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I'm going to differ from others. Online arbitrage is still possible on Amazon and elsewhere, if the cost of inventory is low enough. I do 100% online arbitrage (no dropshipping of any kind). My sales are 55/25/15/5 FBA/Walmart/FBM/eBay. I mostly source from Amazon, sometimes Walmart or other retailers, and rarely from the manufacturer itself (but some of my best-selling products come from the manufacturer). I mostly sell my products at $50-200. My rule of thumb is to buy inventory for 50% or less of what I expect to sell it for, so that means paying 100. Obviously the lower the better. If I have confidence in selling an item for more than $200 I'll go above 50%. I did $300K (+25% yoy) in revenue in 2023, and ~$85K (+39% yoy) pretax profit. I prefer to focus on return on investment. That $85K came from $149K in inventory; that is, I spent $149K for the inventory that I sold in 2023, I got that $149K back, and earned $85K in addition, so a ROI of >55%. I agree with u/CoyotePuncher about this strategy not being viable for "upper level" annual sales (let's say seven figures). I'd love to prove him (and me) wrong, though! CC: u/catjuggler , u/mttl Answer from TMWNN on reddit.com
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AmzScout
amzscout.net › blog › how to start an online arbitrage
Amazon Online Arbitrage Business: A 5-Step Guide to Start in 2025
September 8, 2025 - When executed properly, online arbitrage is a great way to make money on Amazon. However, that doesn’t mean you can buy and resell any product and expect to be profitable. Success in arbitrage requires careful research, understanding of market ...
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Seller Assistant
sellerassistant.app › blog › is-online-arbitrage-dead-for-new-sellers
Is Online Arbitrage Dead for New Sellers in 2025? - Seller Assistant Blog
March 19, 2025 - The good news? Online arbitrage isn’t dead. But the landscape has changed. Rising competition and stricter Amazon policies make success harder to achieve. That said, with the right product sourcing software, new sellers can still carve out profitable deals.
People also ask

What is online arbitrage?
Online arbitrage is a business model where sellers buy products from one online retailer and sell them to another online retailer for a profit.
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sellerassistant.app
sellerassistant.app › blog › is-online-arbitrage-dead-for-new-sellers
Is Online Arbitrage Dead for New Sellers in 2025? - Seller Assistant ...
Is online arbitrage worth it?
Online arbitrage can be a profitable business model. Still, it is important to be aware of the challenges, such as competition, increasing number of restricted products and brands, and price changes. You can use Amazon seller tools like Seller Assistant App to find profitable products to sell.
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sellerassistant.app
sellerassistant.app › blog › is-online-arbitrage-dead-for-new-sellers
Is Online Arbitrage Dead for New Sellers in 2025? - Seller Assistant ...
How much can you make with online arbitrage?
The amount of money you can make with online arbitrage depends on a number of factors, including the products you choose, the margins you are able to achieve, and the amount of time and effort you put into your business. However, it is possible to make a significant income from online arbitrage, with some sellers reporting profits of over $10,000 per month.
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sellerassistant.app
sellerassistant.app › blog › is-online-arbitrage-dead-for-new-sellers
Is Online Arbitrage Dead for New Sellers in 2025? - Seller Assistant ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/fulfillmentbyamazon › is online arbitrage still viable on amazon given buy box removal for high pricing?
r/FulfillmentByAmazon on Reddit: Is Online Arbitrage Still Viable on Amazon Given Buy Box Removal for High Pricing?
January 3, 2024 -

As someone who’s been selling through online arbitrage on Amazon for about 2 years now, I’m facing a dilemma and would appreciate your insights. Lately, Amazon seems to be actively removing the buy box for sellers if the item’s price is significantly higher than on other websites. This strategy of Amazon complicates our ability to forecast profitability.

The main issue here is the lack of clarity from Amazon regarding the maximum price threshold before they decide to remove the buy box. This uncertainty makes each purchase a risk, potentially leading to razor-thin margins, breaking even, or even losses. I’ve purchased products before that seemed promising only to have Amazon remove the buy box until I brought it down to a price that led to a loss.

Given these circumstances, I’m questioning the feasibility of continuing with OA on Amazon. How are you all managing this situation? Do you still find OA on Amazon to be a viable strategy?

