Amazon lot auctions: Spain vs the rest of Europe
If you're looking for the highest margin per euro invested, Amazon lot auctions in Spain offer less competition and lower starting prices (from €1,200 per pallet) than in Germany or the UK, but the volume and average quality of European pallets is higher. In practical terms, buying in Europe only pays off if you invest over €5,000 per lot and take on shipping costs of €400-800, while Spain is ideal for small and medium resellers looking for quick turnover without customs hassles.
How much does an Amazon lot really cost in each country?
Starting prices at auctions vary every week, but aggregated data from platforms like BStock, Liquidity Services, and Catawiki (for retail lots) shows very clear ranges by market:
| Country | Average price per mixed pallet | Average price per electronics pallet | Competition per lot | Average shipping cost (Spain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | €3,500 - €5,500 | €6,000 - €9,000 | Medium-Low (5-15 bidders) | €150 - €250 |
| Germany | €4,200 - €6,800 | €7,500 - €12,000 | High (20-40 bidders) | €350 - €600 |
| UK | €3,800 - €6,000 | €6,500 - €10,500 | High (15-30 bidders) | €500 - €900 (customs included) |
| France | €3,200 - €5,000 | €5,500 - €8,500 | Medium (10-20 bidders) | €200 - €350 |
| Italy | €2,800 - €4,500 | €5,000 - €7,500 | Low (3-8 bidders) | €250 - €400 |
Indicative data based on real auctions from the last 12 months on LotesOnline.es and associated platforms.
As you can see, Spain is not the cheapest market in absolute price (Italy is), but internal logistics costs make it the most efficient for a Spanish buyer. An Italian pallet at €3,000 + €350 shipping can end up costing the same as a Spanish one at €3,400 with shipping included.
Why is there less competition in Spain and what does it mean for your wallet?
The short answer: fewer registered professional resellers. In Germany, the retail arbitrage business is highly professionalized, with companies buying 50-100 pallets per month. In Spain, most buyers are freelancers or small businesses purchasing 1-5 pallets monthly.
This has a direct effect on bids:
- In Spain: lots usually sell for 60-75% of the estimated retail value (RRP). This leaves a gross margin of 30-45% after costs.
- In Germany: lots sell for 75-90% of the estimated RRP, leaving margins of 15-25% for the average reseller.
Practical example: A toy pallet valued at €8,000 RRP. At the Spanish BStock auction, a similar lot sold for €4,800 (60%). At the German one, the same lot went for €6,200 (77%). After subtracting shipping to Spain (€500), the German buyer still paid €900 more for the same product.
What type of buyer benefits from each market?
- Spain: perfect if you sell on Wallapop, Vinted, Mercado Libre, or have a local physical store. Turnover is your priority and you don't want to tie yourself to large volumes.
- Europe (Germany/UK): ideal if you already work with Amazon FBA and have storage capacity, since you can send pallets directly to the German fulfillment center without going through Spain.
Is pallet quality better in Europe than in Spain?
Here's a widespread myth worth debunking: it's not that European pallets are of better quality, it's that their classification is stricter. Amazon Deutschland has return centers that label products as "minor defect" (leichte Gebrauchsspuren) or "only packaging damaged" (Verpackung beschädigt). In Spain, classification is more generic: "sealed," "opened," or "damaged."
This means that:
- In Germany you can find electronics lots where 80% of items are unopened, but you'll pay a premium for that certainty.
- In Spain a lot labeled as "mixed" can contain anything from perfect items to others with significant cosmetic damage. It's a riskier lottery, but the entry price is much lower.
Professional tip: If you buy in Spain, demand the manifest (product list) from the platform before bidding. On LotesOnline.es, 90% of Amazon Spain auctions include this document, which reduces uncertainty.
What hidden costs should you add when buying outside Spain?
