My Experience with Inventory Bot
I’ve been selling random stuff from thrift stores on eBay for about six months, and my “system” was a nightmare. I’d scribble items in a notebook, forget to mark things as sold, and almost shipped a book last Tuesday that I’d already sold the week before. My Galaxy S23 is basically glued to my hand, so I figured there had to be a better app than my chaotic notes. I saw Inventory Bot had a high rating and was free, so I gave it a shot with zero expectations. After using it for several months to track maybe 150 items, I’m actually organized. It didn’t magically run my business for me, but it stopped the dumb, preventable mistakes that were costing me sales and my sanity.
Features Worth Noting
The barcode scanner is legit. I was at a flea market last month, found a box of old video games, and just stood there scanning them into the app on the spot to see what I had. It pulls in product names about 80% of the time, which saves a ton of typing. For the weird stuff without a barcode, manual entry is straightforward. Connecting it to my eBay account was the real win. Now, when something sells, the stock number in the app drops automatically. No more cross-checking lists. I also set up a low stock alert for my most popular category, and getting that notification on my phone before I hit zero feels like having a helpful assistant I don’t have to pay.
What Needs Work
The initial setup is a chore. Inputting all my existing inventory from my scribbled notebook took me a solid Sunday afternoon. It’s a one-time thing, but it’s a barrier. The app also feels a bit bare-bones on the reporting side. I can see what I have in stock, but if I want to know what my top-selling items were last month or my total inventory value, I’m out of luck. I have to export the data and mess with a spreadsheet myself, which defeats the purpose a bit. It handles the basics well but doesn’t offer much insight.
Pricing
This is where they really got me. I’m the type of person who will use a janky free app forever to avoid a subscription. Inventory Bot’s free tier is shockingly generous. I get the barcode scanner, low stock alerts, and one store connection (eBay for me). The big limit is you can only have one other user. Since it’s just me running this from my kitchen table, that’s perfect. They do have a Pro plan for teams, but they aren’t shoving it in your face. The fact that the core functionality isn’t locked behind a paywall made me trust the app more.
Developer Notes
I haven’t had to contact support, but I check the app store reviews occasionally. It seems like when people have issues, the developers actually respond in the comments and try to help, which is a good sign. The app itself gets updated pretty regularly, maybe once every few weeks. I noticed the scanner got faster after one update, and another one fixed a weird glitch with the search bar. It feels like they’re actively maintaining it, not just letting it sit there.
Security & Privacy
I got it from the Play Store like any other app. It needs camera access for scanning and internet to sync with my eBay. I skimmed their privacy policy before connecting my store, and it clearly says they don’t sell your inventory data. That’s really all I cared about. I’m not storing credit card info in there, just my list of books and knick-knacks, so I feel comfortable with it. It uses my Google account to log in, which is one less password to remember.
Does Inventory Bot have a barcode scanner?
Yes, it includes a barcode scanner that works well at flea markets or stores. It pulls in product names about 80% of the time, and for items without a barcode, manual entry is straightforward.
Can Inventory Bot sync with my eBay account?
Absolutely. You can connect your eBay account so that when an item sells, the stock number in the app updates automatically. This eliminates the need to manually cross-check your listings.
How do I add my existing inventory to Inventory Bot?
You'll need to manually enter each item, which can take a while if you have a large catalog. The reviewer spent a whole Sunday afternoon inputting about 150 items from a notebook, but it's a one-time setup that pays off in organization.
Does Inventory Bot generate reports on sales or inventory value?
No, the reporting features are basic. You can see what's in stock, but for insights like top-selling items or total inventory value, you'll need to export the data and use a spreadsheet yourself.
How does Inventory Bot compare to Sortly for inventory tracking?
Sortly offers more robust reporting and visual organization with folders and photos, but Inventory Bot wins on price (it's free) and its direct eBay integration for automatic stock updates. If you need deep analytics, Sortly is better; if you want a simple, cost-free sync with eBay, go with Inventory Bot.
