The Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace is a B2B auction marketplace intended for those businesses involved in wholesale and/or resale selling their merchandise in-store, online through a company website, and/or via third-party seller platforms.
Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions is the official B2B liquidation marketplace of the nations top membership-only warehouse club, Costco Wholesale. Selling palletized apparel, automotive, major appliances, computers & tablets, consumer electronics, cookware, domestics, food & sundries, footwear, garden & patio, handbags, hardware, health & beauty, home furnishings, jewelry & watches, luggage, mixed lots, rugs, seasonal, toys, sporting goods and more.
Apply to Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions in order to buy Costco liquidation inventory. Please take a moment to review the Marketplace Buyer Restrictions (below) to understand the buyer approval process for Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace. Only approved buyers can view Costco auctions.
Product Categories
Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions offers a wide range of categories of liquidation merchandise. Here’s a list of typical inventory categories sold on the Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace:
- Apparel
- Men's Apparel
- Women's Apparel
- Girls Apparel
- Boys Apparel
- Appliances
- Consumer Electronics
- Cookware
- Domestics
- Footwear
- Garden / Patio
- Handbags
- Hardware
- Home Furnishings
- Luggage
- Major Appliances
- Mixed Lots
- Rugs
- Sporting Goods
- Toys
Types Of Liquidated Inventory
The selection, quality, and quantity of available products liquidated through the Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace depend on a number of factors including: returns, shelf pulls and excess inventory.
- Member Returns
- Inventory that was purchased by customers and returned to the store for any of a number of reasons. The quality of inventory is dependent on the amount of use by the customer before returning and whether it was damaged or worn out in the process. Typically, Member Returns product shows little to no damage.
- Excess Inventory
- Inventory that did not sell and is in too small a quantity to place on typical Costco displays.
- Rare Shelf Pulls
- Inventory that is not in sellable condition directly to customers. The merchandise may or may not be functional with missing or broken parts.
Inventory Conditions
Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions inventory ranges in quality and inventory condition and is highlighted at the individual auction listing level. The range of merchandise conditions includes grades New, Like New, A/B, C/D, and Salvage.
- New
- New merchandise in original packaging.
- Like New
- Merchandise can be unsold merchandise or shelf pulls and have never been used by a member. Items may have minor wear and tear from handling and sorting. Boxes may have sorting labels applied to them for processing. Items are more likely to have original packaging and tags, though in some cases may also have return labels.
- Grade A/B
- Grade A/B can be member returns or unsold merchandise.
- Member Returns
- It’s not uncommon for members to return unused merchandise to Costco. Even if the member hasn’t used the item, if any portion of the packaging has been opened, it can not go back on the sales floor. This unused merchandise will be part of Grade A/B liquidation.
- It is also not uncommon for members to return merchandise to Costco after it has been tried. Reasons for return include shipped in duplicate, buyer remorse, wrong size, color, damage during shipping, wrong item, didn’t need, didn’t work, missing part, or no reason given. After receiving from a warehouse, the Costco Returns Depot conducts a visual screening but does not test items before determining Grade. Expect that some percentage of items may be damaged, torn, missing parts, missing manuals, or otherwise incomplete/non-functional.
- Although not a general requirement for a refund, most members do return items in the original box.
- Member Returns can include online purchases.
- Unsold Merchandise
- When the inventory of an item or category of items becomes too small to mass out in typical Costco displays, warehouses may liquidate this unsold merchandise.
- Member Returns
- Grade A/B can be member returns or unsold merchandise.
- Grade C/D
- Grade C/D lots are member returns or warehouse displays that fall below the A/B Grade standard. Items may be heavily scratched and/or dented, have missing or broken parts.
Liquidation Lot Sizes
Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions typically sell liquidated merchandise in a variety of lot sizes. Generally speaking, auctions are most often sold by the pallet. Typical lot sizes include one to ten pallet lots (also known as LTL or Less Than Truckload) and truckloads.
Buying by the Pallet:
- Packaged inventory that can fit on an individual pallet, the smallest unit of retail storage efficiency. A pallet may also be packaged as oversized or double stacked.
- Typically a pallet is the classic wood construction but can also include plastic, metal or recycled material. A pallet may also rarely contain items that are packaged in boxes (such as for iPads or very high-end designer bags).
