Buying guides
How to Buy Pallets: The Complete Beginner's Guide (2026)
How to Buy Pallets — Quick Answer
To buy liquidation pallets: (1) choose a reputable wholesale supplier, (2) pick a category that matches your resale market, (3) start with a single pallet (general merchandise pallets start at about $400) to test the inventory, and (4) arrange freight or pickup. No resale license is required at most liquidation wholesalers, including Discount Wholesalers Inc. Most buyers are up and running within one week of their first order.
Table of Contents
- What is a liquidation pallet?
- How much do pallets cost?
- Where to buy pallets
- Step-by-step buying process
- What to look for in a supplier
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
What is a liquidation pallet?
A liquidation pallet is a bulk lot of merchandise sourced from retail returns, overstock, shelf pulls, or store closeouts. Major retailers like Amazon, CVS, Target, and Sam's Club sell excess or returned inventory to wholesale liquidators rather than restocking it. That inventory gets sorted, palletized, and resold to resellers, flea market vendors, and bin store owners at a fraction of retail value.
A standard pallet holds anywhere from 50 to 4,000+ individual units depending on the category.
How much do pallets cost?
- General merchandise pallets: from about $400
- Amazon return pallets: from about $400
- Clothing pallets: from about $550 (200–500 pieces)
- Cosmetics and HBA pallets: from about $900 (roughly 700 to 10,000 units)
- Full truckloads (22–26 pallets): from about $5,500
Inventory and prices change daily, and many pallets and truckloads sell before they are ever listed on the website. Call (910) 536-1440 or schedule a video call to see today's list.
Where to buy pallets
1. Direct wholesale liquidators (best option)
Companies like Discount Wholesalers Inc. source directly from retailers and sell pallets at fixed prices with no auction markup. Discount Wholesalers Inc. has been operating since 1999 and ships nationwide from Lumberton, NC.
2. Online liquidation auctions
Sites like B-Stock, Liquidation.com, and Direct Liquidation run auctions where pallets go to the highest bidder.
3. Local liquidation warehouses
Discount Wholesalers Inc. is located at 107 Back Swamp Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360 and welcomes in-person buyers Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM EST.
Step-by-step buying process
Step 1: Choose your category
Start with a category you understand or have a sales channel for.
Step 2: Review available inventory
Browse available liquidation pallets and check the product descriptions for unit counts, source retailer, and condition.
Step 3: Start with one pallet
First-time buyers should start with a single pallet to learn the process before scaling.
Step 4: Arrange shipping or pickup
Pallets ship via freight (LTL). Most pallets weigh 400–900 lbs.
Step 5: Sort, price, and sell
Once the pallet arrives, sort items by category and condition. Price each item to cover marketplace fees, shipping, and your time, while staying below retail.
What to look for in a supplier
- Transparency: Clear photos, accurate unit counts, honest condition descriptions
- No license requirement: Reputable suppliers don't require a resale license
- Track record: Look for suppliers with years of history and verifiable reviews
- Nationwide shipping: Good suppliers ship freight to any US location
- Real inventory: Active listings that change regularly indicate a real operation
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overpaying at auction: Bidding wars can push prices above what makes resale profitable
- Buying without a sales channel: Know where you'll sell before you buy
- Ignoring freight costs: Factor LTL shipping into your total cost per unit
- Starting too big: One pallet is enough to learn the business
- Skipping manifested inventory: For beginners, manifested pallets reduce risk
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to buy liquidation pallets?
No. Most wholesale liquidators, including Discount Wholesalers Inc., do not require a resale license or business registration.
How many units are in a typical pallet?
It varies by category. Cosmetics: 1,000–4,000 units. General merchandise: 100–500 items. Clothing: 110–500 pieces.
Can I inspect pallets before buying?
Yes, if you visit the warehouse in person.
What is the minimum order?
Single pallets start at about $400. No minimum quantity requirement.
How long does shipping take?
LTL freight typically takes 3–7 business days.
Ready to start? Browse our current inventory of wholesale liquidation pallets. Call us at (910) 536-1440 Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM EST.
Also explore: All Pallets · General Merchandise · Makeup Pallets · Liquidation Truckloads
Discount Wholesalers Inc. — Operating since 1999 · 107 Back Swamp Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360 · (910) 536-1440 · Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5 PM EST
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Buying from Discount Wholesalers Inc since 1999
See the real merchandise before you pay: a sales rep shows you the load on a video call, or visit our warehouse in Lumberton, NC.
