Amazon unsold items can be acquired through official channels like Amazon Liquidation Auctions, Amazon Warehouse Deals, and the Amazon Outlet store, or through third-party liquidators and wholesale vendors. The process requires proper research, understanding of condition grades, and strategic buying to ensure profitability, which we’ll discuss in detail below.
How Amazon’s Inventory Ecosystem Works
Amazon’s massive fulfillment network handles billions of products annually. Through their FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) program, the company stores, packs, and ships products for millions of sellers worldwide. This enormous operation inevitably leads to surplus inventory that needs to be liquidated.
In 2023, Amazon reported managing over 8.9 billion square feet of storage space globally. With storage costs ranging from $0.75 to $2.40 per cubic foot depending on the season, the company has a strong incentive to move excess inventory quickly.
The Liquidation Process
Amazon’s inventory becomes available for liquidation through several routes:
- Customer Returns: Products returned within the 30-day window, which account for approximately 30% of all online purchases.
- Overstock: Excess inventory that hasn’t sold within expected timeframes.
- Warehouse Damaged: Items damaged during storage or transit.
- Season-End Products: Items that need to be cleared for new inventory.
How to Get Amazon Unsold Items: Official Amazon Sourcing Methods
1. Amazon Warehouse Deals Program
Amazon Warehouse Deals offers discounted products that are either returned, used, or have damaged packaging. These items are inspected and categorized based on their condition (like-new, very good, etc.). This is an excellent sourcing option for resellers looking to purchase products at a lower price point and resell them for profit. While the selection is limited to what’s available at any given time, it provides opportunities for sourcing various products in bulk.
Amazon Warehouse offers open-box and refurbished items typically at 20-50% below retail. Products are graded on a specific condition scale:
| Condition Grade | Description | Typical Discount |
| Like New | Original packaging, perfect condition | 20-30% |
| Very Good | Minor cosmetic damage | 30-40% |
| Good | Moderate signs of use | 40-50% |
| Acceptable | Functional but visible wear | 50%+ |
2. Amazon Outlet Store Opportunities
Amazon Outlet is a dedicated section where sellers can list overstock, closeout, or clearance items. Buyers can find new items at significant discounts, and this is another good option for resellers looking to purchase products in bulk to resell. Products in Amazon Outlet are often priced lower due to excess stock or end-of-life products, providing an opportunity to acquire goods at a reduced cost.
3. Amazon Business Platform
Amazon Business offers bulk purchasing and discounted pricing specifically for businesses. Buyers can source items across various categories in larger quantities, often at wholesale rates. The platform provides features like price comparison tools, discounts on volume orders, and business-specific products. It’s particularly useful for B2B transactions, allowing businesses to efficiently source goods for resale or operational use.
4. Amazon Liquidation Auctions
Amazon Liquidation Auctions is a platform where Amazon sells customer-returned items, overstock, and refurbished products in bulk to businesses and resellers. These auctions often allow buyers to purchase large quantities of goods at discounted rates, making it a viable method for sourcing inventory to resell on other platforms or within their own business.
5. Amazon’s Bulk Liquidation Store
This store offers bulk products, usually from overstock or returns, at significantly reduced prices. Like Amazon Liquidation Auctions, the Bulk Liquidation Store is a great option for resellers who want to purchase a wide range of goods, from electronics to home goods, at lower prices in large quantities. These products are typically sold in mixed lots, and the condition of items may vary.
6. FBA Liquidation Programs
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) sellers can participate in Amazon’s FBA Liquidation program, which allows them to liquidate unsold or excess inventory that is stored in Amazon’s warehouses. Amazon sells this inventory to third-party liquidation partners, who then resell it. This program benefits both the sellers, who avoid long-term storage fees, and resellers, who can acquire inventory at a lower cost. Resellers can purchase these liquidation lots for resale through Amazon or other platforms.
