TL;DR
Asking prices are wishes; sold prices are facts. Pull recent sold comps for the exact item in similar condition, throw out the outliers, and price to the middle of what actually moved. Comps also tell you if an item is even worth flipping.
The most common pricing mistake is looking at what other people are asking and copying it. Half of those listings will never sell. What you actually want is sold comps - proof of what real buyers paid for the same item recently. Comps turn pricing from a guess into a decision you can defend.
How to pull comps on eBay
Search the exact item on eBay, then filter to sold and completed listings. You will see the real prices things closed at, with the sold ones shown in green. Read the titles carefully so you are comparing the same model, size, and condition. Ignore the active listings entirely for now - only the sold ones matter for pricing.
How to read comps on Marketplace
Facebook does not show a clean sold filter, so you read it differently. Search the item and note which comparable listings have disappeared quickly or are marked pending or sold - those are your local signals. Marketplace prices are local, so a piece may move for more or less than the eBay number depending on your area. Blend the two: eBay for the national baseline, Marketplace for your local reality.
Let comps decide if it is worth flipping
- If sold comps sit well above what you can buy the item for, it is a flip worth doing.
- If comps are close to your buy cost after fees and time, walk away - there is no room.
- If nothing has sold recently at all, demand is thin - price low or skip it.
- If comps vary wildly, condition is driving the price, so match your item honestly to the right end of the range.
Turn comps into your number
Once you have five to ten clean sold comps in similar condition, take the middle and adjust up or down for your item's exact condition and completeness. Add a little negotiation room on top and that is your list price. Do this before you buy, not after - checking recent sold comps first is how you avoid overpaying at the source.
Comps are also your best answer when a buyer pushes back on price. Screenshots of recent sold listings end the argument fast, because you are not defending an opinion - you are showing what the item is worth.
Common questions
What is a sold comp?
A sold comp is the price a comparable item actually closed at recently, not what someone is asking. On eBay you find them by filtering to sold and completed listings. They are the most reliable way to know what an item is really worth in your market.
How many comps should I look at?
Aim for five to ten recent sales of the same item in similar condition. Fewer than that and one odd sale can skew you. Drop the highest and lowest, then price to the middle of what is left for a number you can trust.
Why not just match the lowest active listing?
Active listings are asking prices and many never sell, including that cheap one. Matching it can leave money on the table or copy a price that is not moving. Sold comps show what buyers actually pay, which is what you should price to.
How do I find comps on Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook has no clean sold filter, so search the item and watch which comparable listings sell fast or get marked pending or sold. Combine that local read with eBay's sold data for a full picture, since Marketplace prices are local.
Can comps tell me whether to buy an item at all?
Yes. Check comps before you buy. If sold prices sit comfortably above your buy cost after fees and time, it is a flip worth doing. If they are close, walk away - comps are how you set a buy ceiling and never overpay.
What if no comps exist for an item?
No recent sales usually means thin demand or a rare item. For rare pieces, look at the closest similar items and price cautiously. For low-demand ones, price low to move it or skip it - a lack of comps is itself a warning sign.
Keep going
Price from what really sold, not what people hope for
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