Wondering what Amazon does with the millions of returned packages they receive every year? The returns get sent to a variety of different places and are often sold at a big discount, even if they packaging has NEVER been opened. This creates some opportunities to buy Amazon returns and either flip them for a profit or keep the item for yourself. Here are 4 ways to buy returns and save some money in the process.

Find an Amazon “Return Store” in Your Town

As I’ve written about in detail, I recently found an Amazon Return store in my area, also known as a “Bin Store”.

I did it by doing a Google search for “Amazon return stores in MY TOWN” and immediately found a store called Bargain Bins that has some crazy good deals.

The store buys Amazon pallets every week and sells them Thursday through Monday and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday for restocking.

I showed up when they opened on a Thursday and found microwaves, mini-fridges, and furniture for ONLY $12.

I couldn’t believe the deals but they WENT FAST as the store was pretty crowded.

Look for a store like this in your town as it’s definitely the cheapest way to buy Amazon returns that doesn’t require you to buy large pallets of returned merchandise.

PRO TIP: RETURN STORES ARE GREAT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

When I walked in my first return store all I could think about was how great the store would be for buying stuff for a college dorm room. I saw a small refrigerator, a little microwave, nice bedding, and cool room decor all for ONLY $12 EACH. I mean sure it’s all final sale, but heck, for $12 you aren’t out much if the fridge or microwave doesn’t work. If you’re looking to stock a dorm room, you NEED to find one of these stores.

Check Out Amazon Resale for Warehouse Deals

A good chunk of Amazon returns end up in the online Amazon Resale Warehouse section of the Amazon website…sold at a MAJOR discount.

Returns go through a 20-point inspection to make sure the item works like new before being placed for sale.

The best products to shop for in the Amazon Warehouse, in terms of savings, include smartphones, laptops, tablets, and kitchen appliances.

Items in the warehouse get marked into 4 easy to understand “condition categories” when they originally get returned to Amazon.

The 4 condition categories are as follows:

Used – Like New – Comes with all accessories and is in perfect working order, packaging may have some signs of damage.

Used – Very Good – Item has seen limited use, is fully functional, but may have a minor imperfection like a scratch or tiny dent. Some accessories may be missing, be sure to check item description to see exactly what comes with it.

Used – Good – Product will show moderate wear but will still be fully functional. Expect damaged packaging or complete repackaging. Some accessories will probably be missing.

Used – Acceptable – Clear signs of use but the item is guaranteed to still work. Expect scratches, small dents, and worn edges. Accessories will often be missing and have to be purchased separately.

The Amazon return policy on resale products is the same 90-day policy that they have on everything else they sell.

Also, since every item they sell in the warehouse varies by condition, Amazon is unable replace a product with the exact same item.

So Amazon asks that you simply return the item for full refund, then shop for a separate replacement item.

PRO TIP: THE “USED – VERY GOOD” CATEGORY IS THE SECRET SAUCE

Always try to shop the Used – Very Good category in the Amazon Resale warehouse. Not only will you maximize your savings (30-50% off), but the item will still have its full life-cycle. There is ZERO sense paying the premium price for Used – Like New items. And with the Used – Good category you have no idea how “Used” the item is, and this it typically won’t last as long.

See Also: 4 Amazon Price Tracking Tools That’ll Score You a Deal

Buy an Amazon Returns Pallet from BStock

Check out BStock for some great values on Amazon pallets.

The site works similarly to eBay as you bid on the pallets that interest you.

The nice thing is you have a pretty good idea of exactly what’s in the pallet before you place a bid.

Namely whether it’s consumer electronics, furniture, PC hardware, home décor, clothing, beauty, etc.

The auction will also tell you the number of items on the pallet as well as the brands that you should expect.

If you keep a close eye on the auctions, you’ll notice that some pallets go REALLY CHEAP as it becomes a supply & demand situation.

Too many pallets of merchandise and not enough bidders often creates a situation where you can score a deal.

See Also: Here’s How You Can STILL Get Amazon Price Protection

Buy Return Pallets Directly from Amazon

Check out the little known “Amazon Bulk Liquidations” page and shop pallets of returns and overstocks directly from Amazon and 3rd party sellers.

Until recently, I had no idea this page existed, but was impressed with the variety of product lines available.

The pallets range in price from $370 all the way up to $3,100 depending on size and value.

The primary pallet categories are toys, home and garden, and clothing, with a few “mixed” pallets sprinkled in.

All sales are final and they will ship to residential addresses as well as businesses.

