Finding profitable products to sell on Amazon often feels like searching for treasure without a map. You spend hours scanning items at retail stores or clicking through endless online listings only to come up empty-handed. But with the right tools—and more importantly, the right techniques—product sourcing becomes less about luck and more about strategy.
Seller 365 combines four powerful sourcing tools in one bundle: Tactical Arbitrage for online arbitrage, ScoutIQ for flipping books and media, Scoutify for retail store scanning, and ScoutX for browser-based Amazon product research. Each tool has its strengths, and using them correctly makes all the difference.
We’ve gathered the most effective practices for each tool to help you create a sourcing system that consistently delivers profitable products. Let’s dive in.
Creating your ideal sourcing toolkit
Smart Amazon sellers use multiple sourcing methods. No single approach works perfectly all the time. Market conditions change, competition shifts, and opportunities emerge in unexpected places.
Your schedule and location matter too. Online arbitrage works well for late-night sourcing sessions at home. Retail arbitrage fits better for those who enjoy hunting deals in physical stores. Book sourcing might suit you if your area has great thrift stores or library sales.
Seller 365 brings all these methods together. No more switching between separate apps or juggling multiple subscriptions.
Tactical Arbitrage best practices
Tactical Arbitrage scans thousands of products across hundreds of websites to find profitable online arbitrage opportunities. The tool has serious horsepower, but you need to drive it correctly.
Start with proper account setup and broad searches. This sounds basic, but it trips up many sellers. Connect an active Amazon Pro account that isn’t linked to any old TA accounts (contact support if needed). Begin searches with minimal filters and multiple categories, then narrow results later. This approach captures opportunities that restrictive initial searches would miss.
Troubleshoot unexpected results effectively. When results look strange, first check your Global Filters—they override individual search settings and are often the hidden culprit. If that doesn’t solve it, try resetting all filters completely. For Easy Bulk loading issues, remove previous categories before adding new ones.
Learn as you go with built-in guidance. Tactical Arbitrage includes explanations throughout the interface. Hover over those question mark icons for instant clarity on what each setting does. Still lost? Head over to our support hub or Threecolts University for more info.
ScoutIQ best practices
ScoutIQ turns book sourcing from random guessing into a data-driven process. It tells you instantly which books will sell and which will collect dust.
Prepare before you scout. Same with Tactical Arbitrage, first connect your Amazon Pro Seller account to see personalized restriction checks. Then, make sure to always refresh your database on strong Wi-Fi before heading out. Fresh data prevents buying based on outdated prices and availability.
Focus on quality over quantity. Prioritize books with high eScores (above 71). This means they sold consistently over the past 180 days, not just occasionally. These steady sellers often justify paying a bit more since they move reliably.
Maximize accuracy and workflow efficiency. When doing Title Scans, use the inside title page rather than the cover for better results. Add fields like List Price, Quantity, and Cost Per Unit when exporting data to make your InventoryLab imports seamless.
ScoutX best practices
ScoutX adds sourcing power directly to your browser. This Chrome extension analyzes Amazon listings instantly as you browse, flagging profitable opportunities you might otherwise miss.
Create a data-driven research system. Export product details (ASIN, ROI, cost, sales rank) directly to Google Sheets as you browse. This builds a searchable product database you can reference anytime, much better than scattered notes or screenshots.
Build a two-step sourcing workflow. Use ScoutX at home for deeper research on items you found while out scanning with Scoutify. This tag-team approach combines quick in-store decisions with thorough analysis, improving your buy success rate.
Scoutify best practices
Scoutify transforms your smartphone into a retail arbitrage machine. It tells you instantly if that clearance item is worth buying or better left on the shelf.
Set up guardrails before you shop. Take a few minutes to customize your Ideal Buy parameters (ROI%, profit thresholds, rank limits) in the app settings. These personal guardrails stop impulse buys that look good in the moment but don’t match your business model.
Look beyond the current price. Tap those built-in Keepa and CamelCamelCamel links while scanning to see price history and sales trends. This quick extra step reveals if a product is truly profitable or just temporarily priced high due to seasonal factors or stock issues.
How to build your complete sourcing workflow
The real magic happens when you combine all four tools into a cohesive sourcing system. Here’s how top sellers structure their approach:
Start each week with Tactical Arbitrage searches. Set them to run overnight so you wake up to fresh results. Place orders for the best opportunities before your competition spots them.
Schedule dedicated retail sourcing days with Scoutify. Plan efficient store routes and use your customized Ideal Buy settings to make quick decisions while scanning.
Hit thrift stores and library sales regularly with ScoutIQ. Books offer some of the highest ROI in reselling, making this a valuable addition even if it’s not your main focus.
Keep ScoutX active whenever you’re browsing online. The extension format makes it perfect for spotting deals during your normal internet use.
Track which methods yield the best results for your specific business. Some sellers crush it with online arbitrage while others excel at book scouting. Data helps you focus on what works best for you.
Next steps
Pick one tool to master first. Most sellers start with either Tactical Arbitrage (if you prefer working from home) or Scoutify (if you enjoy store visits).
Set a specific goal—maybe finding 5 profitable products in your first week. Track your results and note which techniques worked best for your particular situation.
Remember that sourcing is partly science and partly art. The tools provide data, but your judgment ultimately determines success.