UK Reseller Glossary
A complete guide to reseller terminology. From condition grading to business metrics, master the language of UK thrifting and online selling.
Condition Grading
NWT
New With Tags. Item has never been worn, washed, or used, and still has all original price tags and labels attached.
BNWT
Brand New With Tags. Identical to NWT — emphasises that the item is truly new and unused from a retailer.
BNIB
Brand New In Box. Item is completely new and still sealed in its original factory packaging/box.
VGC
Very Good Condition. Item shows minimal wear, may have small imperfections not visible from normal distance. No stains, holes, or damage.
GC
Good Condition. Item shows normal wear from use but is clean, functional, and has no significant damage. May have minor colour fading or light wear.
OOAK
One Of A Kind. Unique item with no exact duplicates (vintage pieces, handmade, or one-off finds). Often used to emphasise rarity.
TLC
Tender Loving Care. Item needs some cleaning, repair, or restoration to reach its best condition. Honest disclosure of wear.
A/F
As Faulty. Item is non-functional or damaged. Must be clearly marked in listings to avoid buyer disputes.
Distressed
Deliberately worn or aged appearance, often intentional design (e.g., distressed denim). Versus actual damage.
Selling Terms
BIN
Buy It Now. Fixed price option on eBay (and some other platforms) instead of auction. Buyer can purchase immediately at your set price.
OBO
Or Best Offer. Indicates the seller will accept offers below the listing price. Encourages negotiation.
Bundle
Multiple items sold together as one lot at a combined price (usually with a discount). Reduces shipping costs and increases sale value.
Job Lot
A large quantity of items (often 5–50+) sold together for one price, typically mixed or uncurated. Popular for reseller bulk buying.
Lot
A group or collection of items sold as a single unit. Can be any size (e.g., "a lot of vintage brooches").
Deadstock
New, never-sold items from a warehouse, boutique, or retail store. Usually in original packaging or condition.
Aged Stock
Items that have been in storage for years but are still new (tags attached, unused). Common in warehouse liquidations.
ISO
In Search Of. Used in buying groups, Facebook communities, and forums to indicate what items you're looking for.
HTF
Hard To Find. Item is rare or difficult to source. Signals scarcity and may justify a higher price.
Platform-Specific Terms
FVF
Final Value Fee. eBay's commission percentage charged on the final sale price (after auction ends or BIN sale completes).
FVP
Final Value Points. eBay Plus members receive cash-back points on sales to help offset FVF costs.
VPP
Vinted Pick Program. Vinted's premium subscription ($2.99/month) for sellers to boost visibility and get priority support.
Promoted Listing
Paid advertising on eBay. Sellers pay a percentage of sale price to appear higher in search results.
Best Offer
eBay feature allowing buyers to submit offers below your BIN price. You can accept, counter, or decline.
Watchers
eBay term for buyers who save your listing. More watchers = higher visibility signal to eBay's algorithm.
Relisting
Posting the same item again after it didn't sell in the first listing. May be free or cost listing fees depending on platform.
Business & Metrics
COGS
Cost of Goods Sold. The total amount you spent to acquire items for resale (purchase price at source).
GMV
Gross Merchandise Value. Total sales revenue before any fees, taxes, or expenses are deducted.
Net Margin
(Sales – COGS – Fees – Shipping – Expenses) / Sales × 100%. The true profit percentage after all costs.
Gross Margin
Profit from sales minus COGS only, before other expenses. Useful for quick mental math: (Sales – COGS) / Sales × 100%.
ROI
Return on Investment. How much profit per £ spent on stock: (Profit / COGS) × 100%. Higher is better.
Turnover
How quickly items sell. Fast turnover = 1–7 days; slow = 30+ days. Affects cash flow and storage costs.
ARPU
Average Revenue Per User (buyer). Total sales / number of unique buyers. Shows buyer value.
Churn
Loss of customers over time. High churn = repeat buyers stopping. Opposite of retention.
Conversion Rate
Percentage of people who view a listing and buy it: (Sales / Views) × 100%. Higher = better listing quality.
LTV
Lifetime Value. Total profit expected from a single customer across all future purchases.
CAC
Customer Acquisition Cost. How much you spend to get one new customer (advertising, shipping discounts, etc.).
Sourcing Terms
Charity Shop
Non-profit retail store (Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, etc.) selling donated goods. Popular sourcing for thrifters.
Car Boot
Outdoor car boot sales where private sellers sell items from their car trunks. UK-specific term for garage sales.
Estate Sale
Liquidation of an entire household, often after death or relocation. Can contain high-value vintage and collectibles.
Auction House
Professional venue (e.g., Sotheby's, local auction rooms) selling items to highest bidder. May have reserve prices.
Wholesale
Buying in bulk from distributors or liquidators at a fraction of retail price. Typically requires business registration.
Liquidation
Bulk inventory sale when a store closes or overstock clears. Often at 20–70% of retail cost.
Bulk Buy
Purchasing multiple items together (often 10–100+) at a discounted per-unit price from a reseller or estate.
Shipping Terms
Large Letter
Royal Mail category: up to 45×35×1.6cm, max 750g. Cheapest tracked option (£2–4). No compensation for loss.
Small Parcel
Royal Mail: up to 45×35×16cm, max 2kg. Fully tracked with signature. Standard for most resellers (£3–6).
Tracked
Parcel has tracking number so buyer and seller can see delivery progress. Protects both parties from loss claims.
Signed For
Recipient must sign for delivery. Provides proof of delivery and prevents "not received" disputes.
Click & Drop
Royal Mail online service: print shipping labels at home without queuing. Can be integrated into eBay/other platforms.
QR Drop-Off
New Royal Mail method: generate QR code label, drop off at participating Post Offices without a separate parcel sticker.
Still getting to grips with reselling?
Check out our marketplace comparison guide to understand where to sell, and use Wrenlist to manage everything across all platforms simultaneously.