{"id":1763,"date":"2025-04-21T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=1763"},"modified":"2025-04-22T12:03:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:03:54","slug":"i-visited-the-amazon-returns-warehouse-where-everything-is-discounted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/21\/i-visited-the-amazon-returns-warehouse-where-everything-is-discounted\/","title":{"rendered":"I visited the Amazon returns warehouse where everything is discounted"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Jon\t<\/div>
I’d definitely go back to Trade Outlet (Picture: Rosie O’Hagan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From cut-price books to Airfyers<\/a>, Amazon receives a staggering 12.87 million orders every single day.<\/p>\n

Of course, not every purchase<\/a> is a successful one \u2014 so what happens to those ill-fitting clothes, gadgets you don’t actually need, and far-too-big furniture<\/a> when you send them back?<\/p>\n

Well, they could end up at Trade Outlet<\/a>, a little-known UK chain<\/a>, which gives shoppers the chance to buy Amazon<\/a> overstock and returns<\/a> at massively discounted prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With seven locations across England<\/a> and Wales<\/a>, receiving 20,000 new items a day, discounts can reach a whopping 85% off.<\/p>\n

I love a good bargain. From far-away charity shop<\/a> trips, to early morning January sales, I’ve been known to go to ridiculous lengths for a great deal. <\/p>\n

With the sun shining, I headed to Trade Outlet’s largest location, just outside Chester, ready to unleash my inner David Dickinson (minus the tan) and score a steal of a deal.<\/p>\n

Preparing for your visit<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
My local Trade Outlet was pretty easy to find (Picture: Rosie O’Hagan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before you hire a van and drain your bank account, there are a few details to bear in mind.<\/p>\n

Trade Outlet is a predominantly business-to-business (B2B) seller. This means that, similar to Costco<\/a>, you’ll need to register for an account before you shop, which can be done online or in person. Unlike Costco though, no proof of trading is required, and anyone can shop here.<\/p>\n

Although email receipts are provided, there is a no returns policy. In fact, the website states: ‘As we operate outside of the typical consumer legislation, all stock is sold as-is aside from exceptional circumstances’.<\/p>\n

All prices at Trade Outlet are listed on products excluding VAT \u2014 so remember that all of your items will be more expensive at the till.<\/p>\n

My first impressions of Trade Outlet<\/h2>\n

I arrived bright and early, when the store opened at 10am. Despite proudly being a new account holder, this wasn’t checked by staff \u2014 I simply strolled in and started shopping. <\/p>\n

As you walk through the door, the sheer size of the place hits you square in the face.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Trade\t<\/div>
The size of the warehouse is truly vast. (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It resembles something akin to a really big charity shop, combined with a jumble sale, and the downstairs area of an IKEA \u2014 there are giant shelves stocked with all manner of mysterious-looking parcels and packages.<\/p>\n

The sections are roughly organised into categories like ‘Electronics’, ‘Books’, ‘Christmas’, ‘Arts and Crafts’, and more, and my brain starts to hurt as it quickly becomes evident that this is going to take some effort.<\/p>\n

The only way to really seek out potential bargains is to get in the thick of it, riffling among the shelves and sifting through the stock.<\/p>\n

While I had worried about being barged out of the way by FOMO-mad shoppers, this wasn’t the case though \u2014 the store is so big that it easily accommodates large crowds.<\/p>\n

Heading first to the electronics aisle, I immediately spy a whole load of wireless earbuds, all with an RRP of around \u00a320, and being sold off forfraction of the cost, at just \u00a32.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Wireless\t<\/div>
A whole selection of wireless headphones were on offer for around \u00a32 each. (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also spot a paper shredder with an RRP of \u00a374.99 on sale for just over \u00a310, various phone cases between \u00a31 and \u00a32, and even a foot massager reduced from \u00a3116.20 to just \u00a319.22. One fancy looking iPad case had been slashed from \u00a397.90 to \u00a323.60.<\/p>\n

I’ll be honest, in some of the sections, it was clear to see why these products hadn’t been snapped up for their original prices online: there was an inexplicable abundance of photo frames, curtain poles and random computer parts. <\/p>\n

There were also the kinds of purchases that I imagined someone had drunk-ordered, only to return when they sobered up \u2014 items like said foot massager and a child’s keyboard with a \u00a350+ RRP.<\/p>\n

Still, it was the furniture section that impressed me the most. I spotted a luxury leather reclining three-seater sofa (in surprisingly good nick) for \u00a3149.51\u2014 a \u00a3550 saving on its original RRP \u2014 and a velvet sofa for \u00a347.40, down from \u00a3223.99.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bargains\t<\/div>
A few of the bargains at Trade Outlet. (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It struck me that Trade Outlet could be a haven for budding interior designers, in the same way that Facebook Marketplace is, transforming these buys into something more stylish.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the best bargain I found was also in this section: an L-shaped desk with a price tag of just \u00a37.81, down from \u00a378.08 RRP.<\/p>\n

After leaving the furniture, I stepped into another section with much potential: clothing.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Velvet\t<\/div>
Just under 50 quid for a new three-seater velvet sofa seemed like a good deal. (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I walked between never ending racks of coats, jumpers, shirts, dresses, shoes and accessories. <\/p>\n

Several smart-casual blazers by Paul Jones caught my eye, priced at around a fiver (usually at least \u00a360 or more), as well as a long trench coat that was supposed to be \u00a362.17 for \u00a310.36.<\/p>\n

This could also be a hidden-gem for parents, as there was a huge selection of books and puzzles for little ones.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tThe weirdest products at Trade Outlet\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Like all stores of this kind, some of the finds at Trade Outlet are truly bizarre, and I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion.<\/p>\n

Some of the strangest highlights included a child’s ski and snowboard training harness (RRP \u00a359.99, priced at \u00a312.68), at-home drug test screens (\u00a32.17), a sling pet carrier (RRP \u00a318.98, priced at \u00a33.17), and even a wooden box urn for ‘human cremation and pet dog ashes’ (\u00a32.40).<\/p>\n

Other honourable mentions include a Ninja-style headband (\u00a31.50), graduation cap and gown costume (\u00a34), and a very Sopranos-esque money clip, priced at \u00a35.22.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Everything I bought at Trade <\/strong>Outlet<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Pretty pleased with my new items (Picture: Rosie O’Hagan\/Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quite a lot, actually. Here’s my full shopping list:<\/p>\n