Introduction

I still remember the first item I ever resold online—a pair of Aldo chelsea boots I bought for $18 at a local outlet. I listed them on Poshmark in 2018 and they sold for $49 within 48 hours. That one flip wasn’t life-changing, but it opened the door to something that genuinely surprised me: every resale platform behaves differently. Some reward speed. Some reward margin. Some reward volume. And some reward photography and keywords more than anything else.

By the time I hit my first 500 sales, I was listing the same product across five platforms just to see which one would perform best. Later, during the 2020 lockdown, I started a spreadsheet to track average selling times, fees, and profit margins. I ended up learning the hard way that “best” is never universal—you match marketplace to product type, not the other way around.

This guide is everything I’ve learned about the best online resale sites and how to build a sustainable arbitrage strategy around them.

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What Are the Best Online Resale Sites in 2025? 

The best resale sites vary depending on:

• category

• condition

• brand

• shipping cost

• buyer behavior

• fee structure

• sell-through speed

But based on my data, these are the top performers:

1. eBay

Best for: electronics, collectibles, shoes, tools, vintage
Pros: auctions, huge buyer base, global shipping
Cons: returns, scams, negotiations

2. Poshmark

Best for: clothing, accessories, mid-tier apparel
Pros: simple shipping, strong discovery
Cons: high fees

3. Mercari

Best for: toys, mid-range electronics, casual apparel
Pros: fast sell-through, buyer offers
Cons: inconsistent visibility

4. Facebook Marketplace

Best for: furniture, appliances, bulky goods
Pros: no fees (local)
Cons: no-shows

5. Depop

Best for: streetwear, Y2K, curated clothing
Pros: strong aesthetic
Cons: slow for non-curated items

6. Etsy (for vintage)

Best for: handmade, vintage clothing, custom goods
Pros: premium prices
Cons: high fees

Anecdote #1 (September 2021)

I listed the same pair of Nike Air Max on four platforms: eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop. They sold on Mercari first—for $78—because Mercari buyers tend to be impulsive.

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Best Reselling Sites by Category 

Here’s where it gets interesting: each niche behaves differently.

Clothing & Shoes

• Poshmark (best margins)

• Mercari (fastest sell-through)

• Depop (best for curated style)

• eBay (best for sneakers and workwear)

Electronics

• eBay (auctions + global demand)

• Facebook Marketplace (local pickup)

• Swappa (phones + tablets)

Anecdote #2 (June 2022)

I resold 27 used iPhones that year. eBay consistently paid 15–22% higher than local buyers.

Vintage

• Etsy

• Depop

• eBay

• Whatnot (live selling)

Home Goods

• Facebook Marketplace (large items)

• Mercari (small decor)

• eBay (vintage + collectibles)

Collectibles

• eBay

• Whatnot

• Goldin Auctions

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Best Resell Websites for Arbitrage

Arbitrage means buying something on one platform, then reselling it on another where demand is higher.

My most consistent arbitrage paths:

1. Facebook → eBay (tools, electronics)

2. Thrift stores → Poshmark (apparel)

3. eBay Auctions → Mercari Buy-It-Now (toys, mid-tier electronics)

4. Poshmark → Depop (streetwear + vintage)

5. Estate sales → Etsy (older home goods + vintage décor)

Anecdote #3 (March 2023)

I bought a pair of Red Wing boots for $30 on Facebook Marketplace. Sold them on eBay for $119.99 in four days.

Opinion

Arbitrage isn’t luck; it’s matching the right product to the right audience.

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Best Sites to Resell Online

If you want pure speed:

• Mercari

• Facebook Marketplace

• eBay auctions

If you want maximum profit:

• Etsy (vintage)

• Poshmark

• eBay (Buy It Now)

If you want the easiest workflow:

• Facebook Marketplace

• Poshmark

Honest failure #1

In 2020, I tried selling bulky office chairs through eBay. Shipping costs destroyed my margins. Facebook Marketplace was the correct choice—but I learned that after losing $90 on freight.

