How to price excess stock so it actually sells
Stock that is priced like fresh inventory sits. Stock that is priced with no thought gives money away. A little structure helps you land in between.
By Team ClearLot. 2 November 2026.
Start from the buyer, not from your cost
Your purchase cost matters to you, but a buyer cares about what they can sell it for. Think about the discount a trader needs to make a margin, and price the lot so that margin exists.
Price falls with age
Fresh surplus can sell near a modest discount. Stock that has been sitting for many months, is out of season, or belongs to an older model needs a deeper cut. The longer it waits, the more storage and capital it ties up.
Sell the whole lot when you can
Buyers pay less per unit for small, mixed quantities and more for a full lot they can resell in one go. If you can offer the whole lot at one price, say so.
Be clear about what is included
- Whether the price is per unit or for the whole lot
- Whether GST is extra
- Who arranges and pays for transport
- Whether the price is negotiable
Review the price if there is no interest
If a lot gets views but no enquiries for a few weeks, the price, the photo or the description needs to change. Do one thing at a time so you can tell what worked.