📦 Finding & Selling Lost Packages and Liquidated Goods
A Reseller’s How-To Guide
Millions of packages go undelivered, lost, returned, or unclaimed every year from carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx and major retailers. Rather than return them to sender, many are sold in bulk to liquidation marketplaces where resellers can buy them and turn a profit. Alibaba
Platforms like Liquidation.com and GovDeals.com are two of the most accessible places online to find bulk packages, pallets, and surplus goods — and this guide will show you how to find them and sell them for profit.
🛒 1. Understand the Marketplaces
Liquidation.com
Liquidation.com is a major online auction and fixed-price marketplace where businesses and retailers sell returned, overstock, salvage, or unclaimed goods in bulk — everything from electronics to clothing. Liquidation.com
- Inventory types: packages, pallets, truckloads
- Origins: returned items from retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, etc. Money Talks News
- Buying model: auctions or fixed-price lots
💡 Tips before you buy:
- Look for manifests (itemized lists of what’s inside) so you know what you’re bidding on — this reduces risk. Commerce Central
- Evaluate shipping costs — pallets can be expensive to ship. Seller Universe
- Check seller and listing details carefully, plus photos and item conditions. Seller Universe
GovDeals.com
GovDeals is an online auction platform where government agencies sell surplus, unclaimed, and confiscated property, including unclaimed mail, equipment, electronics, furniture, and more to the public. GovDeals
- Often includes lots of assorted goods and unclaimed USPS packages once holding periods expire. Alibaba
- Bidding works like a traditional auction — you place bids on items or lots.
- In many cases you may have to pick up the items in person, especially for heavier goods. blog.govdeals.com
🔍 2. How to Find the Best Deals
Searching on Liquidation.com
- Use filters to sort by category (electronics, apparel, etc.), lot size, and price. Liquidation.com
- Packages are smaller than pallets and may suit beginners. Liquidation.com
- Study the manifest to gauge resale value (e.g., known brands or current tech). Commerce Central
Finding Auctions on GovDeals
- Register as a bidder and browse auctions by category. blog.govdeals.com
- Look specifically for “unclaimed property” or mixed lots of merchandise. Alibaba
- Set alerts or favorite categories to catch new listings quickly. blog.govdeals.com
💰 3. Buying Smart
Assess Risk vs. Reward
Buying blind boxes or mystery lots is exciting but risky — you may get valuable items or mostly low-value goods. Get in the habit of:
- Comparing potential resale prices (e.g., on eBay) before bidding.
- Starting with small lots to build experience. Alibaba
Calculate All Costs
Don’t forget:
✔ Buyer fees
✔ Shipping or pickup costs
✔ Time to test, list, and send items
Sometimes fees and shipping can reduce profit significantly.
🪙 4. Selling Your Inventory
Once you’ve acquired merchandise, the next step is selling goods in a way that maximizes profit.
Best Resale Platforms
- eBay: Great for individual items or smaller lots
- Facebook Marketplace: Local pickup for bulky items
- Poshmark / Mercari: Apparel or niche categories
- Your own Shopify store or TikTok Live: For higher volume sellers
Tips for Success
- Inspect and Categorize
- Test electronics, sort by condition, and verify authenticity where applicable.
- Keep clear records of what you have.
- Photograph Well
- Use high-quality images; show any flaws and include multiple angles.
- Write Detailed Listings
- List brand, model numbers, condition, and include measurements if needed.
- Price Smart
- Research sold listings on eBay to see what similar items actually sell for.
- Respond to Buyers Fast
- Better communication often leads to quicker sales and higher reviews.
🧠 Pro Reseller Tips
- Start small: If you’re new to liquidation lots, begin with smaller packages to manage risk. Alibaba
- Build a system: Track acquisition cost vs. resale value — keep spreadsheets to understand profits.
- Watch for scams: Avoid sellers that won’t provide basic listing details or that insist on sketchy payment options. (This advice applies broadly when buying unclaimed lots online.) SuperMoney
- Join communities: Reselling forums and groups share tips and alerts on good buys.
📌 Final Thoughts
Buying and selling lost packages and liquidation items can be a lucrative side hustle or full-time business if you know where to look and how to analyze deals. Platforms like Liquidation.com and GovDeals.com offer a variety of inventory — from small package lots to large pallets — but success depends on careful selection, smart buying strategy, and effective selling.
With practice, you can turn abandoned goods into profits using the steps above! 🚀
