Customer Returns vs Overstock Inventory
Two very different inventory types that are often confused — and priced very differently for good reason.
Customer returns
Returns are goods shoppers sent back. Some were never opened. Some were used, damaged, or are missing parts. Returns lots carry the steepest discount off estimated retail because the buyer absorbs all of that uncertainty and the labor to resolve it.
Overstock
Overstock never reached a customer. It is generally new, sealed, and manifested. You pay more per unit than for returns and receive far more predictability in exchange.
Which should you buy?
If you have testing capacity, repair skills, and patience, returns can offer more room. If you need consistent, listable stock with minimal processing, overstock is usually the better fit. Many established resellers buy both and run them through separate workflows.