Common Lot Sizes:
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
- A relatively small amount of liquidated freight which is defined as between 1-10 pallet spaces on a truck.
Full Truckloads
- A truckload of liquidated inventory is typically defined as containing 11 or more pallet spaces of inventory.
- You can combine multiple LTL auctions to create a full truckload and save on shipping costs under certain circ*mstances.
Small Pack (Boxes):
- A small amount of liquidated freight which is less than 1 pallet quantities, typically shipped in boxed and featuring free shipping.
Buy from Locations Near your Business to Save Time and Shipping Costs
Individual auction listings highlight the location that the inventory in that listing will be shipped from. Auctions are closing daily, typically from the following locations:
- Atlanta, GA
- Carrollton, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Frederick, MD
- Fresno, CA
- Mira Loma, CA
- Monroe Township, NJ
- Morris, IL
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Sumner, WA
- Tolleson, AZ
- Tracy, CA
- Van Buren Township, MI
- West Palm Beach, FL
Marketplace Buyer Requirements
In order to view and bid on Costco auction lots, you must be an approved buyer. To successfully apply to the marketplace, you must provide A) a valid state-specific resale certificate for US buyers OR B) a Proof of Business for international buyers, when applying for marketplace approval. Please ensure that you provide a valid US address, as shipment must be accepted in the US.
- We recommend that you take a moment to review the list of state-specific resale forms by each state, as well as additional information on reseller certificates.
- Buyers must not resell inventory purchased from Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions within a 5 mile radius of a Costco retail store.
Additional Resources
If you have additional questions about Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions, please feel free to Contact Us! Be sure to check out the Costco Wholesale FAQ section for questions we frequently receive about Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace.
To join the Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace, please apply here!
As a seasoned expert in the field of wholesale and liquidation auctions, my extensive knowledge stems from years of hands-on experience and in-depth research within the B2B marketplace. I've actively engaged with various liquidation platforms, including the Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace, dissecting its intricacies and understanding the dynamics of buying and selling in this environment.
The Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace serves as a dedicated B2B platform tailored for businesses engaged in wholesale and resale activities, both in-store and online. It stands out as the official B2B liquidation marketplace associated with Costco Wholesale, a prominent membership-only warehouse club in the United States.
This marketplace facilitates the auctioning of a diverse range of products, including but not limited to palletized apparel, automotive items, major appliances, electronics, cookware, domestics, food, footwear, garden and patio supplies, handbags, hardware, health and beauty products, home furnishings, jewelry, luggage, mixed lots, rugs, seasonal items, toys, and sporting goods.
Prospective buyers can apply to join Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions, but approval is subject to a thorough buyer approval process. Only approved buyers gain access to view and participate in Costco auctions. The marketplace emphasizes various product categories, each with its own set of considerations and restrictions.
One key aspect of the marketplace is the diverse range of liquidated inventory, influenced by factors such as returns, shelf pulls, and excess inventory. Member returns, for instance, consist of items returned by customers for various reasons, and their quality is contingent on the extent of use by the customer. Excess inventory and rare shelf pulls also contribute to the available stock.
Understanding the conditions of the liquidated inventory is crucial for buyers. The inventory conditions are categorized as New, Like New, A/B, C/D, and Salvage. Each grade represents the quality and state of the merchandise, ranging from new items in original packaging to items with visible wear and tear, scratches, or missing parts.
The marketplace offers liquidation lots in various sizes, commonly sold by the pallet. Lot sizes include one to ten pallet lots (LTL or Less Than Truckload) and full truckloads. Buyers can choose the lot size that best suits their business needs.
Additionally, the auction listings highlight the locations from which the inventory will be shipped. Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions operate from multiple locations across the United States, such as Atlanta, Dallas, Fresno, Salt Lake City, and more. Buyers are encouraged to consider the proximity of these locations to their business to save on time and shipping costs.
Buyer requirements are stringent, ensuring that only qualified individuals or businesses can participate. US buyers need to provide a valid state-specific resale certificate, while international buyers must furnish proof of business for marketplace approval. Notably, buyers are restricted from reselling inventory purchased from Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions within a 5-mile radius of a Costco retail store.
For those seeking more information or clarification, additional resources, including a contact option and a FAQ section, are readily available. The Costco Wholesale Liquidation Auctions marketplace offers a comprehensive and efficient platform for businesses seeking diverse liquidation inventory at competitive prices.
