How to Make Supplemental Income: Finding Open Box and Valuable Items on Overstock Auction Sites
In this part of our series on making supplemental income through reselling, we’re focusing on an exciting and often overlooked source of inventory: overstock auction sites. These sites are treasure troves for finding open-box, returned, and surplus goods that can be purchased at a fraction of retail prices and resold for a profit. From consumer electronics to furniture and even government surplus items, overstock auctions offer a wide range of products to fuel your reselling business.
In this post, we’ll explain how overstock auction sites work, what kinds of items you can expect to find, and where to source these deals through some of the top auction platforms in the U.S.
What Are Overstock Auction Sites?
Overstock auction sites are platforms where businesses and government agencies liquidate their excess, returned, or open-box items. These goods are often brand-new or lightly used and can include products returned by customers, overproduced, or no longer needed by the organization. Sellers sell these items at deep discounts, making them prime candidates for resale at higher prices online.
The beauty of these auctions is that you can acquire inventory in bulk or individually, often at wholesale prices or lower. So resell them on platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace for a significant profit.
Types of Items You Can Find on Overstock Auction Sites
Depending on the auction site, the variety of items you can source is extensive. Here are some popular categories:
- Open-Box Electronics: Items like smartphones, laptops, cameras, and home electronics returned but which remain in good working condition.
- Appliances and Home Goods: You can find everything from small kitchen gadgets to major home appliances. Like refrigerators and washing machines.
- Furniture and Decor: Overstocked or returned furniture pieces, often still in great condition, are available at substantial discounts.
- Clothing and Accessories: Auction sites often feature returns or excess stock from retail clothing chains. That givs you a chance to resell brand-name apparel and accessories.
- Government Surplus Items: These include everything from office equipment to vehicles, tools, and military gear. Government auctions offer a wide range of items at unbeatable prices.