Eager to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Top answer
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I'm going to differ from others. Online arbitrage is still possible on Amazon and elsewhere, if the cost of inventory is low enough. I do 100% online arbitrage (no dropshipping of any kind). My sales are 55/25/15/5 FBA/Walmart/FBM/eBay. I mostly source from Amazon, sometimes Walmart or other retailers, and rarely from the manufacturer itself (but some of my best-selling products come from the manufacturer). I mostly sell my products at $50-200. My rule of thumb is to buy inventory for 50% or less of what I expect to sell it for, so that means paying $25-$100. Obviously the lower the better. If I have confidence in selling an item for more than $200 I'll go above 50%. I did $300K (+25% yoy) in revenue in 2023, and ~$85K (+39% yoy) pretax profit. I prefer to focus on return on investment. That $85K came from $149K in inventory; that is, I spent $149K for the inventory that I sold in 2023, I got that $149K back, and earned $85K in addition, so a ROI of >55%. I agree with u/CoyotePuncher about this strategy not being viable for "upper level" annual sales (let's say seven figures). I'd love to prove him (and me) wrong, though! CC: u/catjuggler , u/mttl
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A big part of OA is finding stuff that’s discontinued, rare, or hard to find. For example, a limited run flavor of Coke. In those cases, buy box isn’t necessary, people will buy it anyway. If you aren’t able to sell something unless you have buy box, it just wasn’t a good product with enough demand or constricted enough supply. Dropshippers are the biggest threat. They can instantly list on Amazon the entire catalog of Walmart.com at razor thin margins, leaving zero opportunity for regular old OA. Is OA viable? Only if you’re creative. Create multipacks and bundles, create your own Amazon listings, run ads, predict supply shortages and demand increases. Competitors and dropshippers aren’t doing any of that. They’re doing things in a “lazy” way and refusing to do anything outside the box.
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Arbitrage Hero
arbitragehero.com › home › is online arbitrage still worth it in 2025? a look at the pros and cons
Is Online Arbitrage Still Worth It in 2025? Pros & Cons
July 9, 2025 - Price wars can shrink your profit margins if you are not careful and strategic about your pricing. Although the market for online retail arbitrage has become more competitive, it is still a viable business model if you approach it strategically.
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OABeans
oabeans.com › home › is online arbitrage dead for new sellers in 2025?
Is Online Arbitrage Dead for New Sellers in 2025?
June 25, 2025 - With the increasing growth rate of digital markets and more and more people who can use the internet easier, many think that Online arbitrage is dead and online arbitrage profitability is not impressive anymore. Coronavirus lockdown drove many shoppers to avoid in-store shopping, and online shopping is receiving more attention these days.
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Jungle Scout
junglescout.com › resources › articles › online-arbitrage-guide
How to Make Money via Online Arbitrage in 2024 - Jungle Scout
November 6, 2024 - Whether you are a complete beginner or have been selling on Amazon for years, online arbitrage is a fantastic way to make some money online. Now, don’t just limit yourself to sourcing products online.
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Aura
goaura.com › blog › online-arbitrage-guide
Online Arbitrage: Getting Started for New Amazon Sellers (2025)
The profitability of online arbitrage relies on finding products being sold for less online and flipping them for a higher price. ... Retailers have different pricing strategies – Clearance cycles, promotional calendars, and inventory management ...
Find elsewhere
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OABeans
oabeans.com › home › is online arbitrage legal? [latest updates]
Is Online Arbitrage Legal? [Latest Updates] - OABeans
June 25, 2025 - Many people are making money through Online Arbitrage; for example, over 2 million third-party sellers worldwide are working on Amazon, and most plan to expand their business. So, this business is legit and well-known across the world.
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AmzScout
amzscout.net › blog › amazon arbitrage
Amazon Arbitrage: Is It Worth Starting in 2025?
September 8, 2025 - In 2025, approximately 25% of Amazon sellers engage in retail arbitrage.The average small- to medium-sized business (SMB) seller brings in about $11,600/month in sales (~$140,000/year) with an average profit margin of ~21%—that’s roughly ...
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Learnretailarbitrage
learnretailarbitrage.com › home › blog › online arbitrage › is online arbitrage still profitable? a comprehensive analysis for 2023
Is Online Arbitrage Still Profitable?
Services like Honey provide voucher codes to customers, creating purchasing incentives that reduce costs, leading to increased profit margins. Yes, online arbitrage can be profitable.
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SmartScout
smartscout.com › amazon-selling-guides › is-amazon-online-arbitrage-worth-it
Is Amazon Online Arbitrage Worth It?
You can analyze the number of sellers ... item and adjust your pricing and marketing strategies accordingly. Overall, Amazon Online Arbitrage can be a profitable venture if done correctly....
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Threecolts
threecolts.com › home › blog › getting started with online arbitrage in 2025: a complete beginner’s guide
Getting started with online arbitrage in 2025 - Threecolts Blog
August 25, 2025 - This habit not only helps with tax preparation but also gives you accurate profitability insights across different product categories. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or eventually replace your full-time job, online arbitrage provides a flexible business model with relatively low barriers to entry. The key is maintaining realistic expectations about the time commitment, learning curve, and initial results.
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Quora
quora.com › Is-online-arbitrage-on-Amazon-profitable
Is online arbitrage on Amazon profitable? - Quora
Answer: Yes, online arbitrage on Amazon can be profitable. This involves purchasing a product from an online retailer, supplier, or wholesaler to resell the product at a higher price for a profit on another online marketplace such as Amazon.
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StartupBros
startupbros.com › online-arbitrage-business
Online Arbitrage Business: 7 Powerful Success Tips
December 28, 2024 - In conclusion, understanding the ins and outs of the online arbitrage business is your first step toward success. By leveraging price discrepancies and staying informed about legal guidelines, you can tap into a profitable e-commerce venture.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/fulfillmentbyamazon › online arbitrage – what are the best sites for sourcing in the usa?
r/FulfillmentByAmazon on Reddit: Online Arbitrage – What are the best sites for sourcing in the USA?
July 21, 2025 -

