Who This Is For
This workflow is for eBay resellers who want to automate their sourcing game — especially those tired of manually sifting through listings. If you're flipping products on eBay and want to scale your finds without scaling your time, this automation recipe is for you.
What It Does
This n8n workflow:
- Uses AI to generate smart eBay search queries based on trending categories.
- Monitors eBay for new listings that match these prompts.
- Calculates true profit after eBay fees and estimated shipping costs.
- Sends an alert via Discord or SMS when a potentially profitable item is found.
It’s like having a personal sourcing assistant that works 24/7.
Why It Works
Unlike generic tools, this workflow uses AI-generated search terms that adapt to current market trends — meaning you’re always chasing the hottest flips. And with profit calculations built in, you’re not just chasing volume — you’re chasing value.
🔗 Related: Check out our Reseller Fee Calculator to understand how eBay fees eat into your margins.
How It Works
Trigger → Steps → Outcome
- Trigger: A scheduled cron job every 15 minutes.
- Step 1: AI Prompt Engine generates search queries (e.g., “Nintendo Switch games under $20”).
- Step 2: eBay API fetches new listings matching the prompts.
- Step 3: Each item is analyzed for potential profit (price minus fees and shipping).
- Step 4: If profit > threshold, send alert via Discord or SMS.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Prerequisites
- An n8n cloud account or self-hosted instance
- eBay Developer Account with API keys
- Discord webhook URL or Twilio credentials
- Access to an AI model API (e.g., OpenAI)
Steps
Import Workflow:
- Copy the JSON below.
- In n8n, go to Workflows > Import and paste.
Set Up Nodes:
- Schedule Trigger: Set to run every 15 minutes.
- AI Prompt Node: Use OpenAI to generate search terms like “vintage camera lens under $30”.
- eBay API Node: Use the search terms to query eBay’s Finding API.
- Function Node: Calculate profit using Reseller Fee Calculator logic.
- Discord/SMS Node: Send alert if profit > $10 (or your threshold).
Credentials:
- Add your eBay API key, OpenAI API key, and Discord webhook or Twilio credentials in n8n.
Test & Activate:
- Run a manual test.
- Activate the workflow.
n8n Workflow JSON Export
{
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {},
"id": "1",
"name": "Start",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.start",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [250, 300]
},
{
"parameters": {
"rule": {
"interval": 15
}
},
"id": "2",
"name": "Schedule Trigger",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.cron",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [450, 300]
},
{
"parameters": {
"model": "gpt-4",
"prompt": "Generate 3 eBay search queries for trending resell items under $50. Format as JSON array."
},
"id": "3",
"name": "AI Prompt Generator",
"type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [650, 300]
},
{
"parameters": {
"operation": "findItemsByKeywords",
"keywords": "={{ $json[\"prompt\"] }}",
"limit": 10
},
"id": "4",
"name": "eBay API",
"type": "@n8n/nodes-eBay.eBay",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [850, 300]
},
{
"parameters": {
"functionCode": "const items = $input.all();\nconst results = items.map(item => {\n const price = parseFloat(item.json.price);\n const fee = price * 0.13; // eBay + PayPal combined\n const shipping = 5.00;\n const profit = price - fee - shipping;\n return { ...item.json, profit };\n});\nreturn results.filter(i => i.profit > 10);"
},
"id": "5",
"name": "Profit Calculator",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.function",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [1050, 300]
},
{
"parameters": {
"webhookUri": "https://discord.com/api/webhooks/YOUR/WEBHOOK",
"text": "Found a flip: {{ $json.title }} - Profit: ${{ $json.profit.toFixed(2) }}"
},
"id": "6",
"name": "Discord Alert",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.discord",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [1250, 300]
}
],
"connections": {
"Start": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Schedule Trigger",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Schedule Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "AI Prompt Generator",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"AI Prompt Generator": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "eBay API",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"eBay API": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Profit Calculator",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Profit Calculator": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Discord Alert",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
Troubleshooting FAQ
Q: eBay API isn’t returning results?
A: Double-check your API key and ensure your search terms are valid. eBay's API can be strict on formatting.
Q: Why are my alerts firing for low-profit items?
A: Adjust the profit threshold in the Function Node. You might also want to tweak the AI prompt to avoid low-value categories.
Q: Can I use this with Make or Zapier?
A: Yes — but this version is optimized for n8n. We’re working on cross-platform versions. Subscribe to our blog for updates.
Next Step
👉 Monetize This: Turn this workflow into a premium SaaS for resellers. Charge monthly for curated AI prompts, multi-channel alerts, and profit tracking dashboards.
🧠 Pro Tip: Pair this with our AI Prompt Pack for Indie Makers to supercharge your automation ideas.