How It Works

Where our products come from

Every day, perfectly good products leave the normal retail path. Someone returns an item they never opened. A store pulls stock to make room for new packaging. A warehouse ends up with more than it can sell. Most of these products are never put back on a store shelf. We buy them in bulk and give them a second chance.

Here’s what those terms mean:

  • Customer returns: items sent back to a retailer, often unopened, for reasons like ordering the wrong shade or changing their mind. Some items have been handled or tested. This all will be noted in the listing.
  • Shelf pulls: products removed from store shelves because of a packaging update, a seasonal change, or a damaged box.
  • Overstock: extra inventory a retailer ordered but didn’t sell.
  • Liquidation lots: mixed pallets of returns and overstock that retailers sell off in bulk.

Our inventory comes from the return and overstock channels of major retailers.

What we do with every item

Liquidation is unpredictable, so we go through every item by hand before it’s listed.

  • Seals and packaging: we check whether the product is sealed and note any damage to the box.
  • Expiration dates: when a product has one, we check it and include it in the listing.
  • Imperfections: scuffs, dents, missing boxes, and anything else you’d want to know about are described in the listing.
  • Leaks: occasionally a bottle leaks a little in transit. If the product is otherwise fine, we still sell it, and we photograph the fill level with a marked line so you can see exactly how much is there.
  • Electronics: every electronic item is tested and cleaned before it’s listed.

And every photo is of the actual item you’ll receive, not a stock image.

Why our prices are lower

Retailers sell returns and overstock at a discount because processing them isn’t worth their time. We do that work, inspecting, photographing, and describing each item, and pass the savings on to you.

Our condition guide

Every product has a condition label, shown right under the price.

  • New: brand new in its original, sealed packaging.
  • Imperfect Packaging: the box is dented, torn, or scuffed, but the product inside is new. Seal may or may not be intact.
  • Missing Box: the outer box is gone, but the product itself is new. Seal may or may not be intact.
  • Open Box: the item has been opened, tested, and/or cleaned, and works as it should. Still in new condition.
  • Partial Fill: the item has leaked and is missing some of its contents. The fill level is shown in the photos.
  • Cosmetic Imperfection: a scratch, scuff, or small flaw on the product itself, described and photographed in the listing.
  • Damaged/Tested Makeup: higher-end makeup with slight damage, like a cracked or chipped palette, or signs of light testing. Every imperfection is described and photographed in the listing. Shop these items in our Damaged/Tested Makeup collection.

Common questions

Are these products real?
Yes. Our inventory comes from major retailers’ return and overstock channels, and we inspect every item before listing it.

Are any of them expired?
We check expiration dates on every item that has one and include the date in the listing, so you always know before you buy.

Why is the box damaged?
Damaged packaging is one of the most common reasons good products get pulled from shelves. The listing’s condition label and photos show exactly what to expect.

Can I return an item?
Most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery. Health, beauty, and supplement items can only be returned if they’re unopened and sealed, unless they arrived damaged or not as described. See our Return & Refund Policy for details.

Still have a question?
Email us at support@theshopalternative.com. We typically reply within 1 business day.