How to Sell Video Games and Consoles on eBay (Testing, Photos and Listings)

Video games and consoles are a reliable reselling category: there are always buyers, the items are small, and demand holds up for years. They're also a category where small details decide whether a sale sticks: the platform, the region, whether the disc is scratched, whether the console actually boots.

This guide walks through the process in the order you'd do it.

1. Identify exactly what you have

Before anything else, work out the details a buyer will search for:

• Platform. PlayStation 2, Switch, Xbox 360 and so on. Many titles exist on several platforms.
• Exact title and edition. Special editions, bundles and "Greatest Hits" or "Player's Choice" re-releases are different listings.
• Region. Older consoles and some games are region-locked. A North American game won't run on a European console, and vice versa. The region is printed on the case, the disc or the cartridge label.
• What's in the box. Case, manual, inserts, original slipcover.

"Complete in box" (CIB) means the game, case and manual are all present. "Loose" means the game alone. The difference matters a lot to buyers and to price.

2. Test before you list

Testing is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid returns.

Games.

• Run the game on a matching console and get past the title screen.
• Check the disc surface in good light for deep scratches.
• For cartridges, wipe dirty contacts gently with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol and let them dry fully.
• If the game saves, check that it loads and saves.

Consoles.

• Power on and let it run for several minutes. Listen for unusual fan noise.
• Test the ports you can: video out, USB, controller ports, the disc drive.
• Test every controller: buttons, triggers and sticks, since stick drift is common.
• Check any wireless features that matter to the model.

Write down what you tested. "Tested: boots, plays discs, HDMI and both controller ports work" is far more convincing, and more honest, than "works great."

3. Clear your data

Before shipping a console or handheld, sign out of your accounts and factory reset it following the manufacturer's instructions. Remove any memory cards, SD cards or external drives that are yours. A buyer shouldn't inherit your accounts, and you shouldn't ship your data.

4. Photograph it properly

Use the phone photo guide, then add:

• Games: front and back of the case, the spine, the manual and inserts, both sides of the disc, and any scratches or cracks up close. For cartridges, the label and the back.
• Consoles: front, back, the ports, the model and serial label, every controller and cable included, and any scuffs or yellowing.

Photograph everything that's included, together, in one shot. It becomes your proof if a buyer says something was missing.

5. Write the title and item specifics

A reliable title pattern is Platform, game or console name, edition, what's included or its state. For example:

• Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Game Cartridge Only Tested Works (68 characters)

Then fill in the item specifics: Platform, Game Name, Region Code, Rating, Genre, Publisher and Release Year for games; Brand, Model, Storage Capacity, Color and Region for consoles.

Use words like "Disc Only," "No Manual," "CIB" or "Console Only" when they apply. They tell buyers exactly what they're getting and save you questions.

6. Watch for reproductions

Reproduction cartridges and boxes exist for many retro games. They're sometimes sold as the real thing. Look at the label print quality, the circuit board, the case and the manual, and compare against known-genuine examples. If you can't verify a retro game is genuine, don't list it as authentic. eBay restricts counterfeits, and a buyer who discovers one will return it.

7. Price and pack

Price from sold listings for the same platform, region and completeness (how). A complete copy and a loose one can sell for very different amounts, so match them carefully.

Pack discs and cartridges so they can't rattle inside the case. For consoles, remove discs, wrap the console and controllers separately, and use a box with room to cushion on all sides. Weigh the packed box before you list (shipping guide), and consider tracking and extra protection for expensive units.

Quick checklist

• Platform, title, edition and region identified
• Tested, with the results written down
• Accounts signed out and console reset
• Every flaw and every included item photographed
• Title and item specifics match the item
• Priced from sold listings in the same condition and completeness