The Truckload Buying Guide for Retail Resellers
Refurbsy Team
Truckloads are where resale margins are made or lost. Here is the framework experienced buyers use before committing to a load.
Know your load types
- Customer returns — highest variance. Some items are new-in-box, some are damaged.
- Overstock — new stock, lower margin, fastest turn.
- Salvage — cheapest per item, but plan on parts harvesting for a chunk of it.
The 60/30/10 rule
A healthy mixed load roughly breaks down as 60% sellable after light cleaning, 30% needing a repair, 10% parts-only. Price your bid assuming that split, and treat anything better as upside.
Manifest math
Never bid on vibes. For each manifest line estimate: resale price × 0.85 (marketplace fees and haggling) − refurb cost − transport share. Sum it, then bid no more than 70% of that number.
Processing day
The load’s profitability is decided in the first 48 hours:
- Scan every item in as it comes off the truck.
- Triage: floor-ready / repair queue / parts.
- List floor-ready stock the same day.
With Refurbsy, step one is a photo per item — the AI catalogs, prices and drafts the listing while you keep unloading.
Buy on math, process fast, and truckloads become the most predictable part of your business rather than the scariest.
