How to Shop Bin Stores

For discovery shoppers

What to bring

Cash is king at bin stores — many are cash-only, especially smaller independent locations. Check the store's BinFever listing before you go to see accepted payment methods. Bring a bag or tote; most bin stores don't provide bags. If you're planning a longer dig, comfortable shoes matter — you'll be on your feet.

Best days to visit

If you want first pick of fresh inventory, show up on restock day (Big Drop day). Prices are at their highest — typically $7–$9 per item — but everything in the bins is new to the store. If you want lower prices and are willing to dig through what's left, visit mid-week or toward the end of the pricing cycle when items drop to $3, $2, or $1. The sweet spot for most shoppers is one to two days after restock: prices have come down but premium items haven't all been picked yet.

Item conditions

Items come from Amazon returns and retailer overstock, so condition varies. You might find factory-sealed products, open-box items with all parts intact, items missing accessories, or things that are cosmetically damaged but otherwise functional. There's usually no return policy — what you see is what you get. Inspect items carefully before buying. Popular categories include small appliances, personal care devices, toys, clothing, sporting goods, and kitchen items.

Common categories

You'll consistently find electronics (earbuds, phone accessories, smart home devices), kitchen appliances (air fryers, coffee makers, blenders), tools and hardware, clothing and shoes, toys and games, fitness equipment, and home goods. High-end brands do appear — Dyson, Milwaukee, Apple, KitchenAid — but unpredictably. The best finds go fast on restock day.

For resellers

High-margin categories

Tools (especially cordless power tools from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi), small kitchen appliances (Ninja, Keurig, Instant Pot), personal care devices (Dyson hair tools, electric shavers, massage guns), and consumer electronics (earbuds, smart speakers, gaming accessories) consistently yield strong margins on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. A DeWalt drill that retails for $120 and costs $5 at a bin store on dollar day is a 24x gross margin before fees and time.

What to look for on restock day

Sealed boxes and intact retail packaging sell better and command higher prices — buyers trust condition more. Check for model numbers on electronics so you can quickly look up retail price on your phone. Name-brand labels are the fastest filter: a generic white speaker is slower to move than a Bose or JBL of the same size. Avoid heavily damaged items or things missing key components (e.g. a blender without a lid) unless you can confirm parts are available.

Margin math example

A Keurig coffee maker (retails ~$80) found on $3 day: buy for $3, sell on eBay for $40–$55 (used/tested), minus ~$8 eBay fees and ~$10 shipping = ~$22–$37 profit. At scale across 10 items per trip with a $30 total buy-in, even a conservative outcome nets $150–$200 per trip. The key is knowing your categories, checking prices before buying, and being disciplined about condition — resellers who skip the condition check end up with unsellable inventory.

Find a bin store near you and put this to work. Browse the directory →