Bin stores resell Amazon returns and liquidation stock by the piece at a daily price that drops through the week. Here are the categories you'll actually find.
What do bin stores sell? The short answer
What do bin stores sell? Mostly Amazon returns and overstock liquidation, dumped loose into tables and priced by the piece on a daily ladder. The directory tracks 464 open stores, and 66.7% of them are tagged as Amazon bin stores and liquidation stores, so the merchandise skews heavily toward returned retail goods rather than donations.
That single fact explains most of what you'll see on the tables. Amazon bin stores buy truckloads of customer returns, damaged-box items, and unsold warehouse stock in bulk, then sell it piece by piece. Because the store paid a flat rate for the whole load, it can price every item the same on a given day and still come out ahead. The result is a random mix: one bin holds phone cases and charging cables, the next holds kitchen gadgets and pet toys.
Goodwill outlets are the other half of the directory and work differently. They sell donated clothing and household goods by the pound rather than by the piece, so the categories are softer goods and used items rather than new-in-box returns. We'll break both out below, but the key distinction is where the stuff comes from: returns and overstock for Amazon bin stores, donations for Goodwill outlets.
If you're new to the model, our guide to what a bin store is walks through how the merchandise gets there, and how bin stores work explains the pricing ladder in detail. You can also browse the full bin store directory, or jump straight to the guides hub for more explainers.
What items are typically sold in bin stores?
The directory records category flags for a subset of stores, and the pattern is clear: clothing, books, furniture, electronics, and toys all show up, but almost entirely at Goodwill outlets. Across the directory, 62 stores flag clothing, 41 flag books, and 38 flag furniture.
Here's the thing worth knowing: every one of those category flags comes from Goodwill outlets, not Amazon bin stores. Amazon bin stores rarely tag specific categories because their stock changes weekly and is driven by whatever returns came in. That doesn't mean an Amazon bin store never has clothing or electronics, it means the store itself doesn't commit to carrying them consistently. The inventory rotates.
The most reliable categories at an Amazon bin store are the ones that dominate return volume: phone accessories, small kitchen tools, home decor, toys, and random gadgets. You'll also find a lot of opened-box and damaged-package items that are functionally new. At a Goodwill outlet, expect clothing to be the anchor, since 37.3% of Goodwill outlets flag it, followed by books at 24.7%.
For a deeper look at what's worth grabbing versus leaving, see our what to buy at a bin store guide, and check whether bin store items are new or used before you assume condition.
| Category | Goodwill outlets | Bin stores |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | 62 | 0 |
| Books | 41 | 0 |
| Furniture | 38 | 0 |
| Electronics | 26 | 0 |
| Toys | 24 | 0 |
| Housewares | 10 | 0 |
| Shoes | 0 | 0 |
| Jewelry | 0 | 0 |
What is in bin stores? The Amazon return mix
What is in bin stores on the Amazon side is a rotating pile of customer returns, damaged-box goods, and overstock, with no fixed category list. Because 99.7% of the directory's bin stores are Amazon bin stores, most of what you'll dig through is returned retail merchandise rather than donated items.
The mix is genuinely random from week to week, which is part of the appeal and part of the frustration. One restock might be heavy on phone cases, earbuds, and charging cables; the next might lean toward kitchen gadgets, craft supplies, and seasonal decor. The store rarely knows or advertises what's coming, because it bought the load sight-unseen from a liquidation broker.
That randomness is why specific stores matter more than general advice. ABQ Liquidators runs a $1–$15 ladder and is rated 5 out of five, while 7 Days Liquidation Bin Store runs a wider $1–$15 range with a lower rating. Both sell the same class of returns, but the experience differs store to store.
