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Liquidation and Amazon-return lots ยท real numbers

What Amazon returns and liquidation lots really resell for

We priced 4,526 liquidation lots against eBay sales of the exact same product and watched 1,732 of them close. The lots that paid left $4,433 on the table after every fee. Here is what each kind of item goes for at auction against what it sells for on eBay.

4,526lots priced
1,732closed lots checked
30%of the eBay price, the typical winning bid
$4,433left after fees on the lots that paid
Where the deals are: winning bid as a share of the eBay priceThe middle winning bid as a share of what the same product sells for on eBay. Shorter is cheaper.
Small kitchen appliances34 closedSmall kitchen appliances: 19%, 34 closed19%Appliance parts53 closedAppliance parts: 20%, 53 closed20%Furniture and decor58 closedFurniture and decor: 21%, 58 closed21%Clothing and shoes199 closedClothing and shoes: 22%, 199 closed22%Jewelry61 closedJewelry: 26%, 61 closed26%Home improvement and lighting80 closedHome improvement and lighting: 27%, 80 closed27%Beauty and personal care118 closedBeauty and personal care: 30%, 118 closed30%Sports and outdoors51 closedSports and outdoors: 34%, 51 closed34%Tools38 closedTools: 37%, 38 closed37%Electronics211 closedElectronics: 38%, 211 closed38%Kitchenware and drinkware100 closedKitchenware and drinkware: 42%, 100 closed42%Toys and games146 closedToys and games: 43%, 146 closed43%Coins and silver583 closedCoins and silver: 86%, 583 closed86%
See the numbers
CategoryClosed lotsBid / eBayPaid after fees
Small kitchen appliances3419%85%
Appliance parts5320%43%
Furniture and decor5821%41%
Clothing and shoes19922%24%
Jewelry6126%8%
Home improvement and lighting8027%40%
Beauty and personal care11830%33%
Sports and outdoors5134%24%
Tools3837%42%
Electronics21138%32%
Kitchenware and drinkware10042%20%
Toys and games14643%6%
Coins and silver58386%6%
How often a lot paid after every feeShare of closed lots that left money after the premium, tax, eBay fees, shipping and a returns buffer.
Small kitchen appliances34 closedSmall kitchen appliances: 85%, 34 closed85%Appliance parts53 closedAppliance parts: 43%, 53 closed43%Tools38 closedTools: 42%, 38 closed42%Furniture and decor58 closedFurniture and decor: 41%, 58 closed41%Home improvement and lighting80 closedHome improvement and lighting: 40%, 80 closed40%Beauty and personal care118 closedBeauty and personal care: 33%, 118 closed33%Electronics211 closedElectronics: 32%, 211 closed32%Clothing and shoes199 closedClothing and shoes: 24%, 199 closed24%Sports and outdoors51 closedSports and outdoors: 24%, 51 closed24%Kitchenware and drinkware100 closedKitchenware and drinkware: 20%, 100 closed20%Jewelry61 closedJewelry: 8%, 61 closed8%Coins and silver583 closedCoins and silver: 6%, 583 closed6%Toys and games146 closedToys and games: 6%, 146 closed6%

Every category

The best flips we have seen

What a lot really costs

Winning bid$20.00
Buyer's premium (18%, varies by house)+$3.60
Sales tax (9% on bid and premium)+$2.12
Lot fee (some houses)+$2.00
You pay$27.72

A $20 winning bid is really about $28. Work out any bid or see the fees at each Kansas City auction house.

Questions

Are Amazon return pallets worth it?

They can be, but it depends on what is in them and what you pay. On 1,732 liquidation lots we priced and watched close, the winning bid was usually a fraction of the eBay price (from 19% for small kitchen appliances to 86% for coins and silver), and the lots that paid left $4,433 after every fee. The money is in knowing which lots to skip.

What sells best from liquidation lots?

By how often a closed lot left money after every fee: small kitchen appliances 85%, appliance parts 43%, tools 42%, furniture and decor 41%.

What does it cost to buy at a liquidation auction?

Expect a buyer's premium (often 18%), sales tax unless you have a resale certificate, a lot fee at some houses and a card fee at others, on top of the winning bid. Selling on eBay then costs about 13.6% plus $0.40 an order, plus shipping.

Price the lot before you bid

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How we got these numbers

Updated Wed, Nov 4, 3:10 PM CT