Junk or Gem: eBay Profit Calculator and Reseller Scanner

Junk or Gem: stop guessing, start profiting. The eBay profit calculator and reseller scanner that shows your real net profit instantly.

Built by a reseller, for resellers
100% on the official eBay API
No account. No data selling.

Resellers do not need more data.
They need less risk.

Junk or Gem is not just another price scanner. It is a risk-mitigation tool that helps you buy smarter, walk away faster, and make more money.

Calculating eBay fees, shipping, and margins while you look up comps slows you down. This turns your phone into a profit engine.

App showing a Fair Buy verdict

You do the hunting.
We do the math. Instantly.

1

Set your buy cost

Enter it once (say $1.99) or adjust per item. It carries across every scan.

2

Scan or search

Get instant results from live market data on the official eBay API.

3

See the verdict

A color-coded call, tuned to your own profit goals, so you decide in seconds.

💎 Gem

High profit

The holy grail. Exceeds your top goal (over $40 net). Buy it.

🟢 Good buy

Reliable income

Solid flips that build your bankroll (over $15 net). Your bread and butter.

🟠 Fair

Marginal

Thin margin, or the market is flooded. Proceed with caution.

🔴 Junk

Hard pass

Loses money or misses your floor. Leave it and walk away.

Most flipping apps help you research.
Junk or Gem helps you decide.

Smarter Data.
Safer Buys.

Smarter data.
Safer buys.

We do not show you raw averages ruined by outliers. Median pricing finds the true middle-market value. Flood detection warns you when a market is oversaturated, so you avoid dead-pile inventory. And the app flags junk so you stop blowing cash on bad buys.

App showing a Junk verdict
Master
Bulk Buying.

Master bulk buying.

At a thrift store, the bins, or buying a whole collection, switch to Bulk Mode to scan entire lots in seconds. The app tracks your total projected profit and calculates a Max Cash Offer, so you can negotiate a winning deal on the spot.

App bulk scan profit screen

Junk or Gem vs. a typical scanner app

The difference is deciding, not just researching.

What you getJunk or GemTypical scanner app
Real net profit, after fees and costYesShows raw price
A clear buy or walk verdictYesYou do the math
Median pricing (outlier-proof)YesRaw averages
Flood detection for oversupplyYesNo
Official eBay API (will not get you banned)YesOften scrapes
Bulk mode with Max Cash OfferYesRarely
No account, no data sellingYesVaries
Price$5.99/moOften more

Built for stability.

Unlike apps bloated with features you do not need, that scrape data without eBay's permission and crash constantly, Junk or Gem includes only what matters and runs 100% on the official eBay API. Fast, ethical, and it will not get you banned.

See it in action

Watch a scan go from barcode to verdict in seconds.

Anthony Neely, founder of Junk or Gem

Built by a reseller

Junk or Gem was built by Anthony Neely, Ph.D., who got tired of standing in the aisle doing fee math in his head and guessing whether a find was worth it. So he built the tool he wanted: one that does the math and just tells you.

Tony is also the founder of EvalScribe. You can find more of his work at anthonydneely.com.

Free know-how on the blog

Honest, in-depth guides that help you flip smarter: what is actually worth grabbing, where to source it, and how to keep more of every sale.

Is it worth flipping?

Item-by-item breakdowns so you know a gem from junk before you buy.

Where to source

Working the bins, estate sales, and garage sales without wasting a trip.

Fees and margins

What eBay really takes, and how to stop buying inventory that just sits.

Reselling with a day job

Sourcing and listing that fit into evenings and weekends.

Explore the blog
Free guide

New to flipping? Start with shoes.

Sneakers are one of the easiest, most profitable places to begin. The free Get or Forget Shoe Guide shows you which pairs are worth grabbing and which to leave on the shelf.

Plus you will be first in line when the full Shoe Flipping class opens. Coming soon.

On Android?

Junk or Gem is on iOS today, and an Android version is in the pipeline. Grab the free shoe guide and join the list, and you will be first to know the day it launches.

Get the free guide

Try it free. Go Pro when you are ready.

Free, ad-free, 10 scans a day. Pro is $5.99/mo or $49.99/yr.

Pro unlocks unlimited scans plus the bulk scanning and negotiation tools. If it helps you find one good flip, or skip one bad one, it has already paid for itself.

Download on the
App Store

Frequently asked questions

How does the app decide if an item is Junk or a Gem?
It calculates your real net profit first. It takes the market value, subtracts eBay fees (which you can customize), and subtracts your buy cost. Based on that final number it assigns a verdict: Gem (over $40), Good Buy (over $15), Fair (thin margin or flooded market), or Junk (below your minimum).
How does the My Cost box work?
It is your cost of goods sold. Type a price once (say $1.99) and the app applies it to every item you scan until you change it, so you can blitz through a $2 DVD bin or a $5 clothing rack without retyping.
What does Market Flooded mean?
Sometimes an item has a high price but nobody is buying because too many are for sale. If the app sees more than 5,000 active listings, it downgrades the verdict to Fair even when the price is high, so you avoid inventory that sits for months.
Why did an item show as Junk even though it sells for $20?
Usually one of two reasons. After eBay fees and your buy cost, the net profit may be very low. Or your minimum profit setting is higher than the profit on that item, so the app flags it as not worth your time.
Are prices based on sold or active listings?
Active listings, because they tell you who your competition is right now, and because sold data is not reliably available to small developers through eBay's API. The app uses median math to strip out outliers, and every scan has a Verify button that opens eBay's official sold records so you can confirm the data within eBay's terms.
Why do you not show a Sell-Through Rate?
An accurate sell-through rate needs reliable data on what did not sell, which eBay's official API does not provide. Apps that promise it often scrape eBay, which is why they crash or get blocked. Instead, we use Flood Detection on the active market supply to flag oversaturated items.
What about shipping costs?
The profit calculation assumes the buyer pays shipping, which is standard for most resellers. If you offer free shipping, we recommend bumping your eBay fee estimate in Settings (say to 20 to 25%) to account for that cost.
Why is the default fee set to 13%?
That is the current industry-standard average for eBay final value fees across most categories. If you use Promoted Listings or have an eBay Store, you can adjust the percentage in Settings to match your exact costs.
Why not Amazon, Poshmark, or other marketplaces?
Those marketplaces are less open to sharing API access with small developers, and we focus on the used and thrift market where eBay is king. If other platforms open up their API access, future releases will likely add them.
Does the app tell New from Used items?
Yes. A toggle on the main screen switches between Used and New. A sealed game might be worth $100 while the used copy is worth $20, so pick the right condition for an accurate value.
When will the Android version be available?
The app is on iOS now, and because it is built on a cross-platform framework, an Android version is in the pipeline. Join the list on this page and you will be first to know when it launches.
Do you sell my scanning data?
No. The app does not require an account, does not track your location, and does not see what you scan. The calculations happen on your phone. Your finds are your business.

See all questions

Get in touchWE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Junk or Gem logo Junk or Gem

The scouting tool that turns a fuzzy buying decision into a clear number, right there in the aisle.

Junk or Gem is an independent tool for resellers and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by eBay Inc. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Profit estimates are for informational purposes only and actual results may vary.
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