Start a Resale Business with Amazon Mystery Boxes

Amazon mystery boxes are bundles of unclaimed and overstock goods that you can find directly on Amazon or across the web from sites offering their version of “Mystery Boxes.” You don’t know what’s in them, which is what draws a lot of interest around these. And for individuals looking for a side gig or way to break into reselling, mystery boxes can be very appealing. By nature, the number of items will always be different, some sites guaranteeing 20-30 items. The value of contents in a mystery box can range from $5 to $100 and up! However, with the mystery comes the potential for scams by some less-than-honest sellers. You could find a fake pair of Airpods or luck out on a $20 bag of dog food. With Amazon Mystery Boxes you take the chance of making a profit, taking a loss, or sometimes, simply breaking even!

We go over what Amazon mystery boxes are, where you can find them, and how to start reselling items you may find. Plus, how B-Stock can help along the way.

What are Amazon mystery boxes?

Often, Amazon and companies like USPS will auction off unclaimed parcels. Either the delivery could not be fulfilled or the parcel got sent back because of a wrong address, for whatever the reason, these parcels are up for grabs. You can find over 10,000 results for “Amazon mystery box” on Amazon.com. These can be distinguished by categories like electronics, beauty/ makeup, “promo product,” or completely random. Merchandise is supposed to be overstock (or surplus stock) and factory-sealed—but there’s no guarantee.

Mystery boxes average anywhere between $30-$50, but you can find some beauty mystery boxes for as little as $18! Other electronic-focused boxes can go for $60 and higher. And on the pricer end, $100-$300 or more. See a comparison of two different mystery box listings below.

Just like you would place any order, you will want to factor in shipping costs if they’re being sold from third-party sellers. Or, if you have Amazon Prime, you can get 2-day free shipping.

Should you buy Amazon mystery boxes?

There are a few benefits to purchasing mystery boxes. First, you can test the waters with reselling in a low-cost way. Second, you have the potential to luck out and get a few high-value items for a fraction of the price! There are, however, a few drawbacks to mystery boxes.

Going through multiple sellers

On the secondary market, unless you’re going directly to the source, you run the risk of other sellers buying inventory first, picking out the best items, and then reselling what’s left to you. When you source inventory through retailers’ official liquidation channels, you can have peace of mind knowing there weren’t any middlemen handling the inventory first.

You also avoid any additional wholesaler markups, since these companies usually get access to retailers’ liquidation before the average business does. They may recover a retailer’s liquidation before you ever get a chance to see it and then sell it off in the form of mystery boxes.

Not a consistent source of inventory

YouTubers and TikTokers make unboxing videos where they walk you through what they received in their mystery boxes. But remember, these will vary drastically in value and you will have to see for yourself if it’s worth it. Safe to say, it won’t be a reliable source of inventory if you’re trying to get into reselling for the long haul.

The thrill of mystery boxes can include finding something as valuable as Beats headphones like YouTuber @SarahGrace did below!

The resellers behind @Franchise Kicks, however, show how you can end up with unsellable items, like four Corgi-themed 2021 calendars—halfway through the calendar year!

Once you get into the practice of purchasing items for a lower cost and then reselling them for higher- or closer to retail- you can start sourcing other places. Here are a few benefits of securing inventory on B-Stock instead:

Avoid the guesswork with liquidation pallets!

If you’re looking for a more reliable way to secure inventory for your resale business, register on B-Stock. You get access to retailers’ private storefronts, which include some of the world’s largest retailers and manufacturers! Retailers like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, GameStop, Unilever, and Best Buy list their overstock, customer returns, and other liquidation inventory up for auction on sites that B-Stock builds. Then, registered buyers like yourself can bid on the inventory – which means you only pay what you want!

View Live Auctions

Auctions specific to your interests

If you’re looking for home and garden pallets, or mobile case packs, you can filter for auctions specific to that category. This allows you to be much more intentional with what you’re buying, especially if you know you have customers that are coming to you for specific things. Plus, with 1500+ live auctions daily—you never have to wait to secure the inventory your business needs!

Transparency

Many auction lots found on B-Stock will be manifested. A manifest is a document that comes along with each lot detailing the inventory included. Because you can’t physically touch or view the retailer’s inventory before you buy, the detailed manifest essentially brings the store to you. While no two manifests are identical, you can typically find most of the same item information such as: Quantity (QTY), Item Number/UPC/Model, Retail/MSRP, Extended Retail/Ext. MSRP, Item Description, and Category.

Have control over your profits

With detailed manifests, you are able to make more informed purchasing decisions. You can calculate your potential profits by checking what the current retail price is and what it sells for on the secondary market. Of course, you want to account for the quantity, condition, and shipping costs! With a mystery box, you won’t be able to do these calculations until after the fact. You could end up spending $30 just for a few dollar-value items.

How to start your reselling business

Whether it’s with Amazon mystery boxes or liquidation pallets, this is how to start your reselling business:

1. Register your resale business

While normal consumers can purchase mystery boxes off of Amazon, you should still have a registered business if you want to become an online seller. And if you intend to purchase liquidation pallets on B-Stock, you will be required to submit a valid resale certificate. This allows you to buy goods through your business without paying local sales tax at the time of purchase. It’s then your responsibility to collect the tax from your customer when you sell the item.

2. Decide how you will secure inventory

If you’re looking to scale your business, ordering bulk quantities of liquidation inventory is the way to go. You pay a lower price per item and get a better deal on shipping this way versus placing multiple orders for a few boxes that you don’t know the estimated retail value of!

3. Start reselling

Depending on what inventory you have, you will want to sign up for popular sites to resell online like eBay, Poshmark, and Amazon, among others. Follow these initial steps for selling online:

• Organize your pallets/ inventory
• Clean them up or make minor fixes if necessary
• Take awesome photos
• Start listing items
• Price accordingly
• Write an SEO-focused title and product description
  • Disclose the item’s condition (‘Like New’ vs ‘Good’) – always point out if there are any minor defects!
• Answer customer inquiries quickly
• Pack and ship

If you’re just testing the waters and want to sell in person, flea markets are a good place to start!

Start your buying journey on B-Stock

If you’re ready for a reliable source of liquidation inventory, start registering on your favorite B-Stock storefronts. Buyers like yourself can secure pallets of inventory for a fraction of the retail price! Take the guesswork out of sourcing and fuel your resale business with quality liquidated goods, on B-Stock.