resell

Resell, also known as reselling, is the act of selling goods or services that the seller has already purchased. In reselling, ownership is transferred from the reseller to another buyer, often in a secondary market or as part of a business model that buys inventory to sell at a higher price. Resellers can operate as individuals on consumer platforms or as formal businesses with inventory, sourcing, and fulfillment processes.

Common resell activities occur in areas such as electronics, fashion and sneakers, books, collectibles, and event tickets. Online marketplaces and apps facilitate listing, pricing, payments, and shipping. Arbitrage is a typical strategy in reselling, involving buying items at one price or in one market and selling them at a higher price in another.

Resell practices vary from single-item flips to bulk resale and ongoing wholesale-to-retail operations. Authentication and item condition reporting are important for high-value goods. Returns, warranties, and customer support may differ from those provided by the original seller.

Legal and regulatory considerations include consumer protection laws, tax obligations, and restrictions on certain items (for example, event tickets, regulated pharmaceuticals, or counterfeit goods). Some jurisdictions impose scalping or resale-license requirements, while others regulate price gouging or unfair practices.

Economic effects of reselling include increased liquidity for assets and potential price signaling, but can also lead to price volatility, inflated costs for certain items, or the spread of counterfeit goods if oversight is weak.

Notable platforms for reselling include online marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, StockX, Grailed, Poshmark, Depop, and Mercari, as well as local resale shops and specialty outlets.