There are way too many examples of counterfeit supplements being sold on Amazon. I’ll warn you what to look for. Your health could be on the line.
Bin stores: Hidden shops full of Amazon, Target, Walmart and Wayfair returns
I went to a bin store the other day. I bought a completely sealed two-foot by two-foot box for $10. Inside my mystery box were four pairs of men’s black socks, a cat bell, two potato peelers, an iPhone stand and a Dallas Cowboys women’s shirt that I got a kick out of. Someone must have made a snap decision to return that.
Ever heard of bin stores? They’re like the Wild West of retail — usually small and independently run — with some junk and deals you won’t believe. The neatest part is where they get all this stuff. Bin stores hawk returned items from Amazon, Target, Walmart, you name it, along with liquation and overstock inventory.
How do you find bin store stuff?
There are many methods, so pick your favorite.
- Good ol’ Google: Search phrases like “bin stores near me” or “Amazon return stores.” They have a ton of names, so you can also try Amazon bin stores, liquidation bin stores or bargain bin stores.
- Facebook Marketplace: If you want to shop from home, many store owners list their treasures here. Look for listings that scream warehouse deal — usually, they use stock photos or warehouse backdrops.
- Social sleuthing: Get your detective hat on and dive into Instagram. Bin store hauls are all the rage on social, and you might stumble upon a store near you through a hashtag or two.
- Local listings: Check out BinStoreFinder, lifestyle blogger Kaitlin Madden’s site or more local options like WhereYaBin.
- Reddit recon: Reddit can be a surprising source for bin store locations. Simple searches like “Bin store [your state]” can lead you to treasure.
Remember, it’s an adventure!
You’ll find everything from brand-new items with tiny flaws to overstock treasures. But be smart. Some items might be damaged, and there’s probably some counterfeit junk in the mix. If it’s something electronic, ask if you can plug it in to try it out.
Pro tip: Check with your local stores on pricing because they tend to offer discounts on certain days of the week. You should also ask when their inventory comes in and prepare yourself for a line out the door!
Watch out for fakes on Walmart, eBay and Amazon
When shopping on Amazon, eBay and Walmart, it’s hard to distinguish between good and bad sellers. Heck, even I’ve bought junk from third-party sellers … companies that use major e-commerce platforms to sell their products.
💸 Thinking about opening an e-commerce store? Be careful who you trust. One guy lost $56,000 after paying Ascend CapVentures Inc. to open and manage an Amazon storefront on his behalf. They dangled six-figure sales projections but didn’t deliver. Even worse, they stocked his store with counterfeit products that got him banned.
Security warning: How to spot fake ChatGPT apps hiding malware
Unless you’ve lived under a rock for a few months, you know about ChatGPT. It’s an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that can write anything from a speech to a fictional TV episode from your favorite series. Tap or click here for everything you need to know.
Read this before you try to score a deal on Facebook Marketplace
Some social media platforms have made it easy for you to buy stuff from other members. Facebook Marketplace is one of the most popular. The problem is it’s littered with scammers.
Read on for five scams you must know about before buying anything on Facebook Marketplace.
Oh, no, Ozempic: Counterfeit versions of semaglutide weight-loss drugs are easy to find online. Researchers got their hands on three. Of those, the dosages didn’t match the labels, and one was contaminated with bacteria. Btw, three other sites scammed them entirely. Get the real deal from your doc.
FBI warning: How to spot dangerous counterfeit batteries
We’ve long been conditioned to separate recyclables from regular trash and sort plastics, glass, metal and paper. But some items, such as batteries and lighters, don’t belong in your recycle bin or trashcan. Tap or click here for 10 things that are illegal to throw away.