Ever wondered where all those returned Amazon, Costco, or Target items go? In many cases, they don’t head back to the original retailer’s shelves — instead, they make their way into liquidation stores, also known as bin stores or outlet warehouses, where shoppers can scoop them up for a fraction of the price.
The Rise of Liquidation Retail
Liquidation stores have existed for decades, but the explosion of online shopping has supercharged the industry. According to Statista, Americans spent nearly $1.5 trillion online last year — and about 24.5% of those purchases were returned.
Returned, overstocked, or unsold items are sold in bulk to national liquidation companies, who then offload them by the pallet or truckload to discount retailers. Those items are then resold to consumers at steep discounts — often 20% to 70% off retail prices.
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As a bonus, the items are already imported, so shoppers don’t have to worry about tariffs driving up costs. And in a time of high inflation, Portlanders are increasingly turning to these stores for affordable home goods, electronics, furniture, and more.
Here are some of the most popular liquidation and bin stores in the Portland area — where you can find everything from flat-screen TVs to Halloween decorations for just a few dollars.
Buy Wander
📍 13136 N.E. Airport Way
🕒 10 a.m.–7 p.m. daily
One of Portland’s newest entrants, Buy Wander operates as a hybrid auction and pickup warehouse. Customers bid online for returned items — often from Amazon, Costco, and Lowe’s — and collect their winnings at the company’s 52,000-square-foot facility in Northeast Portland.
“Everything we have is a return from another major retailer,” said Brandi Gutierrez, Buy Wander’s general manager. “We process and test each item before putting it up for auction.”
Founded in Spokane, Buy Wander opened its Portland location in August and now lists 800–1,000 new items daily. General Manager Jordan Allen said the city has embraced the concept: “Portland’s tech-savvy and sustainability-minded — it’s been a great fit.”
The warehouse offers everything from furniture and power tools to hot tubs and TVs. “We’ve even found 94-inch TVs in boxes — and sometimes, it’s a 32-inch instead,” Allen joked.
Shoppers pay a 15% buyer’s premium on their winning bids, but the deals are hard to beat. One lucky bidder scored a new ceiling fan for just $17.25.
Smart Bins
📍 5063 N.E. 122nd Ave.
🕒 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (closed Fridays)
Opened by Zaid Malas five months ago, Smart Bins offers a treasure-hunt shopping experience where almost everything on the floor sells for $2. Items come from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Kohl’s, with new shipments arriving weekly.
“No two visits are the same,” Malas said. “It’s everything from brand new to shelf pulls.”
Clothing costs $3, and individually priced items are roughly half off retail. A $5 pack of decorative candles, for example, was selling for $16 online.
Super Deal Bin Store
📍 7004 S.E. 82nd Ave.
🕒 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily (closed Thursdays)
This smaller, more chaotic “bin” shop offers a similar thrill of discovery — with $2 tables piled high with random Amazon and Costco returns. Recent finds included wireless earbuds, eye masks, and even a pizza-slice pool float.
PDX Deals
📍 7911 N.E. 33rd Drive, Suite 230
🕒 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily
Known for its friendly shop dogs, Zorro and Murphy, PDX Deals sells Costco and Amazon returns as well as items from Target, Office Depot, and Home Depot.
Owner Steve Zmrhal said everything is tested and guaranteed: “If something doesn’t work, bring it back and we’ll swap it.”
Current stock includes seasonal goods — like Costco paddleboards — all priced 20%–50% below retail.
Friday Deals
📍 5137 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
🕒 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday–Sunday only
Run by Xuan Huynh and her husband, Friday Deals is a family-operated weekend shop featuring pallets of Amazon and Costco overstock. The store offers small appliances, electronics, and home decor — all at half off.
Huynh said she was inspired by liquidation stores she saw in Los Angeles. “People love getting a discount on top of a discount,” she said.
Eagle Bargain Outlet
📍 Multiple locations: Tigard, Gresham, Oak Grove, and Stayton
🕒 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday
One of Portland’s oldest liquidation chains, Eagle Bargain Outlet has been operating since 2001. Their merchandise primarily comes from a single big-box retailer — and while employees can’t name it, the Kirkland brand gives it away.
Store manager Evelyn Gunn said shoppers can expect 20%–30% discounts on everything from clothing and snacks to household goods. “The best deals are on apparel,” she said, noting that returns are accepted within 30 days.
Chaos Shop
📍 4200 S.E. 82nd Ave.
🕒 11 a.m.–7 p.m. daily
Tucked inside Hong Phat Supercenter, Chaos Shop sells smaller returned items — mostly electronics, lighting, and home goods — perfect for bargain hunters with limited time or space.
City Liquidators
📍 823 S.E. Third Ave.
🕒 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily
Founded in 1977, City Liquidators is Portland’s oldest and largest liquidation store, sprawling across five city blocks in Southeast Portland.
Owner Pam Pelett describes it as “a furniture store in disguise,” with 500,000 square feet of new and vintage furniture, décor, and collectibles. Shoppers can find everything from modern sofas to pinball machines from the 1940s, taxidermy, and neon signs.
“I make house calls in Los Angeles,” Pelett said. “If a vendor loses a lease, I buy their stock. It’s cheaper for them to sell it than move it.”
With its museum-like displays — including a 1961 glider plane, Colonel Sanders statue, and vintage carnival rides — City Liquidators remains one of Portland’s most eccentric and enduring retail destinations.
A Hidden Economy of Returns
From online auctions to $2 bin dives, Portland’s liquidation stores reveal the fascinating afterlife of modern retail returns. What started as e-commerce waste has become a booming secondary market — one that benefits bargain hunters, small business owners, and the environment alike.
So, the next time you hit “return” on Amazon, there’s a good chance your item will end up at one of these local spots — waiting to be rediscovered by another Portland shopper in search of a deal.