The practical takeaway: expect consumer electronics accessories, small home goods, toys, and opened-box items, but treat every visit as a fresh dig. Check the what is a bin store guide if you want the sourcing explained further.
| Feature | Stores | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon bin store | 334 | 66.7% |
| Liquidation store | 334 | 66.7% |
| Bin store | 319 | 63.7% |
| Goodwill outlet | 166 | 33.1% |
| Bins location | 166 | 33.1% |
| Pay by the pound | 162 | 32.3% |
| Wheelchair accessible | 161 | 32.1% |
| Accepts cash and card | 161 | 32.1% |
| Restrooms | 156 | 31.1% |
| Kids allowed | 135 | 26.9% |
| Bin rotations | 121 | 24.2% |
| Clothing | 62 | 12.4% |
| High competition | 43 | 8.6% |
| Books | 41 | 8.2% |
| Furniture | 38 | 7.6% |
| Electronics | 26 | 5.2% |
| Toys | 24 | 4.8% |
| crowded | 23 | 4.6% |
| warehouse style | 13 | 2.6% |
| shopping carts | 11 | 2.2% |
| Housewares | 10 | 2% |
| kids not allowed under 16 years old | 8 | 1.6% |
| Kids not allowed | 7 | 1.4% |
| restrooms not available | 5 | 1% |
| kids allowed but not recommended | 4 | 0.8% |
| kids not allowed 12 years and under | 3 | 0.6% |
| kids not allowed 16 years and under | 2 | 0.4% |
| fitting room | 2 | 0.4% |
| pay per item | 2 | 0.4% |
| fresh bins | 2 | 0.4% |
| not very wheelchair accessible | 2 | 0.4% |
| no restrooms available | 2 | 0.4% |
| kids not allowed 15 years and under | 1 | 0.2% |
| permanently closed retail only side open | 1 | 0.2% |
| smaller bin store | 1 | 0.2% |
| family friendly | 1 | 0.2% |
| grand opening | 1 | 0.2% |
| kids not allowed under 14 years old | 1 | 0.2% |
| no kids allowed | 1 | 0.2% |
| pay per piece | 1 | 0.2% |
| kids may not be allowed | 1 | 0.2% |
| not very wheelchair friendly | 1 | 0.2% |
| permanently closed nov 10th 2024 | 1 | 0.2% |
| may require online registration | 1 | 0.2% |
| kids not allowed 12 years and older | 1 | 0.2% |
| furniture donation | 1 | 0.2% |
| no shopping carts | 1 | 0.2% |
Bin store items at Goodwill outlets
Bin store items at Goodwill outlets are donated clothing, books, furniture, electronics, toys, and housewares sold by the pound. The directory shows 97.6% of Goodwill outlets are pay-per-pound, and the category flags all lean toward soft goods and used household items.
Clothing is the anchor category, flagged at 62 Goodwill outlets, with books at 41 and furniture at 38. Electronics and toys are smaller but real: 26 outlets flag electronics and 24 flag toys. Housewares round out the list at 10.
The condition profile is different from Amazon bin stores. Goodwill outlet goods are donated, so they're used, worn, and sometimes incomplete. You're hunting for salvageable pieces rather than new-in-box returns. That's why the pay-by-the-pound model works: the store prices by weight because individual item value is too hard to assess one by one.
For a sense of what a strong outlet looks like, Goodwill Outlet Appleton and Goodwill Outlet Asheville both carry top ratings in the directory. Browse the bin store vs thrift store comparison to see how this model differs from a standard thrift shop.
