Whether you are here to learn more about bin stores or are a seasoned bargain hunter looking for new bin stores near you, we are here to help!
Back in the day, many stores had a section with a bargain bin, often in the very back of the store. These bargain areas were stocked with items that were deeply discounted. The reasons varied. Items ended up there because they were possibly close to their expiration date, maybe they were opened and couldn’t be returned to shelves, or the items were taking up valuable shelf space and needed to be sold as quickly as possible. Most often, these areas were a hodgepodge of items and if you dug through the bin (or section), you might end up with a treasure – or at the very least a good deal.
Fast forward to a new shopping model where bargain bins are not a tiny part of a larger store, but the bargains are the entire shopping experience. Many refer to these stores cropping up everywhere as Bin Stores.
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What is a Bin Store?
Bin Stores, also called Amazon bin stores and Walmart bin stores, are called that because they are not looking to recreate the typical shopping experience with products neatly displayed. Instead, it is more like a treasure hunt and you never know what you might find and at huge discounts – up to 90%.
The whole store is filled with huge “bins”. These are actually usually just giant plywood tables (several feet long) with four sides – usually a foot or so high and overflowing with items. As a shopper, you have to dig through these bins and compete with others that are furiously searching for items. That is a huge part of the appeal. The thrill of the bargain hunt.
And the bargains are abundant. These stores buy truck loads of liquidation items that are overstock and returns from major retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s and so many others. The items can be home decor, appliances (large and small), health and beauty, clothing, toys, furniture, food – anything you can think of is likely to eventually show up at one of these stores.
Because these stores are constantly buying pallets and truck loads of goods, the products vary and shoppers never know what they get. Many times the store owner doesn’t know what they are getting either! That is also part of the draw that keeps people coming back again and again.
Bin Stores Pricing Structures
People return to these bargain stores because many of these stores use a unique pricing structure where the price drops each day. It often works like this: The store is closed for a day or two to restock the bins with new items. On the first shopping day all items are one price (like $10), the next day whatever is left is $7, the following day, every item is $5, and the next day after that $3 and so on and so forth until they restock. Of course, the pricing varies at different stores. Here are some examples of some “falling prices throughout the week” pricing models:
Source: Crazy Hot Deals USA
Source: Iowa Liquidation Deals
Source: Bins Ahoy
Some stores may have other pricing models. They might have bins where groups of items are the same price, i.e. a $1 bin, a $5 bin, a $10 bin, etc. Other stores may have a different section with individually higher-priced items. Goodwill bin stores charge by the pound.
Tips for Shopping at Bin Stores
Here are our top tips for shopping at a bin store for the best bargains.
1. Check Sale Ads
Most stores update their Facebook page with advertised sales. By checking the sale ads, you can see what items are being offered at a discount. This is a great way to save money on bin store purchases.
2. Shop Early in the Day
Bin store shelves are often restocked overnight, so it pays to shop early in the day. The best deals are usually gone by late morning, so it’s best to get there early.
3. If You Really Want It, Buy It Immediately
If it’s a bin store that slashes prices each day, don’t expect an item you saw on Day 1 to be there on Day 2. These stores move a lot of goods quickly and chances are that if you wait, they’ll be gone.
4. Compare Prices
Bin store prices are not always the lowest. It pays to compare prices before making a purchase. There are a number of websites that can help you compare prices on bin store items.
5. Use Coupons
These discount stores often offer coupons in their ads. By using coupons, you can save even more money on bin store purchases. Be sure to check the expiration date on coupons before using them. Most bin stores do not accept manufacturer coupons.
6. Bring Bags
Most bin stores provide bags or carts for shopping, but that’s not always the case. Bring your own reusable shopping bags, just in case they don’t provide any. It’s hard to hunt for bargains if your arms are full.
Many bin stores provide Ikea’s big blue reusable shopping bags for customers to shop with.
By following these tips, you can get great deals on bin store purchases. So next time you’re in need of a bargain, be sure to check out your local bin store.
List of Bin Stores By City/State
If you are searching for “bin store near me”, “Amazon bin store near me”, or “Walmart bin store near me”, you’ve come to the right place!
Our Bin Store Directory is the most comprehensive list on the internet.
Search for a bin store or liquidation store near you below. You can search by state, city, or name of the store. Click on the store name for a link to their website or Facebook page for hours and specials.
We are continually adding new liquidation stores as we find them. If we are missing one that you love, please click here to add.
If you’re looking to buy your own liquidation pallets, enter your email address below for a free liquidation guide with our compliments.
And if you are looking to start your own bin store? Read this first.
Thanks for reading and happy shopping!
