Buying a used PS3 game for $12 on eBay and selling it for $45 on Amazon isn’t magic - it’s arbitrage. And yes, people are doing this right now, turning spare time into extra cash. If you’ve ever wondered how some folks make $20-$60 per game without ever touching a console, here’s how it actually works.
What You’re Really Doing
You’re not flipping rare collectibles. You’re not hunting for sealed Nintendo 64 boxes in attics. You’re looking for mismatched prices between two giant marketplaces: eBay and Amazon. One person lists a used copy of Trails of Cold Steel 3 for $28 because they need quick cash. Meanwhile, on Amazon, the same game is selling for $58 because someone else listed it poorly and it’s still in the buy box. You buy the $28 copy, ship it to a customer on Amazon, and pocket $25 after fees. That’s it.
This works because eBay and Amazon don’t talk to each other. Sellers set prices based on what they think is fair - not what the market actually says. And that gap? That’s your opportunity.
The Tools You Actually Need
You don’t need a warehouse or a team. You need three things:
- Flipmine - a browser extension that scans eBay listings and matches them to Amazon’s inventory using UPCs and ISBNs. It shows you the eBay price, Amazon price, fees, and profit in one table.
- Amazon FBA Calculator - a free Chrome extension that tells you exactly how much Amazon will take out for storage, shipping, and processing if you use Fulfillment by Amazon.
- Keepa - a price tracker that shows you the historical price of a game on Amazon. If it’s been stuck at $30 for six months, you know $35 is a safe sell price.
These tools cut hours of manual searching down to minutes. Without them, you’re just guessing. With them, you’re running a data-driven business.
How to Find Real Profitable Listings
Not every game is worth it. Here’s how to spot the good ones:
- Target $35+ on Amazon - Anything below that usually doesn’t cover fees. A $20 game might net you $3 after Amazon takes their cut. Not worth your time.
- Look for recent eBay listings - The first 24 hours after a listing goes live are golden. That’s when the underpriced items are still unnoticed.
- Check Amazon’s sales rank - If a game has a sales rank under 100,000, it’s moving. If it’s over 500,000, it’s a ghost town.
- Avoid restricted titles - Some games like Assassin’s Creed are blocked from being sold by new Amazon sellers. Always double-check before buying.
Example: You find a used Mario Superstar Baseball on eBay for $18. Keepa shows it’s been selling consistently at $48 for the last year. Flipmine calculates your profit at $23 after fees. You buy it. You ship it. You get paid in 2-3 days. That’s a 127% ROI.
Amazon FBA vs. Merchant Fulfilled
Here’s the big decision: do you ship it yourself, or let Amazon handle it?
| Factor | Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) | Merchant Fulfilled |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping Speed | Prime-eligible, 2-day delivery | 3-7 days, no Prime badge |
| Buyer Trust | Higher - customers prefer Prime | Lower - no fast shipping guarantee |
| Fees | $3-$7 per game, plus storage | Only payment processing fees (~3%) |
| Profit Margin | Lower - but faster sales | Higher - but slower turnover |
| Best For | High-demand games, quick cash | Low-volume, high-margin items |
If you’re just starting out, go with merchant fulfillment. You keep more money. Once you’re comfortable, test FBA on your top 3 best-selling titles. The extra speed can mean selling 2x as fast.
Where Else to Source Games
eBay isn’t your only option. GameStop and Game X Change are real places where you can walk in and buy games. But here’s the catch:
- GameStop - Often overpriced. A game that sells for $15 on eBay might cost $25 there. Not worth it unless they’re running a 50% off sale.
- Game X Change - Better for bulk. One seller reported paying $89 per PS3 game when buying 10 at once. That’s a 40% discount off their usual price. Negotiate.
- Local thrift stores - Hit them on clearance days. A $5 game that sells for $40 on Amazon? That’s a 700% ROI.
Physical stores are slower, but they’re less competitive. No one else is there scanning for arbitrage. You’ve got the whole aisle to yourself.
Profit Realities - What You Can Actually Make
Let’s be real. This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. But it’s not a waste of time either.
- Per game profit: $8-$40, depending on the title and fees
- Per hour: 15-20 minutes of searching can turn up 2-3 profitable games. That’s $25-$75/hour if you’re efficient.
- ROI target: Aim for 25-35% minimum. Anything below 15% isn’t worth the effort.
One seller found three games in 18 minutes: one bought for $30, sold for $58 ($22 profit); another for $22, sold for $52 ($25 profit); a third for $18, sold for $48 ($25 profit). Total profit: $72. That’s not bad for half an hour.
Watch Out for These Pitfalls
- Amazon restrictions - Some games are banned for new sellers. Always check before buying.
- Condition mismatches - eBay sellers say “good condition.” Amazon expects “like new.” If the disc has scratches, you’ll get returns.
- Price drops - If Amazon lowers the price while you’re waiting to ship, you’ll lose money. Use Keepa to see if prices are stable.
- Shipping errors - Label it wrong? Amazon charges you $15 to fix it. Triple-check the barcode.
One person bought 10 copies of New Tales from the Borderlands for $25 each. They listed them at $55. Then Amazon dropped the buy box price to $48. Two weeks later, they were still stuck with 7 unsold copies. Lesson: don’t buy in bulk unless you’re confident.
Start Small. Scale Fast.
You don’t need $1,000 to start. Start with $50. Buy two games on eBay. List them on Amazon. Ship them. Get paid. Repeat.
After 5 successful sales, you’ll know which games sell fast. You’ll know which tools to trust. You’ll know when to walk away from a bad deal. That’s the real skill - not the math, but the judgment.
There’s no magic formula. But there is a repeatable system: scan, verify, buy, ship, repeat. And if you do it consistently, you’ll be surprised how much it adds up.
Can I really make money arbitraging video games on eBay and Amazon?
Yes - but only if you’re systematic. People are making $20-$60 per game by exploiting price gaps between the two platforms. It’s not about rare games - it’s about finding common titles where one seller underpriced it. Tools like Flipmine and Keepa make it possible to find these opportunities in minutes. Profit margins typically range from 25% to 70% per item.
What’s the minimum price I should look for on Amazon?
Aim for items selling at $35 or higher on Amazon. Below that, fees (Amazon’s 15% + shipping + payment processing) eat up most of your profit. For example, a $25 game might net you $2 after fees. At $40+, you’re looking at $10-$20 profit per item - enough to make it worth your time.
Do I need to use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)?
No - but it helps. FBA means Amazon handles shipping and gives you Prime eligibility, which boosts sales. But it costs $3-$7 per game. Merchant fulfilled gives you higher profit per item but slower sales. Start with merchant fulfilled to keep more money. Once you have consistent sales, test FBA on your top sellers.
Are there games I can’t sell on Amazon?
Yes. Amazon restricts certain titles - especially newer releases or games with licensing issues. For example, Assassin’s Creed is often blocked for new sellers. Always check the listing on Amazon before buying on eBay. If you can’t list it, you’re stuck with a $30 game and no way to sell it.
Is this legal?
Yes. Buying used games on eBay and reselling them on Amazon is completely legal. It’s called retail arbitrage and is practiced by thousands of sellers. As long as you’re not selling counterfeit or stolen items, you’re fine. Amazon’s terms allow this, and eBay encourages it. Just be honest about condition and ship promptly.
How long does it take to make my first profit?
As little as 24 hours. Buy a game on eBay in the morning, list it on Amazon the same day, ship it by afternoon. If it sells, you get paid in 2-3 days. Many sellers report their first profit within a day of starting. The key is consistency - spend 20 minutes a day searching. You don’t need to do it all at once.