Reselling Home Depot Penny Items and Clearance: A Practical Guide

Why resellers love Home Depot clearance

Home Depot clearance is set store by store and can go very deep, sometimes 75% to 90% off or more. Brand-name tools and fixtures hold value online. That gap between clearance price and resale value is what resellers look for.

Penny items are the extreme end, but they're rare and unpredictable. Most successful resellers build on deep clearance and treat pennies as a bonus.

What tends to resell well

• Brand-name power tools and accessories. See tool clearance.
• Lighting and ceiling fans. See lighting clearance.
• Smart home devices like doorbells, cameras and thermostats.
• Seasonal decor, sold the next season.
• Plumbing and bath fixtures that people search for by model number.

Always check sold listings, not asking prices, before you buy.

How to check value fast

1. Scan the barcode or note the model number.
2. Check recently sold prices on the marketplaces you use.
3. Subtract fees, shipping and your time.
4. Only buy if the margin still makes sense.

Store etiquette matters even more for resellers

• Don't clear the shelf if other shoppers are around.
• Don't hide items to come back later.
• Accept a no if a store won't sell a penny item.
• Be friendly with staff. You'll be back.

Read the full penny shopping etiquette and does Home Depot have to sell penny items?

A simple reseller math example

Here's an illustration of how to decide on a buy:

If it takes an hour to list, pack and ship, that's your hourly rate. Some items are worth it, many aren't. Local pickup sales cut shipping costs for bulky items.

Seasonal flipping

Seasonal clearance is a reseller favorite:

• Halloween decor bought in November, sold next fall. See Halloween clearance.
• Christmas decor bought after December 25, sold next November. See Christmas clearance.
• Patio and grill accessories bought in fall, sold in spring.

You need storage space and patience, but margins can be strong.

Mistakes new resellers make

1. Buying without checking sold prices.
2. Ignoring fees and shipping.
3. Stocking up on bulky items with no local buyers.
4. Burning bridges with stores by arguing about penny items.
5. Counting on pennies as steady inventory.

Find more deals in less time

Driving between stores is the biggest cost for resellers. PennyLoot checks the Home Depot stores near your ZIP in every department and lists clearance, near-penny, penny and hidden-price deals with each store's price and stock. Sort by biggest dollar savings to find the best flips first, and check the price history to see if a price is still dropping.

Check your ZIP on the home page or see this week's penny deals.

Taxes and rules

If you resell regularly, check your state's rules on sales tax registration and income reporting. This guide isn't legal or tax advice.