Once purchased, Amazon strives to get your pallet delivered within 14 days.

See Also: How to Buy Amazon Unclaimed Packages and What to Expect

BONUS Tip: Buy Returns via Amazon Renewed

While not every product you find on Amazon Renewed was a return, they all come with significant markdown over the original retail price.

Every product is considered either pre-owned, a returned item, or was a display model.

Many of the products, especially electronics, laptops, and smartphones, regularly sell for 40-60% off the original retail price.

The best part? All products have been inspected by an Amazon technician (or a 3rd party refurbisher) and come with a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.

Be aware that Amazon does add a qualifier on “Renewed” items, stating that “products have no visible cosmetic imperfections when held 12 inches away.”

Less than 12 inches away? You might notice a small scratch or blemish.

Also, it’s worth noting that products may be packaged in a generic box, but will typically come with all the accessories expected for a new product (unless otherwise noted).

Ask the Reader: Do you have any other clever ways of buying Amazon returns that I missed? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Are you a gamer looking for a job and wondering what’s the current deal with the GameStop employee discount? You stumbled onto the right article. I went out and talked to a few current employees and even a GameStop manager and got some answers to all your questions. And I’m glad I did as the information I found was a little quirky and definitely not the stuff you’ll find on the GameStop website or corporate boilerplate. I hope this helps you figure out if it’s worth applying for a job or not.

The GameStop Employee Discount is 15%

GameStop employees get a 15% employee discount which while not great, is a decent “percent discount” compared to other similar stores.

Also, it’s important to note that YOU CANNOT combine your employee discount with any other special offers.

PRO TIP: STACK DISCOUNT WITH YOUR PRO ACCOUNT

I had a GameStop manager tell me that their 15% employee discount is stackable with their Pro account. This means you can stack your $5 monthly reward, and redeem reward points for additional savings, in conjunction with your employee discount.

Only Need to Work For 1-Week to Qualify

You need to be employed by GameStop for at least 1-week before you become eligible for their employee discount.

I was also told they reserve the right to change this to 30 days around the holidays to keep gamers from getting a job, only to take advantage of the discount, then quit.

Part-time and Full-time Employees Qualify

Both full and part time workers can score the discount.

BUT…I’m told full-time workers (especially managers) get quite a few “free stuff” perks than lowly part-timers. More on this later.

Update: I got a comment from a GameStop manager who said “Seasonal employees also benefit from the exact same discount”.

See Also: Sweet Employee Discounts That Just Might Make You Switch Jobs

You Can Get the Discount Online and In-Store

While the simplest way to use the discount is in-store, you absolutely CAN use your employee discount online via the GameStop website.

To make it happen online, you’ll need to visit this link:

https://www.gamestop.com/employee/

From there, you’ll want to Sign-In to your account.

Next, you’ll be given the option to confirm your employment.

Lastly, when checking out from Gamestop.com your discount will automatically apply.

PRO TIP: GET FREE SHIPPING

Another cool perk of their employee discount is you’ll get free shipping along with your 15% discount when shopping online. I was told the free shipping is with no minimum order threshold which is great as even Pro members have to spend at least $54 to qualify for free delivery.

Some Items Are Exempt

The biggest product exemptions are gaming consoles and digital codes.

Also, stuff “On Sale” or other special offers can’t be combined with your employee discount.

In other words, you CAN’T use your employee discount on things that are not being sold at full price.

Employees Can Rent Games for Free

GameStop wants you to be familiar with the games you’ll be selling, so MOST managers will happily let you take rentals home for free and give them a whirl.

This is especially true if they have a lot of a certain title in-stock and won’t miss it while you have it home.

Do They Offer a “Seasonal” Employee Discount?

Yes, sometimes.

I talked to a GameStop employee with 3 years experience who told me they do offer discounts up to 25% at varying times throughout the year.

When I pushed him on it, he told me it often revolves around very specific items in the store.

That’s all I could get from him…let me know if you have any more information on this by leaving a comment below.

See Also: GameStop Return Policy: All the In’s and Out’s

Family Members and Spouses Are Eligible

With many companies, only the employee can get the employee discount.

But with GameStop, they’ll also give the discount to “immediate” household family members.

This includes spouses and children as long as they live under the same roof.

Managers Can Get a Lot of Free Stuff

The manager at my local GameStop told me he scores a lot off free stuff towards the end-of-the-year when they’re clearing out old posters, promo copies of full games, and even old merchandise.

He actually said “more than he could ever use”, so he ends up handing a lot of it out to other employees and even some regular customers.

