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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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.

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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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SmartScout
smartscout.com › amazon-seller-key-terms › oa-online-arbitrage
What is Online Arbitrage for Amazon Sellers?
Online arbitrage is a business model where Amazon sellers buy products at a lower price, sell them at a higher price online, and have the products fulfilled using FBA service.
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Tactical Arbitrage
tacticalarbitrage.com › home
#1 Online Arbitrage Sourcing Software for Amazon FBA | Tactical Arbitrage
August 7, 2024 - Tactical Arbitrage provides 1,400+ online retail sites with multiple categories to scan. You can even add unique sites of your own. Our platform is designed specifically for selling via Amazon FBA.
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Aura
goaura.com › blog › online-arbitrage-guide
Online Arbitrage: Getting Started for New Amazon Sellers (2025)
Before buying any product, you must account for: Product cost – Your initial purchase price from the source retailer · Amazon FBA fees – Fulfillment and referral fees (typically 30-40% of selling price)
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Jungle Scout
junglescout.com › resources › articles › online-arbitrage-guide
How to Make Money on Amazon with Online Arbitrage in 2024
November 6, 2024 - You can even ship your inventory to FBA with the box you receive your order in! Source from thousands of sites. With online arbitrage, the possibilities are endless. There are thousands of online retail stores where you can find profitable inventory to resell on Amazon.
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Udemy
udemy.com › business › e-commerce › amazon fba
Free Amazon FBA Tutorial - Online Arbitrage Beginner To Full Time - Amazon FBA Training | Udemy
Online arbitrage from beginner to pro seller in 2 weeks. Do you want to learn how to buy products on the internet and sell them automatically via Amazon? Online arbitrage is basically purchasing products on the internet to resell online for a profit.
Rating: 4.4 ​ - ​ 564 votes
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Helium 10
helium10.com › home › blog › online arbitrage on amazon: everything you need to know
Online Arbitrage on Amazon: Everything You Need to Know | Helium 10
January 4, 2024 - On the other hand, a successful online arbitrage business can be conducted from anywhere with internet access, offering unparalleled convenience. Resellers virtually search for profitable deals, discounts, or price discrepancies on websites without the need for physical store visits. Inventory handling options include using fulfillment services like Amazon FBA, which handles storage and shipping, or fulfilling orders themselves (Fulfilled By Merchant – FBM).
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Seller Assistant
sellerassistant.app › blog › online-arbitrage-vs-wholesale-on-amazon-what-is-the-difference
Online Arbitrage vs Wholesale on Amazon. What is the difference? - Seller Assistant Blog
February 12, 2025 - Yes, many sellers make a full-time income with online arbitrage by consistently finding profitable products and managing their business effectively. Success depends on product research, market demand, and staying competitive. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is a service where Amazon handles storage, shipping, and customer service for your products, while wholesale is a business model where you buy products in bulk from suppliers to resell.
Find elsewhere
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Arbitrage Hero
arbitragehero.com › home › how to start online amazon fba arbitrage: a step-by-step guide for maximizing profits
Start Amazon FBA Arbitrage - Step-by-Step Guide to Profits
March 25, 2025 - Low Risk: As an Amazon FBA seller, you are not responsible for the shipping or handling of products. Amazon takes care of all of these tasks, which means that you are not exposed to the same level of risk as a traditional retailer. High Profit Margins: With online Amazon arbitrage, you can often achieve high profit margins by buying products at a low price and then selling them at a higher price.
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Your Selling Guide
yoursellingguide.com › 2019 › 07 › 06 › online-arbitrage
Online Arbitrage: Sell On Amazon FBA Without Leaving Your House! - Your Selling Guide by Nikki Kirk
October 16, 2023 - Like I mentioned above, this past week, I sent a shipment into Amazon FBA that should profit me over $1800! I’m beyond excited that I now have more time for other things, like creating videos and exploring all the places I visit, and less time spent in stores scanning. By adding in this model I don’t have to worry if I’m not near stores or worse, if I am, but not finding anything worth selling. With Online Arbitrage, everything is always open!
