THRIFTPROFIT — THE BEFORE-YOU-BUY CHECKLIST
Free personal sourcing worksheet. Updated September 21, 2026.
https://thriftprofit.com/guides/sold-price-vs-asking-price/

1. IDENTIFY
Item / exact model or edition:
Size / material / ISBN / format, where relevant:
Unresolved identity or authenticity questions:

2. INSPECT
Condition / damage / repairs / missing parts:
Preparation or specialist assessment needed:
Designer screening does not certify authenticity. Resolve uncertainty before listing.

3. CHECK SOLD COMPARISONS
Marketplace / country / currency:
Query and condition filters:
Sold date range / research date:
Comparable sold prices (item and shipping recorded separately):
Excluded results and reasons:
Conservative buyer-paid total before tax:
Asking prices are competition, not evidence of completed sales.

4. CHECK DEMAND
Sold count and whether it counts listings or units:
Active count and snapshot date:
Formula used:
Sold-to-active = period sold / active now x 100.
This ratio is not a probability. Zero active results means the ratio is undefined.
Own-stock sell-through = sold / (sold + remaining) x 100.
Keep dates, restocking and returns consistent.

5. CALCULATE
Conservative item price + shipping charged to buyer:
Minus selling fees (check the exact category):
Minus actual postage + packing + preparation + specialist costs:
Minus desired profit buffer:
= Maximum purchase price:
Tax, labor, overhead and returns require separate consideration.

6. DECIDE AND LEARN
Buy / pass and reason:
Purchase cost / date listed:
Actual sale / expenses / returns / days to sale:
Unsold inventory at review date:

BOOKS: verify edition, printing, completeness, condition and packed weight.
Do not use clothing fee presets for books. Check Media Mail eligibility separately.
Thrift Snap focuses on clothing, shoes and accessories; it does not authenticate
luxury goods or provide ISBN scanning / rare-book appraisal.

More methods and sources: https://thriftprofit.com/guides/