Charity shop sourcing is one of the original side hustles — long before Amazon FBA existed, people were finding bargains in charity shops and selling them for profit. Today, with Amazon's marketplace and tools like the Seller app, charity shop sourcing can be a surprisingly productive part of your FBA business.
Why Charity Shops Work for FBA
The economics are compelling. Charity shops price items to sell quickly, often well below their market value. A textbook donated for free might be priced at £2 in a charity shop but sell for £15–£30 on Amazon. A discontinued board game marked at £3 could fetch £20–£40. The margins on charity shop finds are often the highest in any form of arbitrage.
What Sells Best
Books are the classic charity shop find for Amazon sellers. Textbooks, professional reference books, niche non-fiction, and out-of-print titles often have surprisingly high Amazon prices. The key is scanning barcodes — you cannot judge a book's Amazon value by looking at it.
Board games and puzzles (when complete and in good condition) can carry strong margins. LEGO sets, even opened ones with all pieces, are highly sought after. Media items like specialist DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games occasionally produce finds, though the category has shrunk.
Brand-name items in health and beauty, kitchen gadgets, and toys can also appear in charity shops, though these are less consistent than books.
The Scanning Process
Use the Amazon Seller app to scan barcodes as you browse. For books, scan the ISBN barcode on the back cover. The app instantly shows the Amazon selling price, sales rank, and your potential profit after fees. You will scan dozens of items for every one you buy — that is normal.
Not everything has a barcode. For items without one, search by title or brand name in the Amazon Seller app. This takes more time but can reveal hidden gems, especially among older items.
Condition Matters
Amazon has specific condition guidelines. For books, "Good" condition means the book is intact, readable, and free from major damage — some wear is acceptable. "Very Good" means minimal wear. "Like New" means almost perfect. Price your items honestly — listing something as "Very Good" when it is actually "Acceptable" leads to returns and negative feedback.
For other items, they generally need to be in good working condition with all parts included. Incomplete board games, damaged packaging, or items with missing components are usually not worth the risk.
The Ethics Question
Some people question whether buying from charity shops to resell is ethical. Here is the balanced view: charity shops benefit from every sale. They price items to move quickly and generate revenue for their cause. An item sitting unsold on their shelf helps nobody. By buying it, you are donating to the charity and creating value by connecting the product with someone who specifically wants it on Amazon.
That said, approach it respectfully. Do not strip shelves bare of everything valuable while other shoppers watch. Do not try to negotiate prices down — the money goes to charity. Be a regular, friendly customer.
Building Your Route
Most charity shop sellers develop a regular route of 5–10 shops they visit weekly. Each shop gets fresh donations constantly, so there are always new items to check. You will learn which shops in your area produce the best finds — larger shops in wealthier areas often have better donated stock.
Timing matters too. Some sellers visit on specific days when they know shops put out fresh stock. Building a relationship with shop staff can sometimes lead to tips about incoming donations.
Realistic Expectations
Charity shop sourcing is unlikely to be your sole sourcing method as your business grows. It works best as a supplementary income stream — a productive way to spend a few hours that generates additional stock alongside your main sourcing approach. The margins are excellent but the volume is limited by what happens to be donated.
Combined with other sourcing methods and a prep centre handling the logistics, charity shop finds can add a healthy profit stream to your Amazon business.