Industry analyses indicate that in 2023, between 10% and 30% of all e‑commerce purchases—amounting to millions of items—were returned to Amazon. Instead of simply discarding these goods, Amazon has created the “Return Pallets” program, through which it packages and sells bulk lots of returned merchandise at deeply discounted prices.

For aspiring entrepreneurs or bargain hunters, Return Pallets represent a low‑barrier entry point into the world of online retail. You don’t need to jump through the usual seller hoops—no extensive seller approvals, individual product listings, or costly warehousing arrangements. Instead, you can bid on or directly purchase a pallet containing anywhere from dozens to hundreds of items, which may include electronics, apparel, toys, household goods, kitchenware, sporting equipment, and more.

Because the contents vary in condition—ranging from lightly used or opened‑and‑returned, to items with minor cosmetic damage or missing accessories—each pallet is a treasure hunt:

Refurbish and Resell: Repair minor defects or simply clean and repackage lightly used electronics or appliances to sell at a premium.

Parts Harvesting: Extract fully functional components from broken or incomplete items, then sell those parts separately.

Direct Retail: Discover unopened, like‑new products you can list individually on Amazon, eBay, or other marketplaces for full retail value.

Creative Bundling: Combine related items—such as kitchen gadgets or home décor—into gift sets to boost perceived value and appeal.