Bin Store Electronics: What to Buy and What to Avoid
Electronics at bin stores offer huge potential savings — but also real risks. This guide tells you what's worth grabbing and what to leave behind.
Electronics: The High-Stakes Category
Electronics are simultaneously the most exciting and most treacherous category at bin stores. A $3 Bluetooth speaker that retails for $45 is a no-brainer. A $10 tablet that won't turn on is $10 wasted. The difference between these outcomes often comes down to what you know before you buy.
This guide will help you navigate the electronics bins with more confidence — knowing what to pick up, what to pass on, and how to assess condition on the fly.
What You're Likely to Find
Bin stores regularly receive electronics across a wide range of categories:
Audio: Bluetooth speakers, headphones, earbuds, soundbars
Mobile accessories: Phone cases, chargers, cables, screen protectors, power banks
Smart home: Smart plugs, smart bulbs, voice assistants (Echo dots, Google Nest mini)
Tablets and e-readers: Kindles, Fire tablets, lower-tier Android tablets
Streaming devices: Roku sticks, Fire TV sticks, Chromecast
Gaming accessories: Controllers, headsets, game cases
Cameras: Action cameras, webcams, camera accessories
Wearables: Fitness trackers, smartwatches
High-end items like laptops, flagship smartphones, and premium audio equipment are rare but not impossible to find.
Best Electronics Buys at Bin Stores
Bluetooth Speakers and Headphones
These are among the most consistently rewarding electronics finds. Reasons:
They're commonly returned (wrong sound profile, gift duplicates, impulse purchases)
Many arrive in working condition with just packaging damage
Retail markups are high, making even modest bin prices a great deal
Easy to test: just pair via Bluetooth and play audio
What to check: Sound quality on both channels, charge level, any rattling from drops, and that the Bluetooth pairs reliably.
Phone Chargers and Cables
Low price, low risk. Most cables are returned for compatibility reasons rather than because they don't work. Charging cables and wall adapters that retail for $20–$40 routinely appear in bins.
Smart Home Devices
Alexa Dots, smart plugs, Philips Hue bulbs, and similar devices are returned frequently simply because they were gifts, setup was confusing, or the buyer upgraded. Many work perfectly. The main risk is missing the power adapter or setup instructions — both easily found online.
Streaming Sticks
Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast devices are simple and durable. The main issue is account linking — an old account may be associated with the device. Amazon Fire Sticks can be factory reset easily; check online for the process before buying.
Fitness Trackers
Fitbit, Garmin, and similar devices show up regularly. Check for cracked screens and charging port condition. Many work fine; some have battery degradation.
What to Approach Carefully
Tablets and Laptops
Higher value means higher stakes. Key things to look for:
Is the screen intact? Cracks are often dealbreakers
Can you access settings? Check for Google account (FRP) or Apple ID locks that prevent full use
Battery health (hard to assess without powering on)
All ports functional?
If you can't power it on or test it, factor in the risk. At very low bin prices, it may still be worth the gamble.
Laptops Specifically
Laptops are rare in bins and carry high risk. Missing chargers, BIOS passwords, and screen damage are common. Unless you're technically savvy and the price is very low, exercise caution.
Older Model Electronics
Technology depreciates fast. A 2019 tablet might have very little resale value even in perfect condition. Before buying electronics to resell, verify that the model is still relevant and that there's active buyer demand. Check eBay sold listings for the exact model number.
What to Avoid
Electronics with Screen Damage
Cracked or shattered screens on smartphones, tablets, and laptops are expensive to repair. The repair cost often exceeds the item's resale value.
Anything with Water Damage Indicators
Look for the small white oval stickers inside battery compartments or charging ports. If the sticker is red or pink, the device has been exposed to moisture. Water damage is often irreparable.
Items Locked to Someone Else's Account
Apple devices with Activation Lock enabled, Amazon Fires linked to accounts, or Chromebooks with enterprise enrollment are effectively non-functional for a new user without the original account credentials. Check the screen carefully before buying.
Cheap No-Name Electronics
Generic electronics from unknown brands have little resale value and questionable quality. Unless you need it personally and the price is negligible, skip the generic tablets and earbuds.
Tools for Electronics Assessment at the Bin
Your phone with the Amazon app: Scan barcodes to check model and retail value
A USB-C/Lightning cable in your pocket: To attempt to charge and power on items
Portable power bank: To test items that need a charge
Good lighting: A headlamp or phone flashlight helps inspect ports and connectors in dim stores
The "Parts" Market
Even broken electronics have value. Smashed-screen iPads, dead MacBooks, and non-functional gaming consoles are actively bought by repair shops and parts resellers. On eBay, a broken iPhone can still sell for $50–$100 depending on the model. If you understand the parts market, electronics that don't work are not necessarily worthless.