The business of selling returned products is growing.
One major liquidation company that buys returns from Amazon is 888 Lots.
This company sells returned products to around 10,000 resellers who go on to make more money selling the product.
It’s a great way for new businesses to get started with some relatively cheap inventory.
It also helps to protect the environment since these products don’t go to the landfill.
If you have an interest in reselling returned products, then you may wonder where you can get your hands on the items.
Here’s everything you need to know about buying Amazon returns and how to make a profit.
How To Buy Amazon Returns (6 Ways)
1. 888 Lots
One of the most well-known liquidation companies that deals with Amazon’s returns is 888 Lots.
Many resellers prefer to get their returns from 888 Lots because they offer more than 100,000 different brand-new products.
That allows resellers to choose Amazon return pallets based on a specific category or several categories.
A reseller who operates in athletic fashion, for example, can find what they need more easily with a liquidation company that offers more different types of products.
Another benefit of 888 Lots is that their prices come at a fixed amount, but they are usually willing to negotiate.
A fixed price can be beneficial for resellers who need to plan their budget carefully.
They’ll know exactly how much they need to save to pay for a similar pallet in the future.
Others may enjoy the possibility of talking the price down and getting a great deal on their inventory.
One of the reasons many resellers choose 888 Lots over other liquidation companies is that they only sell new items.
This means that the boxes were never opened.
The original customer who purchased the piece likely didn’t want it or need it or may not have had the money to cover the cost.
The reseller can earn more money by selling a new product over selling a refurbished or used one.
A final note of 888 Lots is that you can buy either a small or large Amazon pallet.
There isn’t a minimum purchase that you need to make as long as you’re buying the entire pallet.
888 Lots is a great choice for resellers who are only interested in selling new Amazon returns.
2. BlueLots
Another great choice to find Amazon returns is BlueLots.
This is another liquidation company that takes in a lot of famous brands.
They’ll buy from Amazon as well as other big-name stores.
That allows resellers to have a lot of different options when looking for inventory to sell in their niche.
One of the best benefits of using BlueLots as your main place to buy Amazon returns is that they don’t mark up their prices.
Instead, they charge the retailers to earn their money.
That means the prices on their products tend to be a lot cheaper than other liquidation companies.
For businesses that are just starting or are on a tight budget, BlueLots may be the solution that you need.
You’re able to search their website without making an account for most of the experience.
However, if you want a deeper look into their inventory, then you’ll need to make an account with them.
You also need to be able to provide documentation with them that states you’re able to resell in your country.
They’ll have an agreement that you need to sign that declares that you have the right to resell.
They also offer several different options for shipping.
Whether you prefer FedEx, UPS, or even USPS, they can get your products to you.
The shipping costs can trend toward the expensive side, however.
It largely depends on the size and weight of the pallet that you’re buying.
Larger and heavier items are going to cost more than smaller and lighter items.
In most cases, the final shipping price on a pallet ranges from $300 to $400.
Since BlueLots uses a third-party carrier, they’re unable to do anything about the shipping price.
BlueLots is a great solution for resellers who are getting started in the market or those looking to buy from big brand names.
3. BULQ
If you’re always looking to buy the next big thing, then you may want to use BULQ as your main Amazon return liquidating company.
BULQ frequently updates what they have in stock to the point of updating their website three times a day.
This allows resellers to immediately buy any hot items and get one step closer to earning serious profit.
There are two different ways to buy pallets from BULQ.
The first is with the fixed price that the company gives.
They list a price, and you buy it.
The second method is through their auction.
BULQ has an auction for some of its items.
In some cases, you could end up getting a high-value item for a great deal.
In other cases, you might end up overspending on the item if the bidding becomes intense.
Regardless of what method you choose, BULQ has tons of different returned items from various retailers including Amazon.
You’re able to look at BULQ’s entire inventory without making an account with their website.
This makes it easier to see if BULQ is worth your time for your specific niche.
However, if you want to buy a pallet, then you will need to make an account with them.
BULQ also requires their resellers to show a resale certificate when they join.
This ensures the company that you have the right to resell their items.
BULQ calculates its shipping prices in two different ways.
The cheapest shipping method is with their crates.
They charge a flat fee of $30 for every crate.
If you want to buy an entire pallet, then it becomes more expensive because they calculate the cost based on its weight and size.
They also factor in the distance from their warehouse to the recipient’s address.
If you’re looking to shave off costs with shipping, then it’s worth noting where BULQ’s warehouse is and calculating the distance from your address.
BULQ is an ideal liquidation company for those who don’t mind a little risk to save a lot of money.
4. Bstock
Bstock is a liquidation company that sells Amazon returns with a complex process.
One of the advantages of Bstock is that it sells returns to resellers in both the United States and Europe.
It also takes stock from various businesses throughout the world.
That means, as a reseller, you have a ton of opportunities for unique stock that doesn’t come strictly from Amazon.
However, buying the stock from Bstock is a bit more difficult than some of the other liquidation companies.
That’s because Bstock acts more like a middleman in the process.
It connects a reseller with the original seller.
The original seller has to approve of the reseller before they willingly sell their returns to them.
Each seller has their own criteria which the reseller needs to satisfy.
Because of that, each original seller also places their own prices on their items.
This means that there are several different prices for certain items.
Even the same item that’s sold by two different sellers could carry a different price.
The condition of those items also varies by the seller.
Some sellers only deal in new products while others sell opened products.
The cost of shipping is also variable.
Some sellers will give you a flat-free rate.
Others will calculate based on the number of products that you buy and the size and weight of the final pallet.
A rare few even offer free shipping.