| Feature | Outlets | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Goodwill outlet | 166 | 100% |
| Bins location | 166 | 100% |
| Pay by the pound | 162 | 97.6% |
| Wheelchair accessible | 161 | 97% |
| Accepts cash and card | 161 | 97% |
| Restrooms | 156 | 94% |
| Kids allowed | 135 | 81.3% |
| Bin rotations | 121 | 72.9% |
| Clothing | 62 | 37.3% |
| High competition | 43 | 25.9% |
| Books | 41 | 24.7% |
| Furniture | 38 | 22.9% |
| Electronics | 26 | 15.7% |
| Toys | 24 | 14.5% |
| crowded | 23 | 13.9% |
| warehouse style | 13 | 7.8% |
| shopping carts | 11 | 6.6% |
| Housewares | 10 | 6% |
| kids not allowed under 16 years old | 8 | 4.8% |
| Kids not allowed | 7 | 4.2% |
| restrooms not available | 5 | 3% |
| kids allowed but not recommended | 4 | 2.4% |
| kids not allowed 12 years and under | 3 | 1.8% |
| kids not allowed 16 years and under | 2 | 1.2% |
| fitting room | 2 | 1.2% |
| pay per item | 2 | 1.2% |
| fresh bins | 2 | 1.2% |
| not very wheelchair accessible | 2 | 1.2% |
| no restrooms available | 2 | 1.2% |
| kids not allowed 15 years and under | 1 | 0.6% |
| permanently closed retail only side open | 1 | 0.6% |
| smaller bin store | 1 | 0.6% |
| family friendly | 1 | 0.6% |
| grand opening | 1 | 0.6% |
| kids not allowed under 14 years old | 1 | 0.6% |
| no kids allowed | 1 | 0.6% |
| pay per piece | 1 | 0.6% |
| kids may not be allowed | 1 | 0.6% |
| not very wheelchair friendly | 1 | 0.6% |
| permanently closed nov 10th 2024 | 1 | 0.6% |
| may require online registration | 1 | 0.6% |
| kids not allowed 12 years and older | 1 | 0.6% |
| furniture donation | 1 | 0.6% |
| no shopping carts | 1 | 0.6% |
What do they sell at the bin store? Electronics and gadgets
What do they sell at the bin store when it comes to electronics? Phone accessories, earbuds, chargers, smart-home gadgets, and small appliances dominate, though the directory flags electronics only at 26 Goodwill outlets rather than at Amazon bin stores.
The gap between what's flagged and what's actually on the tables matters. Amazon bin stores don't tag electronics as a category because the mix shifts every restock, but returns of small electronics are among the most common items in any Amazon return load. You'll often find opened-box earbuds, returned smart plugs, and cables with damaged packaging that are functionally fine.
That said, electronics are the riskiest category to dig for. A returned gadget might work perfectly, or it might be the one defective unit someone sent back. There's no testing before it hits the bin, and most stores sell as-is with no returns. If you buy electronics, budget for the possibility that it's dead, and factor that into what you're willing to pay.
Timing matters here too. Ashland Outlet & Bins restocks on Friday at a $1–$8 ladder, and the fresh load is when electronics get snapped up first. See how bin stores work for why restock day is the best window.
Bin store items you should skip
Some bin store items are rarely worth your money even at a dollar. The directory flags 43 stores as high competition — 25.9% of the 166 Goodwill outlets, which are the only listings that record the flag — which means the good stuff goes fast and what's left is often picked-over junk.
Clothing at Amazon bin stores is a weak bet. Returns-heavy clothing is usually the wrong size, stained, or worn, and unlike a Goodwill outlet there's no fitting room and no easy way to judge quality through a pile. If you want clothes, a Goodwill outlet is the better hunting ground, where 37.3% of outlets flag clothing as a core category.
Damaged-box electronics and opened cosmetics are also worth skipping. Cosmetics and personal-care items can't be verified for safety once opened, and a cracked-box gadget that's been through several customer hands is a coin flip at best. Stick to items you can inspect quickly: sealed packaging, intact cords, and things with an obvious function.
The exception is furniture and bulky items at Goodwill outlets. They can be genuine scores if you have a vehicle, but they're heavy and hard to assess in a bin setting. For a full rundown of what's actually worth it, see what to buy at a bin store.
How to know what a specific bin store sells
The only reliable way to know what a specific bin store sells is to check its own listing, restock day, and recent reviews. The directory holds 501 stores across 48 states, and each store page shows its type, price range, and restock schedule where known.
Start with the store type. An Amazon bin store like $5 Gold Diggers runs a $1–$5 ladder with its cheapest day on Tuesday, while a Goodwill outlet like Goodwill Outlet Akron sells by the pound instead. The type tells you the sourcing model before you even walk in.
Restock day is the second signal. Bargain Binz & Beyond restocks on Friday and runs a $0.50–$12 range, so the freshest, fullest bins land then. If a store's restock day is known, that's the day to go for the best category mix before the regulars pick it over.
Finally, read recent reviews on each store page. Shoppers routinely describe what was actually in the bins that week, which is more current than any category tag. Browse the bin store directory, or start with the guides hub to learn the model before you commit to a trip.