3258
6 min 21 sec

Q&A: “Can I profit from flipping open-box customer returns?

Today’s listener wants to turn store returns into cash. We’ll cover how to evaluate a pallet, estimate true margins, and avoid getting stuck with dead inventory.

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What It's About

Are open-box deals a smart resale play or a reseller trap?

Notes from Chris

Episode 3258
Returns and open-box items are a hidden supply chain. Retailers and Amazon sellers unload mixed-condition goods to liquidators who sell them by the pallet. Some resellers make healthy margins; others buy mystery boxes of broken junk.

The difference is process: knowing your sell-through rate, product categories, and refurb limits before you spend a dollar. Let’s give this caller a checklist to go from curiosity to a controlled experiment.

"I noticed liquidation pallets and ‘open box’ sections at big retailers full of lightly used or returned items—kitchen appliances, small electronics. I’m considering buying returns in bulk, cleaning/test ing them, then reselling individually on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. Is there real profit after factoring in defective units, time spent testing, and platform fees? What due diligence should I do before purchasing a pallet so I don’t end up with a garage of junk?"

Listen to today's episode to learn more...

 
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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau