A subculture of so-called “Dumpster Divers” is emerging as shoppers flock to stores that offer goods from Amazon and Walmart for as little as $1.
Dozens of 'bin stores' are popping up across the US, selling products that have been returned to major retailers for a second life.
According to figures from the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans returned $816 billion worth of goods last year. Garbage store owners buy products that cannot be resold by the pallet and sell them at rock-bottom prices.
Goods range from children's toys and accessories to iPads and other technology. Prices generally start around $10 per item, although they are reduced further as the week progresses.
And customers can even purchase “mystery bags,” a box of unspecified goods, for just $15, though prices vary.
One account called Juliet's Finds shows a couch she picked up from a “mystery pallet” of $50 Walmart returns. She told her 171,000 followers, “The couch alone for my son's room is amazing.”
The stores – with names like 'Crazy Bins', 'Hot Bins' and 'Bargain Bins' – have gained a cult following on TikTok.
One account called Juliet's Finds shows a sofa she retrieved from a “mystery pallet” of $50 Walmart returns.
She told her 171,000 followers: 'The sofa alone for my son's room is amazing.'
She added, “Did you expect that black thing from the pallet to look so great?”
She explained: 'I just went to one of those rubbish shops for the first time.
“So the stuff from those stores has been returned, I guess from Amazon and stuff, but they're new!”
Social media is also flooded with stories of waste hunters taking the returned items and then reselling them online for a profit.
Another user, Tara Woodcox, shared her findings from a junk shop that included a nightlight, a tray and some hair ties – all for $4 each. She explained: 'I just went to one of those rubbish shops for the first time'
Psychologist and mother of two Adrianne Szackamer, from Chicago, shared Washington Post: “I call it dumpster diving.
'For me it's the thrill of what I can find. What can I get that no one else can get?'
Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo told the Washington Post that when a returned item cannot be resold, the brand will work with “third-party services to rescue, donate, recycle or reuse materials.”
Another user, Tara Woodcox, shared her findings from a junk shop that included a nightlight, a tray and some hair ties – all for $4 each.
Stelian Gherman opened BinCredible Deals in 2021 and also told the outlet that running his store is “the best job ever.”
It comes at a time when returns are becoming an increasing problem for retailers. The NRF estimates that about 16 percent of sales were returned last year, compared to 10.6 percent in 2020.
This trend has led to 40 percent of online stores charging their customers for processing refunds by mail.
Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders previously told DailyMail.com: 'We see consumers often using the home as a fitting room. They buy a lot of clothing, knowing that some of it will be returned.
'Now companies are trying to get consumers to think more carefully before they buy something.'
He added: 'This year has been very difficult for retailers and there is a lot of pressure on them to reduce costs.'
According to a report from retail company Narvar, about 40 percent of companies will charge fees for returns this year. The charges are mainly applied to online orders returned by post
When a customer returns a product by mail, there are several costs to the retailer.
These include the upfront shipping costs, as well as logistics, handling and repackaging costs. The NRF estimates that a retailer pays $33 for each return it facilitates.
While no retailer fully passes these costs on to consumers, some charge more than others.
For example, Zara, American Eagle Outfitters and Urban Outfitters all charge $5 or less for a refund. Urban Outfitters calls it a “restocking fee.”
Meanwhile, H&M charges a $5.99 “return fee” for its non-loyalty members. Shoppers can return online orders in-store for free.
TJ Maxx, which charges the highest amount of $11.99, calls this a “shipping and handling fee.”
Similarly, DSW calls the $8.50 fee “shipping,” while Rei Co-Op says the $5.99 fund is used to cover “shipping for standard size/weight packages.”