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Big Lots - Source for eBay Inventory

by Suzanne on August 17th, 2008

When I first started selling on eBay, my primary source for inventory was garage sales and thrift stores. But every business has to evlove in order to grow. Big Lots is a closeout store with products that have either been discontinued, removed from store shelves because of packaging changes, or phased out all together. Small stores like CVS and Walgreens only have limited shelf space. As new items are constantly hitting store shelves, other products must be removed to allow space for newly released products. The pulled items are often sold to Big Lots and sold at clearance prices. You can find great things to sell on eBay for profit at Big Lots such as health and beauty items, toys, office supplies, pet products, cosmetics, and medicines.

You may be thinking, “Why would somebody buy a bunch of closeout drug store products on eBay?” The answer - not everyone has access to the same products. Some people just fall in love with a product and it becomes unavailable. Others live in remote areas where shopping isn’t available. Others live in big cities where the corner store doesn’t carry what they need or like. Some people may have transportation issues, physical limitations, or other issues that prohibit them from shopping in stores.

A few words of caution about buying from Big Lots to resell on eBay:

1) Do your research before you buy anything. Visit the store, make notes of the deals. Then check eBay’s completed listings and decide if you can make a profit on the item.

2) Determine if you will sell the item in a lot or as a single item. You want to get rid of it fast (before too many other people are selling it) and for the most profit available.

3) Check the store often, several times a week. Big Lots stock turns over very quickly as new deals appear daily or weekly. Pay attention to what is new in the store.

4) Don’t list an item unless you buy it first. Some eBay sellers will visit the store, go home and list the items, and wait for a sale before buying the items. A very bad strategy with Big Lots as your source of inventory. You could go back in a few days and the item is sold out. Then you’ve got to explain to the customer why you can’t fill the order.

5) Check the expiration dates. You don’t want your customer to email you after receiving the product to ask for a refund because the item has expired.

6) Don’t broadcast to the store that you are an eBay seller. Go about your business quietly. If anyone makes comments about why you are buying so much, you don’t have to answer them, or you can simply state that you are buying for “a lot of other people.” Which is true.

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POSTED IN: eBay inventory