Alternative Sourcing Channels to Grt Unsold Amazon Products
Working with Online Marketplaces
The digital landscape offers numerous platforms for sourcing Amazon unsold items. B-Stock Solutions, Amazon’s official liquidation partner, processes over $1 billion worth of returned and excess inventory annually. Their platform typically offers lots ranging from $2,000 to $25,000, with average discounts of 75-90% off retail prices.
Liquidation.com, another major player, handles approximately 200,000 transactions yearly, with success rates showing that buyers who purchase regular lots achieve an average profit margin of 15-30% when reselling through various channels.
Direct Sourcing Strategies
Building relationships with Amazon sellers can provide a steady stream of inventory. There are over 9.7 million Amazon sellers worldwide, with approximately 2.5 million active sellers. The key is to target sellers who:
- Generate over $100,000 in annual sales
- Have high return rates in specific categories
- Need to quickly liquidate seasonal inventory
Pro Tip: Focus on sellers in categories with traditionally high return rates, such as electronics (25% return rate) and clothing (40% return rate).
Product Assessment and Selection for Acquiring Unsold Items
Market Research Fundamentals
Successful buyers conduct thorough market research before making purchases. The most profitable categories for liquidation buying typically include:
| Category | Average ROI | Risk Level | Competition |
| Electronics | 20-35% | High | High |
| Home & Garden | 30-45% | Medium | Medium |
| Toys & Games | 25-40% | Low | Medium |
| Clothing | 35-50% | Medium | High |
Condition Evaluation Protocol
When assessing potential purchases, understand Amazon’s detailed condition guidelines:
Grade A+: New/Like New (Original packaging)
- Retail value retention: 70-80%
- Typical resale time: 1-2 weeks
Grade A: Very Good
- Retail value retention: 50-65%
- Typical resale time: 2-3 weeks
Grade B: Good
- Retail value retention: 35-45%
- Typical resale time: 3-4 weeks
Grade C: Acceptable
- Retail value retention: 20-30%
- Typical resale time: 4-6 weeks
Proper evaluation is crucial for your liquidation business success. So take your time and evaluate item grade properly.
Other Frequent Amazon Liquidation Questions
1. Where can I buy unclaimed Amazon pallets?
You can buy unclaimed Amazon pallets from several online liquidation platforms such as Amazon Liquidation Auctions, B-Stock, Liquidation.com, and Direct Liquidation. These platforms offer unclaimed, returned, or overstock items in bulk, which can include a variety of products.
2. Can I buy Amazon returns directly from Amazon?
Yes, you can buy Amazon returns directly through platforms like Amazon Liquidation Auctions and the Amazon Bulk Liquidation Store, where Amazon sells returned and unsold items in bulk to businesses and resellers.
3. Is it worth buying Amazon return pallets?
Buying Amazon return pallets can be worth it if you are able to assess the quality and value of the items within the pallet. While some products may be damaged, many are in usable or even new condition, providing a profitable opportunity for reselling at a lower cost.
4. How do you buy lost cargo?
You can buy lost cargo, including undelivered Amazon packages, from third-party liquidation sites such as GovDeals, Liquidation.com, or BidRL. These sites often auction off unclaimed or lost items from various sources, including Amazon.
5. Does Amazon sell original items?
Yes, Amazon sells original items from both its own stock and third-party sellers. While the platform has strict guidelines against counterfeit products, it is always advisable to purchase from verified sellers or Amazon itself for guaranteed authenticity.
Summary
To get Amazon unsold items, you can utilize several official Amazon programs such as the Amazon Liquidation Auctions, FBA Liquidation, and the Amazon Bulk Liquidation Store. These platforms offer overstock, customer returns, and unsold inventory at discounted rates, making it easier for resellers or businesses to acquire products in bulk.
By tapping into these sources, you can access quality items at lower prices, giving you an opportunity to maximize profit margins when reselling. Exploring Amazon Outlet and Warehouse Deals also provides additional options for sourcing unsold or overstock items.