How the bins work
Every outlet runs a little differently, so treat this as the general pattern and check the rules posted at yours.
- Items are sold by weight. Clothing and most general goods are priced by the pound. Some outlets price certain items, like furniture, electronics, books or glassware, separately or by the piece. The per-pound price and any tiers vary by location.
- Bins rotate. Staff roll out fresh bins through the day. When new bins come out, shoppers usually have to wait behind a line until staff say go.
- There are rules. Most outlets ask that you don't touch bins before the signal, don't grab from other people's hands and don't hoard items you aren't buying. Some limit carts.
- Everything is sold as is. Nothing is tested, sorted or cleaned. Returns are often not accepted.
Look for your local outlet's hours and rotation schedule. Some locations post them, and regulars often know when the busiest rotations happen.
What to bring
- Gloves. You'll be reaching into mixed bins. Thin work gloves protect your hands without making it hard to feel fabric.
- A charged phone. For checking prices, reading labels in dim corners and scanning.
- A bag or a cart strategy. Know how you'll hold items while you dig.
- Hand sanitizer and water. Digging is physical work.
- Batteries, if the outlet allows testing, for checking toys and small electronics.
How to dig efficiently
The bins reward a system. Without one, you'll spend hours and come home with a heavy pile of maybes.
- 1Pick your categories before you go. Decide what you're looking for: denim, outdoor wear, media, toys, electronics. It lets you skim past everything else.
- 2Scan with your eyes first, hands second. Look for colors, logos, fabrics and shapes that match your list. Move items aside gently rather than flinging them.
- 3Feel for quality. Heavy fabric, real leather, metal zippers and thick soles are good signs before you even see a label.
- 4Check labels on the spot. Brand, size and material tags tell you most of what you need. Put back anything with no recognizable brand unless you know the piece.
- 5Inspect before it goes in your cart. Stains, holes, broken zippers and missing parts are common. Damaged items still weigh the same at checkout.
Pricing by the pound changes the math
At a regular thrift store, each item has its own tag. At the bins, your cost depends on weight. That changes which items make sense.
- Light, valuable items win. A branded tee or a pair of quality socks costs very little by weight. A heavy coat costs more, so it needs to sell for more.
- Heavy, cheap items lose. Bulky items with low resale value can cost more than they are worth once weighed, before you even pay to ship them.
- Estimate before checkout. Some outlets have a scale you can use. Before you pay, look at your cart and put back the maybes.
To compare, estimate what an item will cost you at your outlet's price, then run the same check you'd use anywhere else: expected sale price, minus fees, minus shipping, minus your profit target. If your estimated cost is under the result, keep it. Our max buy price calculator does that math.
What to look for
The best categories at the bins are the same ones that sell well from any thrift store, with a bias toward small and light. Our guide to what sells on eBay from thrift stores goes deeper, but at the bins, regulars often focus on:
- Branded clothing, especially outdoor wear, workwear, denim and vintage tees.
- Shoes with recognizable brands and visible size tags. Find the pair before you get excited.
- Media with barcodes, like video games, specialty books and vinyl.
- Small electronics with model numbers, especially with original cables and remotes.
- Toys and collectibles from recognizable lines, plus building sets.
- Accessories: belts, scarves, hats and bags from known brands.
Etiquette that keeps you welcome
Bins culture can get intense. A few habits make the experience better for everyone and keep you on good terms with staff and regulars:
- Wait for the go signal on new bins.
- Never take an item from someone's hands or cart.
- Don't throw items across the bin or onto the floor.
- Put back what you don't want instead of piling it.
- Be polite to staff. They decide when bins roll out and whether rules get enforced.
After the haul
A good bins day can produce a large pile of inventory fast, and it can sit for months if you don't have a system. Sort right away into three piles: list now, needs work and donate back. Wash or clean what needs it, then photograph in batches.
Keep track of what each haul cost and what each item sells for. Over time you'll see which categories pay for the trip at your outlet, and you'll dig faster because you'll know what to skip.
Scan before you weigh
The bins are where a quick check pays off most, because you're making dozens of small decisions in a row. Oddlot lets you shoot find after find and get BUY, SKIP or CHECK for each one with a max buy, so you can put back the maybes before they hit the scale.