Getting Started: Manifests

When buying bulk lots on B-Stock, there’s no better tool at your disposal than a manifest. This document details the inventory included in a particular lot, and unless otherwise stated in the listing, most lots come manifested. Since you can’t physically touch or view the retailer’s inventory before you buy, a manifest essentially brings the store to you.

Reviewing the manifest before bidding or buying helps you understand exactly what you’re getting so you can calculate potential profits. Let’s take a closer look at:

• Different manifest views
• Manifest product details
• How to use manifests to your advantage
• Potential manifest mistakes

Manifest Views

While no two manifests look the same regarding inventory, we have standardized the look and feel across most seller storefronts. However, there may be slight differences, depending on the retailer.

Download View

B-Stock offers two ways to view manifests. The first way is to download the full manifest and view it in a spreadsheet format. This allows you the freedom to customize the view, make notes, track inventory, add calculations, document profits, etc.

Dynamic View

The second way is to view what we call a ‘dynamic manifest’. This view provides Grouping Tabs that easily summarize the contents of the lot for you. Here you can see grouping tabs like category, subcategory, brand, model, seller category, and condition.

While Grouping Tabs stay the same, you may see additional manifest attributes depending on the seller and category. You can continue to customize and sort to your needs by available manifest attributes like quantity, unit retail, and unit weight, to name a few.

The ‘dynamic manifest’ also includes a filter feature located in the upper right-hand corner. Next to it, a keyword search box.

You may filter and view things like description words (in this case, electric models are filtered), specific brands, colors, etc., in the lot manifest.

Manifest Product Details

Several product details can be commonly found on all manifests. This includes Quantity (QTY), Item Number/UPC/Model, Retail/MSRP, Extended Retail/Ext. MSRP, Item Description, and Category. Let’s take a moment to explain each:

• Quantity (QTY): Represents the number of units per item included in the lot.
• Item Number or UPC: A UPC (universal product code) is a code printed on product packaging to help identify a particular item carried in inventory, regardless of the retailer. They are used more on the retailer level as an internal way to track the item in stores, online, or in their warehouse.
• Unit Retail or MSRP: Retail refers to the total price charged for a product sold to a customer, which includes the manufacturer’s cost plus a retail markup. MSRP is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price; a price recommended for the sale of an item in all retail outlets.
• Extended Retail (Ext. Retail) or Ext. MSRP: This is the value when the QTY of a particular item is multiplied by the retail price.
• Item Description: This is a summary of the item with that UPC/Item Number/ Model included in the lot. Some retailers are better than others at providing a detailed description.
• Category or Department: This refers to the broad description of where you’d find this item in a store as a way to organize products, e.g., Sporting Goods, Outdoor Living, Kitchen, etc.

Manifest your ROI

A manifest is your best friend when it comes to spotting profit potential. Smart buyers use it to understand what’s in a lot, estimate resale value, and calculate ROI before placing an auction bid. Here’s how to make the most of it:

Check Market vs. Retail Value

Not all MSRP prices reflect real-world resale value. Look up the same items from other resellers to see what they’re actually selling for. Keep in mind:

• End-of-season markdowns or newer models can drive prices down
• Condition, seasonality, and demand all play a role in determining true value

Gauge Buyer Demand

Make sure there’s interest for what’s in a given lot before you bid or buy. If you already have buyers for 70% of the items, you know your risk is around 30%. You can also check marketplace sites like eBay to see how many listings with that type of product have sold before.

Product Diversity

Think practically—can you move 50 extra-small leather jackets? If not, that unsold inventory can eat into your profits. When considering the product variety of a lot, make note of:

• Deep SKUs: pallets contain many items of the same product/SKU.
• Shallow SKUs: pallets contain different products/SKUs.

Look for Newer Models

Use the item number or UPC to search on Google, eBay, or other resale sites. Ask yourself:

• Am I investing in outdated or low-demand products?
• When is the next model likely to be released?
• How quickly will this item depreciate?

Manifest Mistakes

Mistakes can happen. Occasionally, items listed in the manifest don’t end up on the pallet when you receive it, and vice versa. There are a few reasons why this could happen:

• The item was supposed to be removed from the manifest, but due to system error or warehouse confusion, it wasn’t.
• The item was returned to the vendor
• The item was misplaced in the warehouse
• The item was recalled
• Human error or was entered incorrectly on the manifest

There is an allowable variance of 5% for most sellers. Think of this like a ‘margin of error’. You are responsible for reviewing Listing Details and Terms of Purchase. View each storefront’s dispute policy here.

Start Exploring Manifested Lots

Manifests are a powerful tool in your reselling toolkit. Now that you know how to read a manifest, slice and dice available information to calculate ROI, and what common manifest mistakes to look out for, it’s time to start browsing listings!