Home Business Strategies for Acquiring Returned or Unclaimed Merchandise

Strategies for Acquiring Returned or Unclaimed Merchandise

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Strategies for Acquiring Returned or Unclaimed Merchandise

“How often do you find yourself buying a bunch of stuff online, only to keep your favorites? I shop for clothes this way, and I’m not alone. Returns cost retailers $743 billion last year.

Ever wondered, ‘What happens to all those returns?’ Here’s the scoop. I dug into it and discovered the best places where you can score deals on other people’s ‘no, thank you’ items.

Curious how it works?

Take Amazon, for example. Any package that’s undeliverable and unclaimed for 90 days becomes fair game. Amazon sells these unclaimed goods on its website. Pro tip: Watch out for hefty delivery charges on some items before getting too excited about a deal.

The U.S. Postal Service operates similarly with packages from other retailers. After 90 days, they’re auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Think of it like a garage sale, but better.

The postal service partners with GovDeals.com to auction off undeliverable items ranging from TVs to vehicles and kitchen appliances.

Liquidation.com is another hotspot, auctioning packages and undelivered goods from major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and The Home Depot. You can filter by brand or retailer, making it a potential side hustle goldmine.

Feeling adventurous?

Some returned and undeliverable merchandise gets bundled into ‘mystery boxes,’ like grab bags. It’s a gamble, but you might discover valuable items worth keeping or reselling.

Check out Poshmark for ‘mystery box’ listings from retailers like Walmart and Amazon, with prices ranging from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars. For instance, $50 might get you eight items, with choices from their vast inventory of 20,000 listings.

eBay

No surprise here—eBay is a mixed bag. Search ‘unclaimed packages’ or similar terms to find mystery packages and returned items. It’s a buyer-beware scenario, so tread carefully.

Facebook Marketplace

This platform makes local buying easy. Arrange to meet sellers in public places like police stations to pick up your purchases and skip shipping hassles. Search ‘unclaimed packages’ just as you would on eBay.

Unclaimed Baggage

Dating back to 1970, Unclaimed Baggage buys lost airline luggage. Rather than surprises, they inspect and clean contents before selling online or at their Scottsboro, Alabama store.

A word of caution before you buy

While mystery boxes are exciting, don’t expect to strike gold. Many items were returned for a reason and may have been sitting in warehouses. Conditions vary, and refunds are unlikely.

It’s a buyer-beware situation; products are typically unchecked. Exercise caution—scammers can lurk even on reputable platforms. Stick to established sites and check seller ratings and reviews. If asked for cryptocurrency or gift card payments, it’s likely a scam.

Interested in making money?

Buying and reselling can be lucrative. I’ve put together a free step-by-step guide to get you started!”