How To Buy Surplus Merchandise?

Large loads of surplus, overstock, return merchandise... Computers, electronics.

• We have visited many websites offering to sell pallet or container loads of open-box, unclaimed, surplus merchandise, returns, etc. from major department stores. We are looking to find such materials ourselves, particularly electronics and computer returns, audio and visual equipment and other consumer electronics, automotive parts, power tools. The problem we have is locating the source of these materials, essentially cutting out the middleman and buying these materials for ourselves. We want to know where we can find a direct source for container loads of the above mentioned items. Brand names preffered!

• Answer:

  Dear omnitel-ga: Thank you for your question. I have found quite a few places online where you may obtain surplus assets directly from the source. However, these mostly come in the form of Business to Business (B2B) portals where retailers and the wholesalers such as the ones you have found in your own searches come together and bid on loads. With few exceptions (such as QVC), the only way other than the above to get supplied directly with pallets of surpluses from major retailers is to contact the individual stores directly. Unforunately, they usually will have already contracted out their liquidation inventories out to established wholesalers. Rather than contacting each individual store, the most direct way to obtain excess inventory is to take advantage of the the numerous B2B portals that were created especially for your purpose. Major retailers directly advertise their own excess inventory on these services. Most large chains do not have their surplus inventory information available online, for obvious marketing reasons. Although they are not a retailer per se, QVC does offer a liquidation program that is more public than most: "QVC's proactive approach to business has proven pivotal in establishing us as the world's leading electronic retailer. In keeping with that tradition, QVC partners with established wholesalers, retailers, and exporters to liquidate inventory that QVC no longer features on air. Since 1986, QVC has been supplying its liquidation buyers with valuable merchandise. QVC sells numerous types of products for liquidation: accessories, apparel, collectibles, dolls, electronics, exercise equipment, home products, linens, and seasonal merchandise. The large variety of product featured in our programming is reflected in a wide range in price among QVC liquidated merchandise. To become better acquainted with QVC's Liquidation Department, please read on, or call us directly: QVC Liquidation: 1-484-701-8117" http://www.qvc.com/hqliquid.html They have a FAQ available in the above link. As you know, it mentions specifically "established wholesalers," and an application process is required. -- B2B Surplus Portals -- RetailExchange.com is the foremost provider in Business to Business surplus solutions that puts directly together retailers with excess inventory with retailers who are looking to buy their inventory through a marketplace format. "RetailExchange is the leader in excess inventory solutions for manufacturers and retailers seeking to buy or sell excess consumer products. A subsidiary of Gordon Brothers Group, a global leader in retail inventory liquidations, we leverage unparalleled retail expertise." http://www.retailexchange.com/ As is the base with most B2B portals, registration is required proving that you are an applicable business. Liquidation.com is another service very similar to RetailExchange. They are an apparently very reputable company, as they are contracted also with the operation of the liquidation website for the United States Government. (see govliquidation.com near the end of this answer) "Liquidation.com offers the most comprehensive solution to convert surplus assets into cash. Our active customer base and integrated services ensure a fast, cost effective, and reliable way to buy or sell surplus." http://www.liquidation.com/ -- Other Surplus Portals -- Other than RetailExchange.com, and to a lesser extent, Liquidation.com, there are more B2B business portals. But there is no guarantee that all of the sellers in these other portals are actually retailers rather than just redistributors. I do know that there are real retailers who make use of the below services, but there may be redistributers active as well. You wouldn't know it without a search, but Ebay is actually one of the biggest exchanges for B2B transactions. The appropriate category which suits your needs specifically would be Business/Large Lots, which linked directly below: http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catwholesale.html?ssPageName=BIhubMBlrglots1 CommoditySurplus is another great resource for fixed price lots directly from the manufacturer or retailer. "CommoditySurplus's mission is to find buyers and sellers of surplus stock for our clients. When you post stock with us we will actively seek a buyer or seller for you using our network of thousands of surplus dealers worldwide. Our business is built on relationships, trust and knowledge of our client's requirements and we provide all the business-to-business facilities required for secure international trade in surplus stock." http://www.commoditysurplus.com/ --Government Surplus Portals-- Finally, the United States government offers a variety of methods by which you may directly obtain their surplus assets: Government Liquidation (Operated by Liquidation.com) http://www.govliquidation.com/ GSA Auctions https://www.gsaauctions.gov/index.jsp FirstGov Shopping http://www.firstgov.gov/shopping/shopping.shtml Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service http://www.drms.dla.mil/ Related Google Directory: http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Industries/Wholesale/Liquidators/ Google Search Strategy: b2b surplus ://www.google.com/search?q=b2b+surplus&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&start=60&sa=N b2b wholesale ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=b2b+wholesale&cat=&sa=N&tab=dw pallets OR pallet wholesale OR liquidator OR surplus jcpenney OR k-mart OR walmart ://www.google.com/search?q=pallets+OR+pallet+wholesale+OR+liquidator+OR+surplus+jcpenney+OR+k-mart+OR+walmart&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&start=10&sa=N pallets retail wholesale OR liquidator OR surplus ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=pallets+retail+wholesale+OR+liquidator+OR+surplus&btnG=Google+Search closeouts search OR direct OR finder ://www.google.com/search?q=closeouts+search+OR+direct+OR+finder&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&start=60&sa=N liquidator OR liquidation retailer contacts ://www.google.com/search?q=+liquidator+OR+liquidation+retailer+contacts&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&start=30&sa=N "department store" OR "manufacturer" OR "warehouse" "salvage loads" OR "pallet" OR "pallets" ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22department+store%22+OR+%22manufacturer%22+OR+%22warehouse%22+%22salvage+loads%22+OR+%22pallet%22+OR+%22pallets%22&btnG=Google+Search "department store" OR major retailer liquidate OR liquidation ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=%22department+store%22+OR+major+retailer+liquidate+OR+liquidation&btnG=Google+Search direct source overstock OR surplus ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=direct+source+overstock+OR+surplus&btnG=Google+Search I hope this helps! Best Regards, blader-ga