Jon Fellowes, a bargain enthusiast, visited Trade Outlet, a UK chain that sells Amazon overstock and returns at heavily discounted prices. With seven locations across England and Wales, the store receives 20,000 new items daily, offering discounts up to 85% off retail prices.
Preparing for Your Visit
Trade Outlet is primarily a business-to-business seller, similar to Costco, but anyone can register for an account online or in person without proof of trading. However, there is a no-returns policy, and all prices are listed excluding VAT, so final costs will be higher at the till.
First Impressions
The store's size is overwhelming, with giant shelves filled with mysterious parcels. Sections are roughly organized by category, such as electronics, books, and furniture. The author found the experience akin to a large charity shop combined with a jumble sale.
Bargains Found
In electronics, wireless earbuds were just £2 (RRP £20), a paper shredder was £10 (RRP £74.99), and a foot massager was £19.22 (RRP £116.20). Furniture deals included a leather reclining sofa for £149.51 (RRP £700) and a velvet sofa for £47.40 (RRP £223.99). The best find was an L-shaped desk for £7.81 (RRP £78.08). Clothing bargains included Paul Jones blazers for around £5 and a trench coat for £10.36 (RRP £62.17).
Weirdest Products
Strange items included a child's ski training harness (£12.68), at-home drug test screens (£2.17), a sling pet carrier (£3.17), and a wooden box for ashes (£2.40). Other oddities were a Ninja headband (£1.50) and a graduation cap and gown costume (£4).
What the Author Bought
The total bill was £60 (including VAT). Items included wireless headphones (£2), a MacBook case (£2.67), microphone covers (80p), a blue corduroy sports jacket (£4.17), cufflinks (83p), a green suede handbag (£1.17), and two mystery boxes (£20 each). The mystery boxes contained 40 items, including champagne glasses, cactus seeds, guitar picks, and two sailor costumes.
Verdict
The author concluded that Trade Outlet requires perseverance, timing, and luck. While most items were unbranded, the potential for bargains changes daily. The store is worth visiting occasionally, but mystery boxes may not be worth it unless you have a use for random items.
