Definition
The simultaneous purchase and sale of the same asset in different markets to profit from tiny differences in the asset's listed price.
In Panel Profits
Exploiting temporary pricing discrepancies between disparate comic auction houses, convention floor dealers, and online marketplaces for identical certified grades.
Comic-market example
Acquiring a CGC 9.6 Wolverine #1 on an unreserved eBay auction for $320 and immediately executing a sale on Heritage Auctions or ComicConnect at its established $480 FMV.
Calculation
Arbitrage Spread = Marketplace A (Price - Buyer Fees) - Marketplace B (Price + Seller Fees)
Common mistakes
Do not calculate arbitrage without accounting for shipping, insurance, and grading tier certification costs.