One of the biggest challenges for resellers is keeping track of products across multiple marketplaces. Prices on Amazon and Walmart change daily — sometimes hourly. If you’re not paying attention, you can miss profitable flips or accidentally buy items that don’t sell. In this case study, I’ll walk you through how I personally track products across Amazon and Walmart, what tools I use, and the workflow that helps me stay on top of opportunities.
Step 1: Pick the Right Products to Track
Not every product is worth monitoring. Focus your efforts where there’s the most potential:
- Best-selling categories like toys, electronics, and home goods.
- Seasonal products such as holiday decorations or back-to-school items.
- Items with price volatility that regularly shift between discount and full retail.
Example: A LEGO set that sells for $29.99 at Walmart but jumps to $49.99 on Amazon during the holidays. Tracking this allows you to buy low and flip at the right time.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on trending products by browsing Walmart’s Rollbacks section and Amazon’s Movers & Shakers list.
Step 2: Set Up a Tracking System
When I first started, I kept things simple with a spreadsheet. Here’s the structure I used:
- Product Name
- Walmart Price
- Amazon Price
- Profit Margin (after fees)
- Stock Status (In/Out)
- Notes (e.g., seasonal demand, restrictions)
Even this simple setup helped me see patterns quickly. For example, I noticed that certain toys dropped in price on Walmart every August, while Amazon prices surged in November and December.
As I scaled, I upgraded to automated systems using scrapers and APIs, but the spreadsheet method is a perfect entry point for beginners.
Step 3: Monitor Prices Consistently
Consistency is everything. Prices and stock levels change rapidly. By updating data once a day (manually or automatically), you can:
- Catch Walmart discounts the moment they happen.
- Identify Amazon price spikes.
- Calculate profit margins in real time.
Example: If Walmart drops a video game from $49.99 to $29.99 and Amazon’s price remains $49.99, that’s a potential $20 margin (minus fees). Without tracking, you’d miss this window.
Pro Tip: Create conditional formatting in your spreadsheet so profitable margins highlight automatically.
Step 4: Factor in All Fees and Costs
It’s not enough to compare retail prices. You need to calculate the true profit after every expense:
- Amazon referral and FBA fees.
- Walmart sales tax and shipping charges.
- Packaging and shipping to customers (if FBM).
- Storage fees if using Amazon FBA.
Example: That $20 margin opportunity might shrink to $8–10 after all fees. Always calculate net profit before buying.
Step 5: Automate When Possible
Manual tracking is a good starting point, but it’s time-consuming. Automation saves hours and reduces errors. Some options include:
- Keepa for Amazon price history and alerts.
- Walmart price trackers or browser extensions.
- Custom scrapers (what I built in my early ByteConn prototypes).
- ByteConn (coming soon): an automated system designed specifically for resellers to track cross-marketplace opportunities in real time.
Automation allowed me to monitor dozens of products at once, instead of only a handful. That difference translates directly to higher profits.
Bonus Tip: Track Seasonal Patterns
Price tracking isn’t only about today. Looking at historical data lets you anticipate trends:
- Toys and electronics spike around Black Friday.
- Outdoor equipment jumps in spring and summer.
- School supplies peak in late summer.
Knowing these patterns helps you stock up before demand surges and avoid being stuck with excess inventory afterward.
FAQs on Product Tracking
Q: Can I really track products manually without tools?
Yes — start with a spreadsheet and commit to updating daily. Once you have more than 40–60 products, automation becomes necessary.
Q: How many products should I track at first?
Begin with 5–10 products in one niche (like toys or electronics). Learn how pricing shifts before expanding.
Q: Is Walmart-to-Amazon arbitrage still profitable?
Yes, but margins are slimmer without smart tracking. The key is timing purchases when Walmart discounts align with Amazon’s higher demand.
Final Thoughts
Tracking products across Amazon and Walmart doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small with a spreadsheet, focus on high-demand categories, and check prices consistently. Over time, add automation and historical analysis to scale your workflow.
The result? Fewer missed opportunities, fewer bad buys, and more consistent profits. That’s the foundation every reseller needs to grow.
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