Start hereFix a problemAll helpCalculatorsDownloadsVintedeBayEtsyWhatnotSourcingUK tax
🧯 Sourcing problem

My Job Lot Looked Profitable but Wasn’t

Split the full lot cost across the items you can realistically sell, not every item that happened to be in the box.

Quick diagnosisNo jargonUpdated September 2026
Short answer

Split the full lot cost across the items you can realistically sell, not every item that happened to be in the box.

Check these things in order

1. Add purchase and delivery costs

Change one thing at a time where possible so you can see what actually helped.

2. Count genuinely sellable units

Change one thing at a time where possible so you can see what actually helped.

3. Allow for waste, faults and slow items

Change one thing at a time where possible so you can see what actually helped.

4. Track the lot until enough sales are complete

Change one thing at a time where possible so you can see what actually helped.

What this can look like

A £200 lot with 100 pieces sounds like £2 each, but if only 50 are sellable the usable cost is already £4 each before other expenses.

Do not do this

Do not value unsellable filler stock as if it carries the same share of the cost as your best pieces.

What should I track?

Keep the item cost, current price, age, platform and final sale result together. That makes it much easier to tell whether the problem is visibility, price, demand or simply slow stock.