Selling board games on Amazon can be lucrative if you follow a clear, step‑by‑step process. I did it for a couple of years before Covid.
Disclaimer:
This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our content and allows us to keep providing valuable information.
Here’s a roadmap to help you succeed with selling board games on Amazon:
1. Research & Choose Profitable Titles
Spend time finding games with steady demand and healthy profit margins.
- You can use product‑research tools like Jungle Scout or Helium 10 to track sales velocity, competition, and pricing trends. However, when we were selling board games we simply used the amazon seller app to tell us the price and how many were for sale.
- Check Best Seller Ranks (BSR): Look for games ranked under 20,000 in “Toys & Games.”
- Niche down: Family games, educational titles, or imported Eurogames often have less competition. More obscure games are great to find e.g. Harry Potter Diagon Alleygames and Trivial Pursuit Disney.
2. Source Your Inventory: Selling Board Games
Once you’ve identified winners, find where to buy your games.
a. Manufacturer contacts:
Reach out directly to game publishers or distributors for bulk pricing.
b. Clearance and overstock:
Watch local hobby shops, big‑box clearance racks, and online marketplaces.
c. Dropshipping (for low‑risk testing):
Consider services like Spocket to test demand before investing.
d. Charity Shops or Car Boot Sales:
I would hunt for board games in charity shops, but quality finds can be rare—and overpriced. I aimed to pay around £1.99–£2.99 for a typical used game. Of course, if a title sells for more on Amazon, you can stretch your budget accordingly.
e. Preloved items sites:
You can purchase board games from sites such as Gumtree, Preloved and Shpock. Another site that is more popular in the US is Craigslist.
f: Garage Sales:
Garage sales are not seen very often in the UK but if you’re visiting other parts of the country you can come across them. Garage sales are more popular in the US.
g. Facebook Groups and Marketplace:
We have a local Facebook group for selling items. It is worth joining some local groups to see what people are selling. In addition, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to find second-hand items. There are also Facebook groups that you can post ads asking to buy board games.
h. eBay:
It is worth checking out eBay for listings that are not well described. In this instance, you may be able to pick up a bargain and then send it to Amazon to make a profit.
3. Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account For Selling Board Games
Choose the plan that fits your scale:
- Individual Plan (no monthly fee, £0.75 per item sold) if you sell < 40 units per month.
- Professional Plan (£25 per month) for higher volume and access to advanced tools.
- Sign up through Amazon Seller Central
4. Optimise Your Product Listings For Selling Board Games
High‑quality listings drive sales and lower ad costs.
- Keywords: I started with free keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner to uncover popular search terms for selling board games. If you plan to turn this into a full‑time venture, investing in premium tools such as Merchant Words can be well worth it. Merchant Words makes it easy to identify high‑demand phrases like “strategy board game” or “family game night” that drive sales.
- Titles & Bullets: Include brand, game type, player count, and key feature (e.g., “Cooperative” or “Quick Setup”).
- Images: Show box art, components, and in‑play photos.
5. Choose Fulfillment: FBA vs. FBM
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA):
- Pros: Prime badge, Amazon handles shipping and returns.
- Cons: Storage fees, long‑term storage fees for slow‑movers.
- Calculate fees beforehand with the FBA Calculator.
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM):
- Pros: Control over stock, potentially lower fees for large, heavy games.
- Cons: You handle packing, shipping, and customer service.
6. Price Strategically For Selling Board Games
- Competitive pricing: Match or beat the lowest FBA price when possible.
- Dynamic repricing: Tools like Repricer Express automate price adjustments to win the Buy Box.
- Bundle deals: Combine a base game with expansions or deluxe accessories for higher average order value.
7. Promote & Advertise
- Amazon PPC: I personally did not use Amazon PPC so can’t say whether they work. If you want to try them start with auto campaigns, then refine high‑converting keywords into manual campaigns.
- Coupons & Deals: Offer limited‑time discounts to boost rank and visibility.
- External traffic: Share deals on board‑game forums, Facebook groups, or via a simple email newsletter.
8. Manage Inventory & Cash Flow
- Inventory software: Tools like So Stocked or Restock Pro help forecast demand and avoid stockouts or excess.
- Accounting: Track expenses and profits with Quick Books Self-Employed or Xero.
9. Scale Your Game Empire
- Expand your catalog: Add related genres or popular expansions.
- International marketplaces: Launch in Amazon .co.uk, .de, .fr, and .it to tap new customers.
- Private labeling: Once you understand the market, consider launching your own branded games or accessories.
Top Tips When Selling Board Games
How to check whether a board game is worth buying
A quick way to gauge a game’s Amazon value is to open the Amazon Seller app and scan its barcode. You’ll instantly see current listings and prices, which helps you decide how much to invest. However, for sealed games, I’m willing to spend a bit more—just be aware that torn cellophane often means you’ll list it as “Like New” rather than “Brand New.”
When evaluating a sealed copy, inspect the packaging carefully. If you spot small tears, check how many used listings exist: price yours slightly above “Very Good” condition, but if the market is too crowded, you might not rank high.
Skip Games with Too Many parts
Over time I’ve learned which games come with dozens of tiny pieces and unless the potential profit is substantial, I would skip games that required me to painstakingly count parts.
Always check the completeness of a game
Always verify a game’s completeness before buying; after all, charity shop finds are often missing pieces. However, if you can’t check at the time of purchase and later discover missing components, you have options. For instance, you can keep the game for spare parts or resell it on eBay. Alternatively, if you’re only missing a few pieces, you can often source replacements on eBay as well.
Need more info check out Amazon FBA step by step by Red Mikhail
Conclusion
By combining data‑driven title selection, optimised listings, the right fulfillment strategy, and ongoing promotional efforts, you can turn selling board games on Amazon into a profitable venture. Furthermore, by using the tools above to streamline research, manage inventory, and maximise margins you can focus on growing your game business.
Have you had any success selling on Amazon? Please share your experiences below.