FAQs
COMMON QUESTIONS, STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Bulk lots of merchandise — overstock, customer returns, or shelf pulls — sold off by retailers or wholesalers at a discount instead of individually at retail.
A retailer or wholesaler groups excess or returned inventory onto a pallet or truckload and sells the whole lot to one buyer, often via auction or a fixed-price marketplace.
Through liquidation marketplaces, retailer liquidation programs, independent wholesalers, auctions, direct suppliers, or local liquidation warehouses.
Liquidation marketplaces, retailer-affiliated channels, regional wholesalers, and physical warehouses in many major cities.
It depends on your goals — marketplaces offer variety and manifests; direct suppliers offer lower per-unit cost at volume; warehouses let you inspect in person.
Depends on your goals, category knowledge, and risk tolerance. Overstock and shelf-pull pallets are lower-risk than unmanifested returns or salvage.
Varies widely by condition, category, manifest accuracy, and your ability to resell. Some buyers see strong margins; others lose money early on.
A pallet is sold with an itemized list of its contents — names, quantities, sometimes estimated retail value — so you know roughly what you're buying.
Sold without a contents list. You don't know exactly what's inside until it arrives — cheaper, but higher risk.
Pallets made up of products previously purchased and returned, for reasons ranging from a simple change of mind to an actual defect.
Pallets of new, unsold inventory a retailer had in excess — typically the highest-condition category of liquidation merchandise.
Products removed from store shelves due to resets or slow sales — usually unused but may show minor wear.
Goods damaged during shipping, handling, or storage. The lowest-cost, highest-risk category — functionality isn't guaranteed.
Pricing varies significantly by category, condition, manifest availability, and source. Always check current listings directly with a supplier for accurate pricing.
Typically via freight carriers — LTL for single pallets, full truckload for larger orders. Cost and timing depend on weight, distance, and the supplier's logistics.