage when you consider sourcing, cleaning, photographing, listing, and shipping. Your time is valuable, and you’re worth more.
Fix It: Focus on sourcing high-value items or bundles, and use profit calculators to price your items strategically. Look for brands and categories that consistently sell for $30+ to make your time worthwhile.
3. You’re Not Investing in Your Business
You can’t expect to grow without putting resources into your reselling business. Many resellers hesitate to spend $100 to flip items worth $400 but will waste time on smaller flips.
Fix It: Invest in tools, training, or inventory that will elevate your business. Tools like bookkeeping software or a professional camera can save time and improve your efficiency.
4. You’re Not Valuing Your Time
Time is money. Many resellers don’t track how long they’re spending on sourcing, listing, and shipping—and it’s costing them.
Fix It: Start tracking your time per task. Apps like Toggl can help. If an item takes too much effort to sell or has been sitting for months, it’s time to re-evaluate its value.
5. You Won’t Let Go of Dead Inventory
Holding onto items that won’t sell is tying up your money and energy. Instead of rephotographing and relisting a million times, know when to move on.
Fix It: Donate or re-bundle slow-moving inventory. Use those insights to refine your sourcing strategy so you don’t make the same mistake again.
6. You Think Returns Are the Enemy
Returns are just part of doing business. Instead of fearing them, have processes in place to handle them smoothly.
Fix It: Accept that returns will happen, but know that most items can be resold. Protect yourself by accurately describing your items and documenting their condition with photos.
7. You’re Taking Low Offers Personally
Low offers aren’t personal—they’re just business. Getting upset about them is a waste of energy.
Fix It: See offers as opportunities. Counter-offer with a price that works for you, and keep your emotions out of it. Remember, it’s all part of the negotiation game.
Bonus Tip: Focus on What Works
Analyze your sales data. Which categories, brands, and platforms bring in the most profit? Double down on those and phase out what’s not working. The key to success is working smarter, not harder.
What You’ll Achieve
By avoiding these 7 mistakes, you’ll:
- Attract more buyers by diversifying your platforms.
- Free up time and energy to focus on high-profit items.
- Build a reselling business that’s streamlined and scalable.
Final Thoughts
Reselling can be incredibly rewarding, but success doesn’t happen by chance. By addressing these common mistakes, you’ll take control of your business, grow your profits, and turn your side hustle into a real money-making venture.
If you’ve found this helpful, share it with your reseller besties—they deserve to succeed too!
Ready to take your reselling business to the next level?
The GCC Business Dashboard PRO is the ultimate tool to help you scale smarter, not harder. Say goodbye to messy spreadsheets and guesswork—this dashboard is built for resellers like you on platforms like Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, and Depop.
With features like a Profit & Loss Calculator, Expense Tracker, and Inventory Insights, you'll have all the data you need to make smarter sourcing decisions, maximize profits, and streamline your workflow.
Start 2025 with clarity, strategy, and confidence—get the GCC Dashboard now and turn your reselling goals into reality!