Office Supplies at Bin Stores: What to Look For
From desk accessories to tech peripherals, office supplies at bin stores offer real savings for home office and business shoppers. Here's what to look for.
Office Supplies at Bin Stores: An Underrated Category
The rise of remote work has made office supply shopping a much larger market — and a larger return market. Items purchased to set up home offices that didn't work as expected, didn't fit the space, or simply weren't needed flow through the liquidation chain regularly.
For people setting up or upgrading home offices, or for small business owners looking to manage costs, bin stores offer a surprisingly rich source of office-related merchandise.
Tech Peripherals: High Value Territory
Keyboards and Mice
Wireless keyboards and mice from brands like Logitech, Microsoft, and Amazon Basics appear at bin stores regularly. Returns happen frequently in this category because buyers receive incompatible USB receivers, prefer different layouts, or simply change to a different setup.
What to check: Verify that the wireless receiver (USB dongle) is present and intact. Test connectivity if possible. Check for obvious damage to the key caps or scroll wheel.
A quality Logitech wireless keyboard retailing for $50–$80 at $5–$8 at a bin store is extraordinary value.
Webcams
The remote work era created enormous webcam demand, followed by significant returns as people upgraded or found the camera inadequate. Webcams from Logitech, Razer, and similar brands appear in bins. Check for intact cable, mounting clip, and (if you can) test connectivity.
Headsets and Audio for Video Calls
Over-ear headsets with boom microphones for video calls appear with some regularity. These can be tested via Bluetooth pairing or USB connection. A Jabra or Logitech headset retailing for $80+ at $6–$10 is a compelling find.
USB Hubs and Adapters
USB-C hubs, HDMI adapters, and multi-port adapters are extremely common in bins. Amazon sells enormous quantities of these, and returns are high. These are low-risk buys — the only real question is functionality, which can be assessed by plugging in at home.
Monitors
External monitors are rare in standard bins but do occasionally appear in larger bin store operations. If found, inspect the screen carefully for dead pixels, scratches, and damage to the stand mechanism.
Desk Organization and Storage
These categories offer practical value at low bin prices:
Desktop organizers and file holders
Cable management accessories (sleeves, clips, ties)
Monitor stands and risers
Drawer units and desk storage trays
Pen and pencil holders
Document trays and inbox/outbox sets
On Day 3–5, these items at $1–$3 represent extremely good value for practical home office setup.
Writing Instruments and Paper Products
Pens, markers, highlighters, and notebooks appear in bins periodically. Sealed sets of quality pens or art markers from brands like Pilot, Staedtler, or Copic are excellent finds. Notebooks and planners, especially unused ones, offer practical value.
Lighting for the Home Office
Ring lights and LED desk lamps are very common returns — lighting is a highly returned category because buyers find the size, color temperature, or intensity doesn't match their expectations. These are excellent bin store finds:
LED desk lamps (check that the power adapter is present and the dimming mechanism works)
Ring lights (verify the stand is complete and the mounting hardware is present)
Under-desk LED strip lights
Filing and Administrative Supplies
Folders and file folders (often in sealed packs)
Label makers and tape (check that tape is included)
Staplers and staple removers (check that staples are included)
Scissors
Tape dispensers
These utilitarian items rarely appear as individual units — more often as sets or kits. At bin prices, a complete desk accessory set is a practical buy.
Printer-Related Items
Printer cartridges appear occasionally in bins, but verify compatibility with your printer before buying. Third-party cartridges for common Canon, HP, and Epson models appear with some frequency. Check the packaging is sealed (opened ink cartridges dry out).
Printer cables, paper trays, and other accessories also appear and are generally low-risk buys if compatible with your equipment.
For Small Businesses: Bulk Office Supply Strategy
Small business owners can use a regular bin store visiting schedule to build a stock of office supplies at minimal cost. The approach:
Identify your regularly-used supplies
Visit bin stores on mid-to-late cycle days when prices are lowest
Buy sealed, complete items of reliable brands in quantity when prices justify
Track your office supply spend before and after — the savings can be substantial
For businesses that go through significant quantities of pens, notebooks, tape, folders, and similar consumables, the cumulative savings from bin store sourcing versus retail office supply stores are meaningful.