Why pay full price if you can get something half-off or even "Free" ?

If you belong to a discount merchandise club like Sams™ or BJ's™ then you already know the pros and cons of "distressed" merchandise. If not, read the next paragraph.

Distressed merchandise are products that are manufacturer's overruns, discontinued or "liquidated" items, or even bulk orders that are placed when sales are low. They are usually brand new, first quality items that are sold to wholesalers to recover some costs and get them out of the normal sales channels. Keep your eyes open for refurbished and "second" quality products--they should be identified but often it is in the fine print. The selection typically varies from time to time and when a particular product is sold out it might no longer be offered.

Here are some good distressed merchandise sites:

• Publisher's Pipeline
• iLynk
• Overstocks

Publisher's Pipeline is a website that gives rebates for odd lot items. 

This site carries overruns, close-outs, and some bulk orders of their own.  They provide a discount from the retail price, plus most of the items have a rebate. Some of the rebates are "Instant Rebates" which are automatically applied and do not require you to do anything. Some are traditional rebates that require you to mail a copy of your receipt and a copy of the UPC code.

I found this site by accident two years ago, and tried it out. Last year, they expanded the number and type of products they carried and I did quite a bit of my Christmas shopping in just 30 minutes. I also got back over $300 in rebates, and was only disappointed in one product.

Quite of few of their items have rebates for the full cost, so you can order it free! Be aware, you still pay shipping, so it will cost you a few dollars to get the "free" item in your hands.

Here are some of the items that are available (while quantities last) to show you the types of items:

Visit Publisher's Pipeline to see what else they have...

Return to top of page

ilynk is a distressed merchandise shopping club. 

For a small fee, you can get access to their database of hundreds of over-manufactured, over-stocked, or refurbished top-quality brand-name merchandise. iLynk only publishs the directory; members deal directly with the vendors.

Many of these are the same sources where wholesale clubs and discount stores purchase their inventory. Discounts up to 70% - 90% OFF retail are available on things like home electronics, designer clothing, jewelry, computer accessories, sporting goods, home furnishings, office equipment, toys, and much more. 

Visit the Ilynk site to read more about it...

Return to top of page

Overstocks.com is another site that carries discount merchandise. 

The discounts aren't quite as good as iLynk, but there is no "membership" fee. They have relationships with many manufacturers, but also acquire liquidated merchandise from dissolved e-tailers.

Discounts run 40-70% on thousands of items in 14 "departments" like Sporting Gear, Electronics, Home Decor, and Housewares.  You can find name brands like: Samsonite, Dell, Nikon, Timberland, Fieldcrest, RCA, and more. The offer some of, if not the best, prices on name brand goods.

Visit Overstock.com and see what they have...

Return to top of page

Home      About      Contact      Biz Ops     Shopping Tips

Any comments or questions about this website or our services can be directed to info@coolbluebargains.com.

Cool Blue Bargains™ is an enterprise of RAL Technologies, Inc.
Copyright © 2001 All rights reserved