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FBA Master
fbamaster.com › home › amazon online arbitrage: how to make money buying products online and selling on amazon
Amazon Online Arbitrage: How to Make Money Buying Products Online and Selling on Amazon
December 30, 2022 - For Online Arbitrage, I would recommend that you start with the professional plan. The reason I say this is due to the fact that the professional plan gives you access to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Since we are wanting to be as hands off as possible with the selling process, using FBA will allow us to use Amazon’s fulfillment network to ship orders through all hours of the day or night.
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Actorio
actorio.com › home › mastering online arbitrage on amazon: a beginner’s guide
Mastering Online Arbitrage on Amazon: A Beginner’s Guide - Actorio
January 9, 2025 - In practice, this means you can’t ... Online Arbitrage: With online arbitrage, you buy products from online retailers, hold inventory (usually through FBA), and resell them on Amazon....
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SageMailer
sagemailer.com › blog › amazon selling tips › how to make money on amazon with online arbitrage in 2025
Amazon Online Arbitrage - Make Money in 2025 | SageMailer
May 19, 2025 - Set up a bank account dedicated to your arbitrage business; Familiarize yourself with tax obligations and requirements for online sellers. Create a Seller Central account for Amazon; select a professional account if you plan to sell more than 40 products monthly; Sign up for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) if you plan to use their services.
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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 - Use FBA: As we’ve already mentioned, the FBA program offers a number of advantages. Not only does it mean you don’t have to store inventory or fulfill orders, but also gives you a better shot at the Buy Box. If you can afford the extra fees it’s definitely worth it. Online arbitrage is one of the easiest ways to get started selling on Amazon, and there are plenty of people who have built profitable businesses this way.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Amazon Online Arbitrage Guide for Beginners [FREE COURSE] - YouTube
I teach a STEP-BY-STEP system to quickly spot profitable Amazon flip deals from your laptop in under 15 minutes today. Online arbitrage sourcing, product res...
Published   January 28, 2025
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Seller Snap
sellersnap.io › home › things to know when starting online arbitrage for amazon
Things To Know When Starting Online Arbitrage For Amazon - Seller Snap
June 10, 2025 - As an overview of how online arbitrage works, here are three main steps involved in this method to help you get started with your very own successful online arbitrage business. STEP 1: Search for a product on other platforms or a trusted online marketplace to resell. Ensure that the product you purchase is sold for less than what it sells on Amazon. STEP 2: Once you find products from other online stores that you can resell on Amazon, buy them and have them shipped to your facility or the FBA warehouse.
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Forceget
forceget.com › home › blog › #1 guide on amazon online arbitrage
#1 Guide on Amazon Online Arbitrage - Forceget Supply Chain Logistics
August 15, 2024 - FBA offers the advantage of Amazon’s fulfillment network, while FBM provides more control over the shipping process. Regularly calculate your profit margins to assess the profitability of different products and make data-driven decisions. Use profit tracking tools to monitor your overall performance. Compared to other business models, online arbitrage typically requires a relatively low initial investment.
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AmzOnlineArbitrage
amzonlinearbitrage.com › infinity › asin checker › asin grabber › pricing › about us › contact us › blogs › fba calculator
online arbitrage Amazon product leads list and Amazon seller tools
The deals list also includes detailed instructions on where to source that product locally, using the online arbitrage sourcing list for the mentioned profit. ... Explore OA leads on winning products from our sourcing lists, with access to all the metrics required to make data-driven Amazon product research decisions. Select promising products from our FBA lead list and sell them profitably on amazon arbitrage, because numbers don't lie.
Price   $0
Address   1550 W Evans Ave, 80223, Denver
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Full-Time FBA
fulltimefba.com › home › sourcing › online arbitrage: how it can help your amazon fba business
Online Arbitrage: How it Can Help Your Amazon FBA Business - Full-Time FBA
May 22, 2020 - With OA, anytime of the day or night that we feel like shopping, we can work at sourcing for FBA. We don’t have a Kmart or a BJ’s Wholesale Club in the Fort Worth area where we live, but I can shop online at Kmart or BJ’s Wholesale Club if I choose. Same goes for many other retail stores across the U.S. With retail arbitrage, I’m limited by the number of stores within a certain radius from my home. When we receive an OA shipment from a retail store, we’re often able to ship the items out to the Amazon warehouse in the same box.