Hey everyone,
I'm getting more into online arbitrage and wanted to ask, what websites do you use to find good deals for reselling in the U.S.?

I know the obvious ones like Walmart, Target, and maybe Walgreens, but are there any underrated or niche sites you’ve had success with?

Would love to hear what’s working for you lately!

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Riverbend Consulting
riverbendconsulting.com › home › amazon › is amazon online arbitrage worth your time?
Is Amazon Online Arbitrage Worth Your Time?
June 10, 2025 - This online selling method involves leveraging price discrepancies between different online marketplaces, using sales, discounts, or clearance items to source products at a lower cost. Once acquired, these products are listed on Amazon’s marketplace at a higher price point to capitalize on potential demand and generate revenue. ... Online arbitrage requires careful research, monitoring of market trends, and strategic pricing to ensure profitability amidst competition.
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The Selling Guys
thesellingguys.com › home › is amazon retail arbitrage worth it? or is arbitrage dead? 😱
Is Amazon Retail Arbitrage Worth It? Or is Arbitrage Dead? 😱
July 8, 2025 - You can also use arbitrage as a springboard to a more robust online business. Many Amazon sellers move into Wholesale or Private Label once they have mastered arbitrage. Also, remember the last few months before Christmas can be a bonanza for Amazon Retail Arbitrage. Amazon sellers can make a large proportion of their yearly profits in this Q4 period.
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OABeans
oabeans.com › home › what is online arbitrage?
What is Online Arbitrage? [2025 Update] - OABeans
June 25, 2025 - This article is about online arbitrage deals, how-tos, and tips for success in the business. ... Online arbitrage, or OA for short, is the act of buying something online (from online retailers like Walmart) and selling it on an online marketplace (like Amazon) for a profit.
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Fast Track FBA
fasttrackfba.com › is-online-arbitrage-still-profitable
Is online arbitrage still profitable in 2023? - Fast Track FBA
August 17, 2023 - There are also Amazon sellers that start with free online arbitrage deal websites to find deals, such as SlickDeals, BrickSeek, and LatestDeals. These free websites will provide you with a list of the best deals from different online retail stores. Then you can choose a deal and compare their prices on Amazon if the deal is profitable or not.