Updated September 19, 2026. A low buy price is only the start of a good closeout order. Compare the actual goods, landed cost, selling costs and likely sell-through before committing to a case or pallet.
What is wholesale closeout inventory?
Closeouts are inventory offered as a supplier clears a line, excess stock or another lot. The term alone does not establish condition: read the listing and ask about packaging, assortments, shelf pulls, returns or defects where relevant. Availability can be limited, and repeat orders are not guaranteed.
Start with the product and case pack
- Match the SKU or UPC to the exact product, size, color and packaged set you intend to sell.
- Check how many selling units are in one master case. A selling unit may itself be a multipack.
- Confirm case count, total units and condition. A pallet count does not describe its contents.
- Check your intended selling channel before buying branded goods; an invoice does not automatically establish marketplace approval.
The Great Buy case-pack guide explains selling units, inner packs and master cases.
Calculate landed cost before comparing deals
Landed cost per unit = (merchandise + freight + other receiving costs) ÷ total selling units. Include costs once, and allocate mixed-order freight to the individual products using a consistent method.
For an illustrative order of 10 cases with 24 units per case at $48 per case, merchandise costs $480. Add $120 freight and the received order costs $600, or $2.50 per unit. The example is not a Great Buy quote; prices, packs and delivery charges vary.
Try your own figures in the landed-cost and margin planner. A retail comparison price is a reference, not a promise that you will sell at that price.
Separate gross margin from the cash you keep
Selling a $2.50 landed-cost item for $6 leaves $3.50 per unit before marketplace fees, payment fees, outbound delivery, returns, storage, labor and other selling costs. Gross margin is $3.50 ÷ $6, about 58%; it is not the same as markup or net profit.
Test a slower-sales scenario too. If only 180 of the example's 240 units sell for $4 each, cash sales are $720 against the $600 cost of the whole order, leaving $120 before selling costs. The remaining 60 units still tie up cash; they are not a realized profit.
Use your own sales evidence
Choose quantities using your shop's demand, storage space and selling season. Recent comparable sales are more useful than an unusually high asking price. Consider pack differences, condition and whether the same product is already widely available. If you are testing a new category, keep the exposure within your budget and confirm the supplier's current minimum-order requirements.
Confirm freight and receiving details
For pallet orders, provide the delivery address, unloading access and any liftgate, appointment or other service requirements before selecting freight. Keep the order confirmation and packing list, compare visible counts on arrival, and photograph discrepancies. Contact the supplier promptly for the claim instructions that apply to the order.
A checklist before you buy
- I know exactly what one selling unit contains and how many I am ordering.
- I have checked condition, assortment and the channel where I plan to sell.
- My cost calculation includes freight and receiving costs.
- My resale estimate includes fees, markdowns and the possibility of unsold units.
- I have confirmed the applicable order, payment, delivery and claim terms.
Explore current Great Buy inventory
Browse new arrivals, wholesale deals and merchandise categories, then check the specific listing's pack and availability. Ask the Great Buy team about unclear quantities, assortments or delivery requirements. Have inventory to sell instead? Visit We Buy Closeouts.