Media — DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, and video games — was one of the original product categories that early Amazon sellers built businesses on. The landscape has changed dramatically with streaming services and digital downloads, but media selling is not dead. It has simply become more niche, requiring different strategies than it did five or ten years ago.
What Still Sells
Physical media that retains value tends to be either collectible or hard to find digitally. Niche DVDs and Blu-rays that are out of print, special editions with physical extras, box sets of classic series, and foreign language or obscure titles often command good prices because they are not available on mainstream streaming platforms. Similarly, retro video games for older consoles have an active collector market.
Mainstream recent releases are generally not worth selling on Amazon FBA. The margins are thin, competition from major retailers is fierce, and prices drop quickly after release. Where media selling works is in the long tail — products that a few people want badly and cannot easily find elsewhere.
Sourcing Media Products
Charity shops are the classic sourcing ground for media sellers. At car boot sales, you can often buy boxes of DVDs for pennies each and cherry-pick the valuable ones. Online arbitrage can work for media, but you need to check prices carefully as media prices can be volatile. Wholesale clearance lots from closing video rental shops or retailers clearing old stock can also yield profitable finds.
The key tool for media sourcing is a scanning app connected to Amazon's database. You need to check prices and sales rank in real time because the difference between a DVD worth £15 and one worth 1p is not obvious from the cover.
Prep and Condition
Condition matters enormously in media selling. Discs must be scratch-free, cases should be intact, and all inserts and booklets need to be present for "Like New" or "Very Good" condition ratings. A DVD listed as "Very Good" that arrives with a scratched disc generates a return and a negative review. Be honest about condition — it is better to list at a lower condition grade and exceed expectations than the reverse.
Is It Worth Starting in Media Today?
As a sole business model, media selling is unlikely to generate the revenue it once did. As a complement to other product categories — especially for sellers who enjoy the treasure-hunt aspect of charity shop and car boot sourcing — it can still be worthwhile. The barriers to entry are low, the sourcing is accessible, and there are still profitable finds for sellers who know what to look for.