Marketing & Getting Clients

How to Get Clients for Your Video Game Reselling Business

Getting clients for a video game reselling business means building trust with people who want quality games at fair prices. Your clients won’t come from traditional advertising alone—they come from being visible where gamers shop, proving you have legitimate inventory, and creating a reputation for honesty and fair dealing. The channels that work best for this business are direct (local sales, online marketplaces) and community-based (social proof, word of mouth).

Your marketing job is simple: show potential buyers that you have games they want, at prices they’ll accept, and that you’re reliable to buy from. Everything else follows from that.

Who Your Ideal Clients Are

Your ideal clients fall into a few clear groups: casual gamers looking for affordable copies of popular titles, collectors hunting for retro or out-of-print games, parents buying games for children on a budget, and enthusiasts who want physical copies instead of digital downloads. These customers actively search for games online or browse local shops—they’re not passive. They compare prices, check seller ratings, and often buy repeatedly if you treat them well.

The best clients are repeat buyers. A customer who buys one game at $15 profit becomes a client who buys five games over six months for $75 in total profit. Repeat buyers also refer friends, leave positive feedback, and ask you to source specific titles—which cuts your acquisition cost dramatically. Focus on serving these repeat customers exceptionally well, and they’ll become your best marketing channel.

Your Best Marketing Channels

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist

These platforms are where local buyers search for used games. Facebook Marketplace especially is where casual buyers land when they search “Nintendo Switch games near me” or “retro gaming.” Your inventory should be listed with clear photos, accurate descriptions, and your asking price. Response time matters—if you reply within an hour, you’ll convert significantly more sales than competitors who reply after several hours. Craigslist works similarly but skews slightly older and requires meetups, which limits reach but can build local reputation fast.

eBay

eBay is essential if you’re selling games nationally or specializing in retro titles. Buyers on eBay actively hunt for specific games and will pay shipping costs. Your seller rating becomes your credibility—start by pricing competitively to build positive feedback quickly, then raise prices slightly as your rating grows. eBay’s algorithm favors established sellers with high ratings, so the first 20-30 sales should be prioritized for rating growth, even if margins are slightly lower.

Local Facebook Groups and Reddit Communities

Join local buy-and-sell Facebook groups, retro gaming communities, and subreddits like r/retrogaming or r/gamecollecting. Post your inventory regularly (follow group rules about frequency). These communities trust peer recommendations more than storefronts. A buyer who discovers you through a trusted community group is more likely to return and refer others. Don’t hard-sell—post inventory, answer questions honestly, and let quality speak for itself.

Your Own Website or Simple Shop

You don’t need a fancy site, but a basic inventory list with photos, pricing, and a contact form builds credibility. Customers who find you through Marketplace often search your name to verify legitimacy. A simple site (Shopify, Squarespace, or even a Google Business profile with product photos) reassures buyers you’re a real business. For many customers, especially repeat buyers, having a dedicated place to see your full inventory matters more than flashy design.

Gaming Store Partnerships

Contact local game shops, retro game stores, and arcade cafes. Offer to supply them with inventory on consignment or at wholesale rates. They reach customers you might not, and you get credibility from association with an established business. Even if margins are tighter on consignment deals, the volume and exposure often justify it in your first year.

Google Business Profile and Local Search

Claim and optimize your Google Business profile. When someone searches “buy used video games near me,” your profile can appear if you’re set up correctly. Include photos of your inventory, your hours, and your contact information. Encourage early customers to leave reviews—Google Business reviews are the first thing potential clients see in local search results.

Getting Your First 3 Clients

1. List 15–20 games immediately on Facebook Marketplace with clear photos and fair pricing. Price slightly below market rate to encourage quick sales and build momentum. Your goal is sales, not maximum profit on the first batch.
2. Join three local buy-and-sell Facebook groups and one relevant subreddit. Post your inventory in each, following group rules. Check these daily and respond to inquiries within one hour.
3. Create a Google Business profile for your business if you’re operating locally. Add 10–15 product photos of your best games. This takes two hours but gives you visibility in local search for months.
4. Reach out personally to two or three local game stores or retro shops. Offer a consignment arrangement or wholesale deal. A single partnership can generate 2–3 clients quickly if the store has regular foot traffic.
5. Ask your first three buyers to refer a friend. Offer a small incentive—$2 off their next purchase if they refer someone who buys. This typically converts one referral per five customers.