When comparing starting prices between countries, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking an Italian pallet at €3,000 is better than a Spanish one at €3,500. But you need to add:
- International shipping: €300-800 depending on weight and country of origin. Specialized retail pallet transport companies (like Palletways or Dachser) charge per linear meter, not per kilo.
- Customs duties (UK only): since Brexit, buying from the UK involves a 0-4% duty (depending on category) plus 21% import VAT that you must advance. This adds an extra 25% to the total cost.
- Returns management: if the pallet arrives with severe damage, claiming against a seller in Germany involves a cross-border legal process. In Spain, claims are more agile.
- Language barrier: manifests and quality certificates come in German, Italian, or French. A poor translation can make you overvalue a lot.
Summary table: real cost of a €4,000 pallet in each country (for a Spanish buyer)
| Concept | Spain | Germany | UK | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet price | €4,000 | €4,800 | €4,500 | €3,200 |
| Shipping to Spain | €200 | €500 | €700 | €350 |
| Customs/import VAT | €0 | €0 (EU VAT deductible) | €900 (approx.) | €0 |
| Shipping insurance | €50 | €80 | €120 | €60 |
| Total cost | €4,250 | €5,380 | €6,220 | €3,610 |
| Cost per kilo (approx.) | €4.25/kg | €5.38/kg | €6.22/kg | €3.61/kg |
Example with a 1,000 kg pallet. Intra-EU VAT deductible for freelancers in Spain.
When is it worth buying in Europe and when in Spain?
There's no universal answer, but there are clear patterns that regular buyers repeat:
Buy in Spain if:
- Your maximum investment per lot is under €5,000.
- You sell through local channels (Wallapop, physical store, flea markets).
- You want to start with low risk and learn how auctions work.
- You need invoicing with Spanish VAT to simplify your accounting.
Buy in Europe (Germany, France, Italy) if:
- Your investment exceeds €8,000-10,000 per month and you want to diversify suppliers.
- You're looking for specific categories (high-end electronics, seasonal toys) that rarely come up in Spain.
- You work with Amazon FBA and can ship directly to the European warehouse without going through home.
- You have experience claiming damages and know technical English or German.
Market data you should know before deciding
According to data from the Spanish Resellers Association (AER) for 2024:
- 60% of Spanish buyers who tried foreign auctions returned to Spain within 6 months. The main reason wasn't price, but logistical complexity and delivery delays (average of 12 days vs. 4 days for domestic auctions).
- The average margin of a Spanish reseller buying only in Spain is 28%, compared to 22% for those buying exclusively abroad (before taxes).
- However, the revenue volume of those buying in Europe is 40% higher, because they can purchase more pallets per month.
What platforms do professionals use for each market?
Not all auctions operate the same way in each country. These are the most relevant:
- BStock (Amazon): operates in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. Spanish lots are less frequent (2-3 weekly auctions) vs. daily ones in Germany.
- Liquidity Services: strong in the UK and Germany, with little presence in Spain. Ideal for professional electronics lots.
- Catawiki: smaller retail lot auctions (boxes, not pallets), works well in Spain and Italy for beginners.
- LotesOnline.es: aggregates auctions from multiple platforms and countries, letting you compare prices and conditions at a glance. It's the tool we used for the data in this article.
Conclusion: Where should you buy your next Amazon lot?
If you're new or have a tight budget, Spain is your market: less competition, predictable logistics costs, and a familiar legal framework. If you already invoice over €10,000 per month and want to scale, Europe is essential to find electronics and toy deals that rarely reach Spanish auctions.
The winning strategy of the most profitable resellers isn't choosing a single country, but combining both: buying small pallets in Spain to maintain cash flow, and reserving extra budget to bid in Germany when a high-end lot appears.
Before your next bid, use the LotesOnline.es comparator to filter by country, price, and category. With real-time auction data from the last 30 days, you'll see if that pallet in Frankfurt is truly cheaper than a similar one in Madrid, with shipping already included. Create your free account and start comparing today.