Honest failure #2

I overestimated Depop in 2022 by listing boring mall brands. Zero traction. Depop requires styling and curation; the wrong inventory won’t move.

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Comparison Table – Best Resale Sites Breakdown 

Opinion

There’s no “best platform,” only the best fit.

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The Arbitrage Strategy Behind Choosing the Best Resale Platform 

So, how do you pick the right place to list?
You reverse-engineer demand.

Step 1: Understand Buyer Intent

• eBay buyers search by model number

• Posh buyers search by brand

• Depop buyers search by aesthetic

• Facebook buyers search by utility

• Etsy buyers search by age or material

Step 2: Understand Fee Structures

Fees can shift which platform delivers higher real profit.

Step 3: Understand Sell-Through Speed

Speed matters. Cashflow matters more.

Anecdote #4 (January 2024)

I listed a Pokémon card lot on eBay and Mercari. eBay watchers grew slowly, but Mercari offers came in within 30 minutes. Speed won.

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People Always Ask Me… “Where should beginners start reselling?” 

I always answer with the same three:

1. Facebook Marketplace (zero fees)

2. Mercari (fast learning curve)

3. Poshmark (easy shipping workflow)

Facebook teaches pricing.
Mercari teaches negotiation.
Poshmark teaches photography.

Bridging

But if you want to scale beyond hobby selling, you eventually need to list everywhere.

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Common Question I See… “What’s the best platform for flipping thrift finds?”

It depends on what you’re flipping.

Best by category:

• Jackets: Poshmark

• Denim: eBay

• Streetwear: Depop

• Decor: Mercari

• Hard goods: eBay/Facebook

Anecdote #5 ( October 2023 )

I bought four Patagonia fleeces at a thrift store for $12 each. Sold two on Poshmark ($69 each), one on eBay ($74), one on Mercari ($65).

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The Tools That Make Multi-Platform Reselling Easier

At scale, you can’t list manually everywhere. You need tools—especially if you’re doing arbitrage.

My core stack:

1. Closo – crossmarket demand signals + resale automation

2. Vendoo – crosslisting and delisting

3. List Perfectly – bulk listing

4. PhotoRoom – background removal

5. Canva – photo templates

6. Evernote – sourcing notes

7. Google Sheets – profit tracking

Anecdote #6 (May 2024)

Once I automated delist–relist cycles with Closo, my stale inventory sell-through increased by 18%.

CTA (integrated naturally)

I use Closo to automate crosslisting and pricing decisions—it saves me about 3 hours weekly and keeps stale inventory moving.

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Advanced Arbitrage Framework 

Here’s the model I use when deciding where to list:

1. Demand Score

Where do buyers actively search for this item?

2. Margin Spread

Where do comps show the highest selling price?

3. Shipping Fit

Heavy → Facebook
Fragile → eBay
Apparel → Poshmark

4. Time-to-Sell

If I want speed, I choose Mercari.
If I want max margin, Etsy or eBay.

5. Platform Behavior

Each algorithm rewards different actions.

Anecdote #7 (August 2022)

I flipped a $30 KitchenAid attachment for $99 on eBay simply because eBay had consistent comps at that price while Mercari hovered around $75.

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Cross-Links (Natural + Authentic)

The core Closo Seller Hub explains the demand-based logic behind multi-market reselling, which pairs perfectly with this arbitrage breakdown. It also connects naturally to my guides on Mercari bidding alternatives and Facebook Marketplace boosting, both useful for understanding cross-platform buyer behavior.

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Conclusion

Finding the best resale sites isn’t about chasing viral advice—it’s about matching product type to platform behavior. After six years of testing, the truth is simple: the best resale site is the one where your item sells the fastest at the best margin with the least friction. My advice is to think in terms of arbitrage, not loyalty. Use tools that show demand across platforms, track your numbers, and choose marketplaces intentionally. Just remember—every platform works, but none work for everything.