TEXAS — Holiday gift return season is still in full effect, with retailers receiving excess returns and selling them to discount stores. Bargain hunters and wholesalers are collecting some of those returns at bin shops like Big D Discount in North Dallas.
“We drive 45 minutes every week, twice a week, to come up here and shop. We love it,” said Jimmie Slemmons, who traveled to the store along with his family from their business in Lone Oak.
Khaled Younes, Big D Discount president and owner, said that every year more than 1 million boxes of overstocked and returned items make their way to his resale shop, which had hundreds of thousands of goods in stock after Christmas. He said bargain hunters would likely buy it all in a week, making room for more inventory.
“Whatever comes from Walmart, Amazon and Target, we just get it, try to see the good stuff in it to sell it,” Younes said. “The bad stuff, broken, we get rid of it. All the stuff that’s here is pretty much brand new.”
Workers like Mary Pancho were also cashing in on the bargains.
“Some of the best things I’ve gotten here are iPhones, tablets,” Pancho said. “It’s kind of crazy the things that I can get here.”
Younes said it beats sending non-purchased products to a landfill.
“There’s no customer that comes here that gets something for $300 for $30 and not be happy,” Younes said.
Despite the many rows of items filling his warehouse, Younes said customers made fewer purchases this year, which resulted in a smaller than normal bin shop inventory for 2025.
According to Adobe Analytics, between Nov. 1 and Dec. 12, returns fell 2.5% compared to last year. Experts say customers are doing more research before making purchases.
“Sometimes we don’t make top dollar. Sometimes, we lose,” Younes said. “Regardless of our economy or whatever happens, we help each other.”
Younes said he’s glad to provide shopping options for every income and walk of life.
“As long as everyone is happy, I think we’re doing the right thing,” Younes said.