Ask the Reader: When it comes to the employee discount at GameStop, what did I miss? I’m sure there are some quirks that I didn’t discover in my research, so please let me know.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

I originally was interested in writing this article when I noticed on Target.com that they claim to accept EBT via their website, but not on the app. I figured it was time to set the record straight for 2024 and answers all of your “EBT at Target” questions.

Does Target Accept EBT or WIC?

Yes.

Target brick & mortar stores accept both your EBT Card (Electronic Benefits Transfer) and WIC at all their physical stores in the United States and Canada.

What Items Can I Buy With EBT?

There is a healthy list of items you’re allowed to purchase at Target with your EBT card.

They include the following:

– Fruits and produce. Both fresh and canned.

– Grains like cereal, crackers, tortillas, rice, and breads.

– Meats like chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Both fresh and canned.

– Juice and beverages (non-carbonated).

– Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

– Cooking oils.

– Peanut butter.

What Stuff Is a No-No to Buy?

Oddly enough, you can’t buy the following items at Target using your EBT card.

– Already Prepared “Hot” Foods.

– Tobacco products.

– Alcohol.

– Diapers and baby wipes.

– Paper products.

– Cleaning products.

See Also: Does Costco Accept EBT or Snap? Here’s the Real Deal

So…Does Target Take EBT Online?

Yes.

As of this writing, you CAN finally use your EBT card online via Target.com.

I personally called Target corporate to verify this and they informed me that it is now possible. (Thanks to a couple commenters for the heads up on this)

First thing to consider is that you NEED a Target account to use your EBT card on their website.

When shopping on the Target website, you simply use your EBT card like you would your credit card and you’ll be informed which items in your order are eligible for SNAP benefits.

To add your card, go to your Target Account, then click Payments, then Add Payment Card.

Then you’ll select EBT card and enter your Card Number.

Be sure to toggle the Default Payment for Snap to the On (green) position, that way Target will automatically apply your SNAP benefits to all eligible items.

You’ll then be asked to enter a Secondary Form of Payment to cover all the items that aren’t EBT eligible as well as any Shipping or “Substitution” fees.

HACK ALERT

A very cool feature that Target put into place is the ability to edit the amount applied to your EBT payment BEFORE you place your order. This allows you to be in complete control of your EBT spending which is a nice benefit.

Can I Also Use My EBT Card On the Target App?

Yes.

When using the Target app, you can now also add your EBT card to your account Wallet and then select it as your default payment method.

The easiest way to make it happen is to tap Settings, then Payment Cards, followed by Add Card.

Select EBT and enter your card number at which point you can also select it as your default payment method.

Keep in mind you’ll also have to add a secondary payment method to cover all non-EBT eligible items in your order.

Can I Use EBT With Curbside Pickup?

Yes.

To make it happen, you would just shop the Target website or app like you normally would, select Curbside Pickup, then use your EBT card as your payment method.

Can I Use My EBT Card at Self-Checkout?

Yes.

When using the self-checkout aisle at Target you’ll be given the option to use your EBT card when you reach the payment portion.

For this to work, you’ll need to split your cart into 2 separate purchases: EBT eligible items and non-eligible stuff.

Or make your life easier and ONLY add eligible items to your cart and call it your EBT shopping trip.

Tip Alert: If you’re having trouble using your EBT card at Target self-checkout, it’s probably because your remaining EBT balance is not enough to cover your purchase and you CAN’T use multiple cards to pay at self-checkout.

The solution is to tell the employee running the self-checkout and they’ll pull your order onto their computer and help you complete the purchase with multiple cards if needed.

Can I Use My RedCard Benefits With My EBT Card?

No

RedCard benefits can only be used when RedCard is your chosen mode of payment.

In other words, you have to use either your EBT card -OR- your RedCard credit or debit card, you can’t use both on the same transaction unless your RedCard is your secondary payment method which would cover all your non-EBT eligible items.

See Also: 5 Target Hacks That Will Save You Money

Is The Return Policy the Same on EBT Purchases

Yes.

You’ll be given the same 90 day return policy.

Keep in mind that this also applies to perishable foods.

I personally verified this with Target that perishable items are returnable and was told “Yes, as long as it’s within 90 days of purchase”.

Can I Use My Benefits at Starbucks Within Target?

No.

You’ll have to pony up your own money to buy a Starbucks coffee within a Target store.

At the very least, check out some of our highly clever ways to save at Starbucks.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever used your EBT or WIC at Target? Was it an easy process?

By Kyle James