Building Referrals and Word of Mouth

Word of mouth in gaming communities happens fast because gamers talk about where they find good deals. Every positive interaction—accurate descriptions, fair pricing, prompt shipping, or even just a friendly message—increases the chance a customer mentions you to friends. The gaming community is tighter than most retail markets, so a satisfied customer often tells 3–5 people. A dissatisfied customer tells more. Your referral rate depends entirely on delivery—ship fast, describe games honestly, and handle problems without defensiveness.

Formalize this by asking satisfied customers for reviews on eBay, Facebook, and Google. Don’t bribe reviews, but do ask. A customer who just received a game in better condition than they expected will often leave a glowing review if you simply ask. After your first 30 sales, aim for a 4.8+ star rating across platforms. This becomes your best marketing tool—new customers will choose you over competitors primarily because your ratings prove you deliver.

Your Online Presence

You need two things online: a working profile on the platforms where buyers search (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Google Business), and evidence of reliability. This means accurate inventory descriptions, clear photos from multiple angles, stated shipping times, and a response policy. Buyers want to know what condition a game is actually in—mention if the case is damaged, if the manual is missing, if the disc has scratches. Honesty here prevents returns and builds repeat business.

A simple website listing your inventory isn’t strictly necessary early on, but a Google Business profile is. It costs nothing and puts you in local search results. Over time, as your business grows, a dedicated site or Shopify store gives you more control over pricing and presentation, but it’s not a first priority. Focus on platforms where buyers already search, not on building a destination site.

Social Media Strategy

Facebook is your primary platform because Facebook Marketplace is where many buyers search, and Facebook groups are where gaming communities gather. Instagram works secondarily for visual inventory posts and building a following of collectors who return regularly. TikTok can work if you’re comfortable creating short videos showcasing rare finds or hauls, but it requires consistency and isn’t essential. Skip Twitter and LinkedIn for this business—they don’t reach game buyers.

Post new inventory on Facebook and Instagram 2–3 times weekly. Show the games in good light, include the price, and make descriptions brief. Engage with comments quickly. You’re not trying to go viral; you’re staying visible to people who follow gaming content and might buy. A focused, consistent Instagram feed of your best inventory builds authority and gives repeat customers a reason to check back regularly.

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising on Facebook and eBay makes sense after you’ve validated your business model with organic sales. Start with a $200–300 monthly budget on Facebook Marketplace ads targeting local buyers searching for specific games. Test ads for your best-selling inventory first (popular Switch games, sought-after retro titles). eBay advertising costs 2–4% of sale price and works best once you have positive feedback. Hold off on paid ads until you’ve made 30+ sales organically—you’ll understand your margins and which games sell fastest, making ads more profitable.

Client Retention

• Ship or deliver within 48 hours of payment. Speed builds loyalty more than almost anything else.
• Send follow-up messages asking if the game arrived as described. Offer to help with any issues before they leave negative feedback.
• Create a simple email or text list of repeat customers and notify them about new inventory or sales before posting publicly.
• Offer loyalty pricing—a small discount (5–10% off) for repeat buyers after their third purchase.
• Build a wishlist system. If customers tell you games they’re hunting for, source those games and message them first.
• Ask customers what systems and genres they collect. Reference this in future interactions so they feel known, not like a transaction.
• Handle problems generously. If a game arrives damaged or described incorrectly, replace it without complaint. The goodwill pays back in referrals.

For more specific tactics, explore our guides on the fastest ways to get your first 10 video game reselling customers, the best marketing tools for your video game reselling business, and local marketing strategies for video game reselling.