Where Do Bin Stores Get Their Inventory? A Behind-the-Scenes Look
If you’ve ever visited a bin store, you might have wondered, “Where do all these products come from?” Bin stores are stocked with Amazon returns, overstock items, and liquidation merchandise, but the process of sourcing these products isn’t always clear.
Understanding where bin stores get their inventory can help you shop smarter, find better deals, and even start your own resale business. If you’ve ever searched for bin stores near me, knowing how these stores stock their shelves can give you a better idea of what to expect before you visit.
In this guide, we’ll explore:
✅ How bin stores source their inventory
✅ The different types of liquidation merchandise
✅ How bin stores buy and sort their goods
✅ What this means for bargain hunters and resellers
Let’s dive in!
How Do Bin Stores Get Their Inventory?
Bin stores don’t purchase items directly from manufacturers or brand distributors. Instead, they buy liquidation inventory in bulk from major retailers, online marketplaces, and specialized liquidation companies.
Main Sources of Bin Store Inventory:
1️⃣ Customer Returns – Items sent back to retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
2️⃣ Overstock & Excess Inventory – Products that retailers need to clear out.
3️⃣ Liquidation & Closeout Sales – Goods from store closures and seasonal stock clearances.
4️⃣ Warehouse-Damaged & Open-Box Items – Items with damaged packaging but fully functional.
5️⃣ Wholesale Liquidation Pallets – Bulk purchases from liquidation suppliers.
Each of these sources helps bin stores maintain a constant flow of discounted products. Let’s break them down further.
1. Customer Returns from Amazon, Walmart & Target
One of the biggest sources of inventory for bin stores is customer returns from major online and retail stores.
Why Do So Many Products Get Returned?
🔹 Wrong size or color – Clothing, shoes, and accessories are frequently returned for this reason.
🔹 Unwanted gifts – Many returns happen after the holiday season.
🔹 Packaging damage – The box might be damaged, but the item inside is brand new.
🔹 Product dissatisfaction – Electronics, furniture, and home goods are often returned because they didn’t meet customer expectations.
Retailers can’t resell many returned items as “new,” so they liquidate them in bulk, selling them to wholesalers who then distribute them to bin stores.
💡 Tip: Always inspect electronics and appliances at bin stores to ensure they work properly and have all necessary accessories.
2. Overstock & Excess Inventory from Retailers
Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, and Best Buy often overorder inventory to meet consumer demand. When they have too much stock, they need to clear it out quickly.
Why Do Retailers Overstock Inventory?
✅ Seasonal Items – Holiday decorations, winter clothing, and summer patio sets need to be cleared out at the end of the season.
✅ New Models Replacing Old Ones – When newer versions of products are released, retailers liquidate older models.
✅ Limited Storage Space – Retailers prioritize fast-selling products, so slow-moving stock is offloaded.
Many of these brand-new, unopened items end up at bin stores, often sold at a fraction of their original price.
💡 Tip: If you’re looking for high-quality, brand-new items, check bin stores right after major retail seasons, when overstock inventory is at its peak.
3. Liquidation & Closeout Sales from Retail Chains
When stores shut down or discontinue products, they liquidate their inventory. This is another major source of inventory for bin stores.
Types of Liquidation Sales That Supply Bin Stores:
✔ Store Closures – When major retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond or Toys “R” Us close locations, they liquidate their remaining inventory.
✔ Manufacturer Closeouts – Factories sometimes discontinue products and sell their remaining stock in bulk.
✔ Shelf-Pulls – Items that have been removed from store shelves due to packaging updates or discontinued product lines.
Bin stores often get bulk truckloads of liquidation inventory at a fraction of retail cost, passing those savings onto customers.
💡 Tip: If you find name-brand items at a bin store, they may have come from a retail liquidation sale.
4. Warehouse-Damaged & Open-Box Items
Not everything at a bin store is in brand-new condition. Some items come from warehouses where packaging was damaged during storage or shipping.
Examples of Warehouse-Damaged Items:
📦 Dented or Torn Boxes – The product inside is new and undamaged, but the outer packaging has minor flaws.
💻 Open-Box Electronics – These items may have been returned but are still fully functional and tested.
🏠 Furniture with Minor Scratches – Great deals on furniture and home goods with small cosmetic imperfections.
Since retailers can’t sell these products as “new,” they offload them to liquidation companies, which then distribute them to bin stores.
💡 Tip: Always inspect open-box or damaged packaging items at a bin store to make sure they’re in working condition.
5. Wholesale Liquidation Pallets from Suppliers
Bin stores don’t buy inventory one item at a time—they purchase pallets or truckloads of mixed goods from wholesale liquidation suppliers.
If you’ve ever searched for bin stores near me, it’s helpful to know that these stores stock their shelves with truckloads of discounted merchandise from reliable liquidation suppliers.
Where Do Bin Stores Buy Their Inventory?
Here are some trusted liquidation suppliers that bin stores use to stock their bins:
1. Amazon Liquidation Auctions
- The official liquidation platform for Amazon.
- Sells Amazon return pallets directly to businesses and bin stores.
2. Direct Liquidation
- Sells liquidation pallets from Walmart, Lowe’s, and other major retailers.
- Offers electronics, appliances, clothing, and general merchandise.
3. Via Trading
- Wholesale supplier with Amazon, Target, and Walmart returns.
- Offers pallets and truckloads of general merchandise.
4. B-Stock Supply
- Auction-based platform for liquidation inventory from major retailers.
💡 Tip: Bin stores buy multiple pallets or full truckloads to ensure they always have fresh inventory for shoppers.
Final Thoughts: How Bin Stores Source Their Inventory
Now you know where bin stores get their inventory—from Amazon returns, overstock, liquidation pallets, and wholesale suppliers. If you’ve ever searched for bin stores near me, this insight can help you understand how these stores stock their shelves with deeply discounted items.
📌 Key Takeaways:
✔ Bin stores source inventory from major liquidation suppliers.
✔ Some products are brand-new, while others may have minor damage or open packaging.
✔ Overstock and manufacturer closeouts often provide the best deals.
📍 Want to find a bin store near you? Use our search tool to explore bin stores by state and start treasure hunting today!