Have you ever thought about selling used products on Amazon?
If the answer is yes, you’re in good company. Selling used products on Amazon and other platforms is becoming increasingly common, to the point that the second-hand economy has reached truly impressive volumes.
This trend is also quite widespread.
Both online platforms and physical stores are involved in selling used products. You’ve probably noticed shelves dedicated specifically to used or refurbished items in some retail stores.
With this in mind, we believe that selling used and refurbished products on Amazon could be the right choice for you.
For this reason, in today’s guide, we’ve decided to provide you with some tips to get started on the right foot!
Used or refurbished products: let’s clarify
First of all, it’s essential to clarify and understand which used products you can sell online.
Complying with the platform’s requirements is crucial to avoid violating conditions (which could lead to your account being suspended or canceled) and to meet buyers’ expectations.
Amazon specifically distinguishes three categories:
- Refurbished products: These are used items restored to like-new condition. They are products with minor defects that have been resolved or items sold and then returned.
- Used products: These are items that have been genuinely used. They can only be sold if they are in good condition and meet Amazon’s requirements.
- Open-box products: These are unused products whose packaging has been opened.
In which categories can I sell used products on Amazon?
Now that we know the types of products that can be sold on Amazon, let’s also explore the categories where such sales are possible.
Here are the main ones:
- Accessories for Amazon devices (used and refurbished)
- Amazon Kindle (used)
- Automotive and Motorsports (refurbished, used, collectible)
- Books (used, collectible)
- Cameras (used, refurbished)
- Cell Phones (used, refurbished)
- Electronics (used, refurbished)
- Home and Garden (refurbished, used, collectible)
- Science and Technology (used, refurbished)
- Large Appliances (used, refurbished)
- Music (used, refurbished)
- Musical Instruments (used, refurbished, collectible)
- Office Products (used, refurbished, collectible)
- Outdoor Products (used, refurbished)
- PCs (used, refurbished)
- Pet Products (used, refurbished)
- Software (used, refurbished)
- Sports (used, refurbished)
- Household Products (used, refurbished)
- DVDs and Blu-Rays (used, collectible)
- Video Games (used, collectible).
In some categories, it is not possible to sell used products. These include:
- Baby Products (excluding clothing)
- Beauty
- Clothing
- Collectible Coins
- Entertainment
- Art
- Groceries
- Health and Personal Care
- Jewelry
- Shoes and Bags
- Collectible Sports Items
- Toys and Games
Understanding Product Wear
Once you’ve identified the used product to sell on Amazon and ensured it falls under one of the categories allowed for non-new items, you need to evaluate its condition.
Amazon categorizes used products into four conditions:
| Condition | Characteristics |
| Come nuovo | The product is in perfect working condition. The original packaging is intact and in good shape, with possible minor damage, with or without the original protective wrapping. Instructions are included. Typically, this applies to products purchased, opened, but never used. |
| Ottimo | The product has been well cared for, shows limited use, and remains in good condition. It may have minor signs of wear, such as scratches or cosmetic defects. Original packaging may be damaged or the product repackaged. Missing accessories must be clearly stated but are allowed. |
| Buono | The product is in good condition and fully functional but shows signs of consistent use. It may be repackaged or have damaged packaging, and it might exhibit marks or minor cosmetic damage. Missing parts, accessories, or instructions are allowed. |
| Accettabile | The product is functional but heavily worn. It may be repackaged or have damaged original packaging. It shows wear, such as scratches, dents, worn corners, or identifying marks. Missing parts, accessories, and instructions are allowed. |
Items That Cannot Be Sold as Used
According to Amazon’s guidelines, the following items cannot be sold as used:
- Products with mold, visible stains, corrosion, or other signs of dirt
- Items with damage affecting their usability
- Missing essential parts or accessories (excluding instructions)
- Products requiring repair
- Copies, counterfeits, replicas, or imitations of original products
- Promotional items like product samples or advanced reading copies
- Products with an expiration date that is too close or already expired
- Items deemed unsellable by the manufacturer itself
How to Sell Refurbished Products with Amazon Renewed
For those interested in selling refurbished products, Amazon offers a program called Amazon Renewed. However, this program is not open to all sellers but only to those deemed eligible and capable of meeting the program’s strict requirements.
To qualify for Amazon Renewed, you must:
- Be a high-volume seller of refurbished products.
You must provide invoices demonstrating a total value of €20,000 in purchases of eligible refurbished products within the 90 days prior to your application date. To gain approval for selling Apple smartphones, you must present invoices showing a total value of €1 million in purchases of refurbished Apple products. - Prove that the products are refurbished (by you or third parties) to look and function like new.
You are required to submit at least 10 images of a sample unit for verification of the product and its packaging:- Shipping packaging
- White or brown box containing the product (inside the shipping packaging)
- The product inside the box (with its packaging)
- Top and bottom views of the product
- All four side views of the product
- Already be an Amazon selling partner.
Once you start selling on Amazon, your order defect rate over the past 90 days must be 0.8% or lower. - Provide additional documentation for specific brands,
including details about the inspection processes for the refurbished products.
How to List Used Products on Amazon
The process of listing a used item on Amazon is no different from listing a new one. The key consideration is ensuring you accurately specify the condition of your product.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Seller Central and start the process to list a product for sale.
- Paste the ASIN of the product you want to sell. Once you find the product, the next page will prompt you to set the general condition of the item.
- Select Used and confirm your intention to sell the product.
- You’ll be directed to a detailed page where you can input information about the item, such as the price and condition (Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable).
- If needed, you can also add additional details about the product’s condition.
Good luck!
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