Is Tactical Arbitrage Worth it?
Retail arbitrage is currently the backbone of my business; however, I know that if I can start to incorporate more online arbitrage into my business model then I can scale at a faster pace. While I do still source for OA products manually, I'm hoping to improve, and potentially automate, this process some. This is where Tactical Arbitrage comes into play!
I know that there is a huge benefit with sourcing online, as it can save you time and you're more likely to be able to purchase products in bulk. Therefore, in this blog post I will share my personal experience with Tactical Arbitrage and if I think it's worth it.
I have tried using Tactical Arbitrage (TA) multiple times in the past, without luck. There is a huge learning curve to it. But I'm convinced that once you figure it out, you're golden, which brings me to the pros and cons of the software.
Pros of TA
It automates online sourcing. This can be critical as it can save you time and make it easier for you to find profitable items to sell on Amazon.
There are more than 1,000 online retail stores in TA's database! While this can be a bit overwhelming, I believe that it's also extremely helpful as it allows you to source at new places and, potentially, with less competition.
You can run up to 7 scans at once, which increases the probability of finding profitable products. Another bonus is that you can start the search and then go about your normal day, as the software will do its thing even if you're not there!
Cons of TA
I would say that the biggest con is the learning curve associated with figuring out TA. While I feel like I'm starting to learn the basics now, it was extremely frustrating at the beginning because I literally had no idea what I was doing. I would run multiple scans and it would yield zero products! So, if you're trying to learn how to use TA and can't figure it out, trust me, you're not alone.
Another con to TA is the cost! The monthly membership is $89/month and the yearly is $70/month which is a bit steep, especially for new sellers. If you're willing to put in the work to learn the software and have additional cash laying around, then I would definitely recommend TA. However, if you're new and/or having cash flow issues, then I would recommend holding off on your TA subscription and use that money to source for profitable products elsewhere!
Another con, and a frustrating one at that, is the minute-cap added to your membership. With all TA memberships, 40,000 scan minutes are included. However, if you want to scan more than that, you will be charged an additional $15-20 depending on how much more you scan during that billing cycle. I didn't realize this when I first signed up and blew through my first 40,000 scan minutes in my first week of having the software! This just recently changed over the summer and I'm honestly not sure why, but it's extremely frustrating!
TA Finds
Here are some screenshots from my product scans and some profitable items that were found based on my search criteria and selected filters. These are items that I left behind for some reason or another. Feel free to check these out to see if they are still profitable for you!
Here are some items that I purchased that were sourced through TA. It is possible to find profitable items to sell utilizing this software, you just have to be willing to put in the work!
Overall, I ended up spending approximately $480 for an expected profit of $450! So, it has at least paid for my monthly membership and then some. 😊
Is TA worth it?
Now to answer the pressing question - Is TA worth it? My short answer is that it depends on the seller!
If you have the time, money, and are motivated to put in the work to learn the software, then yes, it's worth it! But, if you're limited on time and capital, then I would recommend holding off until your business is in a better place. To me, it would make much more sense to use that additional $70-89 a month on products to sell.
Personally, I enjoyed utilizing TA, but I'm going to get rid of my subscription for now and put more of my focus on learning how to reverse source and storefront stalk using SellerAmp.
Leave a comment with your thoughts on TA if you're using it or have used it in the past!