One of the most confusing things about liquidation stores for first timers is the pricing. It doesn’t follow the logic you’re used to from regular retail. There’s no MSRP sticker, no sale percentage, no loyalty card discount. The pricing at a liquidation store is its own system entirely. Since most are privately owned small businesses, the owners will set their own pricing which can wildly vary between stores.
Typical liquidation stores price items individually, while bin stores have a set price each day of the week.
Why prices vary so much store to store
Two liquidation stores in the same city can have completely different price points on the same type of merchandise. That’s not random, and it comes down to what they paid for their inventory and what their overhead looks like.
A store that bought a truckload of Amazon returns at a good price from a broker can afford to price things lower and still make money. A store that paid too much for their pallets, or that’s running a high rent location, has to price higher just to break even. The merchandise might look identical on the surface but the economics behind it are totally different.
This is why it pays to visit multiple stores in your area before you settle on a favorite. Price shop the stores themselves, not just the items. Liquidation and bin stores are so popular that you’re bound to find multiple that you like.
When to go if you want the best prices
This answer mostly depends on which kind of stores you visit. Liquidation stores usually restock often and may not be on a set schedule for new inventory coming out. Visiting often and getting a feel for when new items appear is definitely helpful. Speaking to the employees may also be a great way of finding out when the fresh items will be put on the sales floor.
Some things hold their price regardless of where you are in the pricing. Certain high demand items like electronics and name brand anything sells well. Store owners know what those are worth and price them accordingly.
The real advantage of being a regular
The shoppers who do best at liquidation stores are the ones who go consistently. You learn the reset schedule, you learn the staff, you learn what that particular store tends to get in. When you know a store well enough to walk in and immediately spot what’s new and worth grabbing, you have a real edge over someone who shows up randomly hoping to find something good.
That knowledge takes a few visits to build but it compounds fast. The first time you walk out with something great because you knew exactly when to show up is when liquidation shopping starts to feel less like luck and more like skill.
The bin store pricing model
Bin stores are a specific type of liquidation store with their own pricing structure that a lot of people find confusing at first. Everything in the store goes into bins, and the price per item is the same regardless of what it is. A phone case costs the same as a blender costs the same as a pack of coffee beans on day one.
The key is the restocking schedule. Most bin stores drop new inventory on a specific day of the week, then take a day or two off and restock. They then reopen again with prices raised back up to the highest point. In my experience, the vast majority of bin stores start the new week on Fridays or Saturdays. They then drop the price daily with the goal of selling everything. So something that costs $10 on Friday might cost $7 on Sunday and $4 on Mondays. That pricing schedule is everything. Once you know it you can make real decisions about when to go visit each bin store.
It is also good to know whether the bin store also has a separate section where they sell items at individual prices, like a liquidation store. Many times bin stores do have more expensive items sold separately since they wouldn’t be able to make enough profit without doing so. If the store does separate out the more expensive items though, just be aware that you may not get as many hidden gems or expensive finds for the cheaper bin pricing.