How to Source Video Games for Resale

Video games can be an excellent category for resellers because they're often easy to identify, easy to research, and supported by an active collector and player market.

But obvious deals attract competition.

That's why some of the most interesting opportunities aren't individual games.

They're:

Lots, bundles, collections, consoles, and accessories.

A seller may know what one game is worth.

They may not know what everything in the photograph is worth together.

Here's how to approach video game sourcing more strategically.

Start With Broad Searches

Searching for one exact game puts you in direct competition with everyone else looking for that title.

Instead, experiment with:

video game lot
Nintendo lot
GameCube lot
PS2 game lot
Xbox game lot
old video games
console bundle
gaming collection

Broad searches can reveal listings where the seller hasn't optimized every item individually.

Related Guide

[How to Find Underpriced eBay Lots →](ADD-LINK-HERE-UNDERPRICED-LOTS)

Learn the Major Value Drivers

For games, pay attention to:

Title
Platform
Condition
Disc/cartridge condition
Case
Manual
Inserts
Edition
Region
Special versions

Two copies of the same game can have very different values depending on completeness and condition.

Consoles Need Different Research

When evaluating a console, consider:

Exact model
Testing status
Controllers
Cables
Storage capacity
Color
Edition
Included accessories

A console-only listing shouldn't automatically be compared with a complete ready-to-play bundle.

Don't Ignore Controllers and Accessories

One of the biggest mistakes when evaluating gaming lots is focusing only on the games.

Look for:

OEM controllers
Memory cards
Power supplies
AV cables
Adapters
Wireless receivers
Multitaps
Specialty accessories

Sometimes the accessories create a surprising percentage of the lot's total value.

Inspect Every Game

Imagine a seller lists:

15 Old Nintendo Games

Most may be inexpensive.

But one valuable title could change the economics of the entire lot.

That's why lot sourcing rewards people who can recognize:

Titles
Artwork
Platforms
Variations

before individually researching everything.

Check Sold Comps

Don't determine value from active listings alone.

Find recent sales that match:

Same title
Same platform
Similar condition
Similar completeness

Full Guide

[How to Check Sold Comps on eBay →](ADD-LINK-HERE-SOLD-COMPS)

Example: GameCube Lot

Suppose you find:

GameCube bundle: $120 delivered

Inside:

Console
3 controllers
Several games
Memory cards
Cables

After evaluating the individual pieces, you estimate:

$260 gross resale

Now you can begin calculating whether there's enough room for:

Selling expenses
Shipping
Your purchase cost
Profit

That's much more useful than simply thinking:

"$120 seems cheap for a GameCube bundle."

Compare Selling Individually vs Selling as a Lot

Suppose you estimate:

Sell Individually

$260 gross resale

Resell Everything Together

$190 gross resale

Selling individually may generate more money.

But it also requires:

More listings
More photos
More messages
More packages
More shipping

Sometimes quick turnover is worth accepting a lower gross resale amount.

Know Your Maximum Purchase Price

Once you've estimated realistic resale value, determine what you can afford to pay.

Don't buy because:

"There's $260 worth of stuff!"

Calculate the actual economics.

Learn How

[How Much Should You Pay for an Item to Resell? →](ADD-LINK-HERE-MAX-BUY-PRICE)

Don't Ignore Untested Inventory — But Price the Risk

Untested doesn't necessarily mean broken.

But it also doesn't mean working.

If you buy untested:

Consoles
Controllers
Discs
Accessories

you should build that uncertainty into your purchase price.

More uncertainty should usually mean:

More margin.

Look for Sellers Clearing Collections

Interesting listings often come from sellers whose goal appears to be:

"I want all of this gone."

rather than:

"I need to maximize every item's value."

Watch for:

Childhood collections
Estate lots
Storage cleanouts
Large bundles
Mixed-generation gaming lots

Convenience for the seller can sometimes create margin for the buyer.

Calculate Profit — Not Just Resale Value

An $80 game bought for $60 isn't automatically a good flip.

You still have:

Selling expenses
Shipping
Risk

Use SearchToFlip to Browse Gaming Inventory

Video game lots are one of the situations where visual browsing can be particularly useful.

Instead of searching one exact SKU at a time, you can look through live listings and investigate bundles that catch your attention.

[Browse Video Game Listings →](https://www.searchtoflip.com/search?category=1249)

Once you find something interesting:

[Run a Deal Analysis →](https://www.searchtoflip.com/analyze)

Video Game Sourcing Checklist

Before buying:

[ ] Did I identify every valuable game?
[ ] Are controllers OEM?
[ ] Are cables included?
[ ] Is the console tested?
[ ] Are games complete or loose?
[ ] Did I check sold comps?
[ ] Did I calculate delivered cost?
[ ] Did I estimate expenses?
[ ] Do I know my maximum buy price?
[ ] Is there enough demand?

Final Thoughts

Video game reselling isn't about memorizing every valuable game.

It's about becoming good at:

Recognizing inventory

↓

Checking real market value

↓

Calculating your costs

↓

Buying with enough margin

The better you understand the category, the faster you'll recognize opportunities other buyers may overlook.

Continue Reading

[Best Items to Resell on eBay →](ADD-LINK-HERE-BEST-ITEMS)

[How to Find Underpriced Lots →](ADD-LINK-HERE-UNDERPRICED-LOTS)

[How to Check Sold Comps →](ADD-LINK-HERE-SOLD-COMPS)

[Try SearchToFlip Free →](https://www.searchtoflip.com/pricing)

How to Source Video Games for Resale