How bin store pricing works
Quick answer: Every item in the bins costs the same price that day. The store sets a high price on restock day and lowers it each day until the bins are almost empty. Go early for selection, go late for price.
A typical price cycle
| Day | Typical price | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Restock day | $7–$15 | Full bins, long lines, resellers |
| Day 2 | $5–$7 | Still good selection, fewer crowds |
| Day 3 | $3–$4 | Sweet spot for most shoppers |
| Day 4 | $1–$2 | Picked over, cheap |
| Last day | $0.25–$1 or fill-a-bag | Leftovers; store closes after to restock |
Across the 233 stores where we have a schedule, the average restock-day price is about $10, and prices range from $30 down to $0.10. The most common restock day is Friday.
Why stores price this way
A bin store buys a pallet for a few hundred dollars without knowing exactly what is inside. It needs to clear the whole pallet before the next truck arrives. A falling price does two jobs: it gets top dollar from the people who want first pick, and it empties the bins by the end of the week so nothing sits around.
Which day should you go?
- Reselling? Restock day. The margin on a $12 item that sells for $60 beats digging for $1 leftovers.
- Shopping for your family? Day two or three. Prices are a third of restock day and the bins are still half full.
- Stocking a classroom, a shelter or a yard sale? The last two days. Fill-a-bag deals can work out to pennies per item.
Things that cost extra
Most stores pull out high-value items like TVs, vacuums, bikes, furniture and power tools and price them individually. Some charge a small entry fee or sell early-access memberships for restock day. Each store's page on this site notes what we know.
Does every store follow the same schedule?
No. Some restock twice a week, some run two-day cycles, and some keep one price all week. Holidays and big truck deliveries change things too. Always check the store's own Facebook page the morning you plan to go. We list the usual schedule for each store and the date we last confirmed it.