Bstock is a bit harder to get into and start building an inventory with, but because you’re dealing with the sellers directly, or at least a mediatory, you can sometimes find great products and great deals.
5. Liquidation.com
Perhaps one of the most famous liquidation companies is Liquidation.com.
This company has been in the liquidation business for over two decades.
Because of that, they have a lot of experience backing them.
That makes working with them a smoother process than some of the newer companies.
Liquidation.com sells products in a few different sizes.
You can buy products by truckload, pallet, or box.
This enables larger resellers the chance to fill their inventory with products.
Liquidation.com also sticks to a few categories.
They’ll buy returned items in the following categories:
- Apparel
- Housewares
- Electronics
- Industrial
- Computer
- Vehicle
If you happen to be a reseller that operates in those niches, then you’ll find what you need at Liquidation.com.
They also have products in various conditions.
You’ll find new items, damaged items, refurbished items, and opened items.
Most of their pallets and products sell via an auction.
The starting bid tends to be around $100.
Some items that they want to sell immediately, however, come with a fixed price.
Depending on the size and weight of the pallet or truckload, you can sometimes score a great deal on a ton of products at a small price.
However, because it’s an auction-based system, there’s always some risk.
While you can view their items without making an account, if you want to make a bid or purchase on their site, then you need to create an account.
They also have a purchase policy for non-US buyers and those who end up spending more than $5,000.
In both cases, they require you to wire transfer the funds to them.
Liquidation.com is a great pick if you prefer reliability; however, it isn’t ideal for those who aren’t experienced in an auction house setting.
6. BoxFox
While BoxFox tends to be on the more expensive side of liquidation companies, it gives resellers a lot in return.
BoxFox is similar to Bstock in that they connect resellers with sellers.
Once the two make a deal, the seller sends the pallet directly to the reseller.
One of the advantages of BoxFox is that they only deal in overstock products.
They don’t sell returned items because they want to sell items that are new.
Because the item is new, they set an appraised rate that reflects that.
They also use an auction house system to purchase their products.
The good news is that if you decide to buy a pallet above the appraised rate, then you automatically win the bid and can receive the product.
If you want to try and get the pallet at a discount, then you can bid below the appraised amount.
They won’t accept the bid immediately, and you’ll have to outbid other resellers who have an interest in the pallet.
BoxFox offers a lot of information about its products to resellers.
On each product page, you’ll see information about their ratings on Amazon, photos of the actual products, and their market values.
This informs resellers about how easily the item is going to sell.
They can place a bid on the item accordingly.
BoxFox can be expensive, however.
Besides running an auction house, they also charge you a 7% commission fee on any items that you finally purchase.
That fee applies to every purchase that you make.
They also can’t give you an exact shipping cost on the pallet that you buy.
Since the original seller deals with shipping, it’s up to them to decide how much to charge.
That said, BoxFox can give you a few means by which you can calculate your shipping costs.
Finally, BoxFox has its own app which allows you to track live auctions on your phone.
How To Make Money Selling Amazon Returns
Now that you know where to find Amazon returns, you’re ready to take the next step in the process.
Here’s what you need to know to start making money by selling Amazon returns.
1. Consider Shipping Costs
One of the biggest ways that your business can lose money is through shipping costs.
When shopping around for a liquidator, it’s worth figuring out if they have a warehouse near you or not.
The closer you are to a warehouse, the less expensive it’s going to be to ship.
You may only pay $150 for a pallet, but if you’re paying $300 to ship it to your home, then that’s $450 you need to earn before you start making a profit.
It’s even worth looking to see if an Amazon warehouse is near your address.
You can then contact the warehouse directly and ask them if they’re willing to sell returned or overstocked items to you.
If they are, then you can offset much of the shipping cost by driving to the warehouse and picking up the pallet yourself.
It takes more time, but it will save you a ton of money in the end and help you earn a profit faster.
2. Sort Items
Another vital step to take when buying Amazon returns is to sort the products.
You need to know what items are in great condition and which items are too broken or defective to sell.
You also need to put electronics in their own category.
Even if the electronic item has serious damage, you may be able to resell some of its parts.
Once you sort everything, you have a clear of how you can start to market them and what prices you can offer for them.
3. Choose A Marketplace
Perhaps the most important part of the reselling process is to determine where you want to sell your products.
There are two main marketplaces, but you aren’t restricted to these two.
eBay has a reputation for selling pre-owned items or for resellers to sell new products.
You can also resell items on Amazon, albeit with stricter rules.
eBay is easily the best and easiest choice for resellers.
Competition there can be stiff in certain markets, but if you can provide good pictures and thorough product descriptions, you should find some success.
Amazon doesn’t let you resell every item that you purchased.
For example, they have strict policies against reselling products in the following categories:
- Beauty products
- Clothes
- Luggage
- Baby items
- Handbags
- Jewelry
- Health items
You’ll also be unable to list the item as new even if the box was never opened.
That’s because you can fall into some legal problems with the original seller.
In most cases, eBay is the easiest option.
4. Market
The final step to earning profit by selling Amazon returns is to market yourself.
It isn’t enough to put your products up for sale on a website.
You need to tell people what you’re selling and why they should buy from you.
That might mean starting up a social media account for yourself to hawk your wares.
It might mean running a blog in a related field that allows you to point toward your products.
You can even buy ads and place them on various sites to help point people toward your product.
You’re running a business, and marketing is always a vital part of its operation.
Conclusion
Several liquidation companies make it possible for you to buy Amazon returns.
Each has its advantages and complexities, but if you can find a company that works in your favor, then you stand to make a tidy profit.
Following the steps above can help you get started with your business of selling Amazon returns.
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